High School Musical 3: Senior Year (U)

By Robbie Collin, 19/10/2008

DANCE STARS: Zac & Vanessa hit the floor

ONE blue-eyed, Lego- haired, basketball- playing bumwit at the front.

Behind him: About 20 Zanussi-grinned tweenage cherry tartlets, jigging around like the Fame kids with chickenpox.

And in the audience: 500 slobbering 12-year-old girls, leaping out of their seats and screeching at a frequency that could shatter concrete.

Which can mean only one thing. It's time for High School Musical 3, baby.

This latest instalment in what we must now grudgingly call "the High School Musical phenomenon" is the first to be released in proper cinemas. So why the trade up? Just look at the numbers.

Platinum

The first episode pulled in 7.7 million viewers on US TV and the soundtrack went 15 times platinum around the globe. The sequel drew 17.3 million viewers on its first broadcast alone and went on to become the biggest made-for-TV movie ever.

CALL FOR SCHOOL: Sharpay & bro Ryan

This one has already broken the UK all-time record for advance ticket sales-over £800,000 already and it's not even out yet.

And deservedly so. Because while the other two were both passable small screen distractions, this one is much bigger and much, much, much better.

As the title suggests, it is indeed senior year. Hideously in-love teenage couple Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez are about to leave the sparkling-clean corridors of East High for good.

Troy (Zac Efron) is a handsome, bright, popular kid who's brilliant at everything.

In fact, he reminded me a lot of myself at high school, in not a single respect whatsoever. Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) is roughly the same, but female. Troy and Gabriella are coming to terms with the fact that going to college will tear them apart. Which, for them, is awful news.

Because it means they can't trouser another few million quid each by showing up for High School Musical 4.

The final year kids decide to have one last crazy night together before they graduate.

So what do they do? Get smashed on White Lightning before failing to blag their way into a local strip joint? Of course not. They put on yet another High School Sodding Musical.

Closest things to villains are limelight-hogging Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) and her pink-shoe-wearing bro Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), who let's just say is lighter on his feet than Graham Norton in moon boots and a jetpack.

Curtain

Sharpay wants to snatch the lead role from Gabriella. Ryan reluctantly agrees to help, as does English exchange student Tiara (Jemma McKenzie-Brown).

But after some light humiliation they learn their lesson and everyone is firm friends again in time for the curtain call.

Of course none of this really matters-High School Musical 3 was always going to stand or fall on the strength of the singin' and the dancin'. And-much as it pains me to admit it-it's absolutely top notch.

If we're being fair, nothing quite matches Breaking Free from the first movie for sheer cheese-tastic tuneage. But opening number Now Or Never, lunch queue knees-up I Want It All and some jaw-dropping choreography in The Boys Are Back are easily the most spectacular HSM moments of the entire series.

Most credit for this must go to director Kenny Ortega-better known as the man who choreographed Dirty Dancing and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

But bottom line is, there's not a single inch of slack. Each and every cast member absolutely nails it.

And here's some parental guidance. Even if the last two films left you cold, this one will have you dancing and cheering like an idiot.

Cos I hated the first one. But now my bedroom door's got a big old poster of Zac Efron on it. GO WILDCATS! Ahem..

OUT WEDNESDAY

Your comments

This article has 71 comments

I want to Hsm semakin ok

By fini.. Posted May 26 2009 at 1:45 PM.

Hi cast
think your great ,hsm 3 is the best film ive ever watched!
Vanessa and Troy you are a perfect couple
Nice waltz im learning it at my dance school
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LOVE YOU CAST YOUR GREAT !!!!!!!!
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By Yasmin Shulver.. Posted February 15 2009 at 12:17 PM.

Vanessa y Zac forever.I love you,guys.You are my favourite couple in HSM.

By Vanessa y Zac 4ever.. Posted January 11 2009 at 10:12 PM.

I heyt high school musical

By natalia.. Posted December 6 2008 at 3:41 PM.

I like you troy and I love you so mach
and gabrelia is so nice and do you love gaberlia
do you and you and do you love sharpey or gaberlia

from natalia love you troy and I wish you are my friend bay xxxxxxxx I love you so so so so so mach xxxxxxxxx

By natalia.. Posted December 6 2008 at 3:39 PM.

hey i love high school musical its so the best sharpay is my fraviot.and my fraviot song is i want it all.and i dont love troy.

By jade rebbeca peacock.. Posted November 30 2008 at 4:10 PM.

sharpays the best in high school musical

By jade rebbeca peacock.. Posted November 30 2008 at 4:04 PM.

high school musical 1 2 3 is greate i am sure thst if you bring any more out it will be greate from megan bye wwwwoooooooooowwwwwwwww fantastic wwwwwwwwoooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww

By megan.. Posted November 3 2008 at 2:10 AM.

hi! i'm naufal from Indonesia. i just loooooooove HSM! i like HSM 1,2, and 3! but the 3rd one is the best! i wondering if there will be HSM 4/ a College Musical???

By hsmbz.. Posted November 1 2008 at 10:11 AM.

I just love hsm1, 2 and 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I especially love ZAC EFRON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hE IS SO AMAZINGLEY HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Nadine .. Posted October 31 2008 at 5:25 PM.

i love these photos
and sharpy good pose

By paige & demi.. Posted October 30 2008 at 6:30 PM.

love you girls and boys

By balogh barbara.. Posted October 30 2008 at 11:35 AM.

big high school musical 3 mots like Gabriella Montez boy Troy Bolton zac efron oxxoxoxoxoxo zac efron cool guy see and play Gabriella Montez

By heather.. Posted October 30 2008 at 3:33 AM.

Hellooo!!! I just LOVE Zac and Vanessa...:)
Hello Sharpay??? You are amaizing :D God!! I Love YOU sooo much<333333333333

By Katrine.. Posted October 29 2008 at 8:07 PM.

im going to see it on thursday

By barbra.. Posted October 29 2008 at 4:26 PM.

i absalutely love high school musical

By .. Posted October 29 2008 at 3:44 PM.

high school musical is,he many very good?
And Zec Efron and Vanessa hudgens are very nice.
...YOU LOVE all...hallo...i gresa..i live in MACEDONI..
THis is entire????

By gressa.. Posted October 29 2008 at 2:41 PM.

is high school musical 4 comming? please enter result

we love you zac and vanessa :D
Norah nd Laura

By Laura nd Norah.. Posted October 29 2008 at 1:36 PM.

i love hsm 3 it's so cool and zashley and zanessa wow they are very nice and cute i love soooo much ashley tisdale you rock girl

By zeina.. Posted October 28 2008 at 7:23 PM.

OMG!!!!!!!!................................................ i love high school musical 3 AH............................ Vanessa and Ashley

By erica.. Posted October 28 2008 at 9:42 AM.

i hate hsm and ashley tisdale is a dog hairspray is much better

By jasmin .. Posted October 27 2008 at 6:23 PM.

i hate hsm and ashley tisdale is a dog hairspray is much better

By jasmin .. Posted October 27 2008 at 6:21 PM.

high school muscal 3 is the best film in the world
seriously if you have not watched it u need 2 wach it it is really sad as well but DEFINETLY the best film evax

By olivia.. Posted October 27 2008 at 11:40 AM.

hey wat up. my fav character is Vanessa Hugdens she and Ashely Tisdale r the hottest girls in hsm 3

By Fernanado.. Posted October 27 2008 at 3:25 AM.

hi guys i am a well big fan love u all and i hope there will be a 4th one i have seen the 3rd one today on 26/10/2008

By Ami leech.. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:35 PM.

Ilove hsm3 it is briilant zac is super hot and sharpay is more devious than eva

By hannah .. Posted October 26 2008 at 6:27 PM.

i luv all the hsm moovies but number 3 is totoally awsoe.

zac is so HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

biiiiii

By hannah.. Posted October 26 2008 at 6:29 PM.

i love high school musical 3 its the best

By jordan.. Posted October 26 2008 at 5:49 PM.

hi high school musical 1,2 and 3 it s a verry god movie I love movie I coming from sweden

By lina hed.. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:57 AM.

i love it :) the best video so far :) hope its not the end :S i whant more of them !

By Anniken.. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:21 AM.

today=go cinemacity!hsm3
From: hungary
I like hsm
I like Zac
and Zac like me!
XDDDD

By Zsani.. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:44 AM.

high school musical is brilliant
thers nuthin i coul say but realymillion times awsoome

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By bronwyn.. Posted October 26 2008 at 9:02 AM.

Hi i love high school musical and i love troy and i very like high school musical 3 i thinc is very good!!!!!

By andrea.. Posted October 25 2008 at 9:46 PM.

hi i am joy in Philippines........ I love highschool musical 1.2.and the 3 i love that trailer i love so much..........

By joy.. Posted October 25 2008 at 4:50 PM.

HI TO ALL OF U HSM CAST I REALLY WANT TO MEET VANESSA AND THE OUTHERS. VANESSA IS REALLY CUTE AND SWEET I HOPE WE WILL MEET IN THE FUTURE

By samrose.. Posted October 25 2008 at 4:33 PM.

I love u all

my fave is sharpay xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

By jasmine.. Posted October 25 2008 at 2:47 PM.

hope that there will be a high school musical 4-100!!!!

By ruhannnah.. Posted October 25 2008 at 11:15 AM.

I Love HMS 3. It is the best one out of them all.Troy is so cute and even my grandma loves him. It is the best movie I have ever seen.

By Molly.. Posted October 25 2008 at 9:38 AM.

hi vanessa zac is cooooooooooolllllllllllllllllllllll

love you bbbiyyy

By esra.. Posted October 24 2008 at 6:25 PM.

we love you high school musical 1,2,3.
i wish you the best.

By montaha.. Posted October 24 2008 at 2:19 PM.

hello I LOVE YOU

By cool.. Posted October 24 2008 at 1:47 PM.

cant wait da c hsm3 da nite it likes gud

love ya zac

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By orla quinn.. Posted October 24 2008 at 12:10 PM.

hello! I'm Malagasy! i think that high school musical 3 is fabulous and it's cool.i love troy(zac) and gabriela(vanessa).it's a nice couple. think the club appreciate Madagascar.

By sandy candys.. Posted October 24 2008 at 9:24 AM.

I love HSMusical!!!!!!!The movie series?........AHhh, there's nothing I can say but AWESOME!!!!!

By Jude08.. Posted October 24 2008 at 8:04 AM.

i love you zac and vanessa ...im one of your fan

By joy.. Posted October 24 2008 at 4:54 AM.

HSM3 was wicked! I went 2 see with ma bro, i think the next ones won't be as gud, cuz the original cast are just GOLD! luv Zac, Vanessa, Ashley - hot!, and the rest...

u must go nd see it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By etasham.. Posted October 23 2008 at 9:36 PM.

i watched it yesterday 22nd october. BRILLIANT!!!!! i am a big fan
say hsm if u do too!

By miatta.. Posted October 23 2008 at 5:40 PM.

Hey Im from Denmark, so I am not so good to Englich. But I vill just tell that I have seen High School Musical 3. And it is SO fantastik good. I love this move. I LOVE Zac and Vanessa they are so cute together. This 2 people toghter forever <3.

By Pernille.. Posted October 23 2008 at 5:45 PM.

Hsm3 is great like 1 and 2 love it till death lol love u gabby and troy always

By Demi.. Posted October 23 2008 at 12:41 PM.

i really like hsm and dont think the 4th will be as good without the original charectors.

By shannon.. Posted October 23 2008 at 12:21 PM.

I love High school musical I am going to see the new one tonight I can's wait. xxx I love Zac =D x

By Jade .. Posted October 23 2008 at 9:27 AM.

I love troy bolton he is so hot fit also sexy i hope high school musical 3 is cool like the over ones and i am big fan of high school musical i am going to watch it to night with my brother

love from
tammy

By tammybarnes.. Posted October 23 2008 at 9:22 AM.

High School Musical as so fabulous !!!!
Troy as so sweet!!

By ine.. Posted October 22 2008 at 8:45 PM.

grat photo can't what to see the move.xxxx

By abbie cobbold.. Posted October 22 2008 at 8:15 PM.

me and my brother is into high school musical then is high school musicial 3 out plz let me know asap please my brother want to more than any think he think troy is the best and i think gabriella is the best

By Michaela sear.. Posted October 22 2008 at 1:00 PM.

haha u all sad aks it boring lol

By david.. Posted October 22 2008 at 11:35 AM.

hahaha awwww cooll kerry obesest :)

By sophie.. Posted October 22 2008 at 11:31 AM.

y love zack

By valentine.. Posted October 22 2008 at 10:04 AM.

Hey guys whats up you guys have the bets pictures for your third movie bye guys See Ya!!!!

By Phyllis Dodd .. Posted October 22 2008 at 1:33 AM.

hsm is rubbish

By alanya.. Posted October 21 2008 at 7:22 PM.

High school musical is well good !
carnt wait to see it :)
zac efron is brillaint ;)

By Janna .. Posted October 21 2008 at 12:26 PM.

hsm is gr8 we cant wait 4 the nxt 1
Camp rock was ded good and hsm is good 2

By fernie and tales.. Posted October 20 2008 at 4:05 PM.

hey zac vannesa think your coooooooooolllllllllllllllllll

bbby alove bbbb mmm

By esra.. Posted October 20 2008 at 2:26 PM.

i love zackkkk!!!.....xOxOxOxOxO

By linda vicki chloe.. Posted October 20 2008 at 2:10 PM.

i love you troy
this is gonna be d abest film eva

:-D

By rebecca.. Posted October 20 2008 at 12:45 PM.

i want a high school musical 3 poster and i love high school musical

By Emily.. Posted October 19 2008 at 11:56 PM.

ITS SO COOL CANT WAIT TO SEE IT
LOTS OF LOVE GEMMA L.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

By GEMMA L.. Posted October 19 2008 at 8:23 PM.

We all love you high school musical 3 is the best.

By Jessica Wright.. Posted October 19 2008 at 10:09 AM.

hi. everyone
it Samantha here i love high school musical 1 and 2. i can't wait til number 3 im going to see it with my friend jade the day it comes out 22 of october i cant wait
lots of love samantha!!!!!
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By samantha.. Posted October 19 2008 at 9:42 AM.

hey sharpay i think your cool

By alysia.. Posted October 19 2008 at 4:25 AM.

love you girls and boys

By aaliyah.. Posted October 19 2008 at 3:11 AM.

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