It's fair to say most people did not like their high school experience. It wasn't at all fun or fabulous or even musical. That's why we're all suckers for a great high school movie. It's a genre for a reason. It boils down the society we live in to a microcosm we can scrutinize. The class structure, the networking, the in-crowd -- it's all about living and loving and losing in 21st Century America.
While in high school, we tended to keep our heads down and eyes on the prize of getting out. Those who enjoyed those four years were the same people who enjoyed being "cool" or "hip." It's like our everyday world. For most of us -- that is, 90% of the population -- we just get by. For the 10% at the top, life is a complete joy filled with great clothes, great looks, and great times.
So, given the opportunity to vicariously relive our restless youth, we're intrigued. Show me the worst high school movie, and I'll show you a film that will make most people stop what they're doing and watch as the nerd finally lands the beauty queen or the bully gets beaten up. I don't care how bad the film is -- if it promises to flip the reality of high school on its head, it'll play -- and play big.
This explains how a film like HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL could become the phenomenon it was. It plays against type, brings together people from different economic and social classes, and then slathers on the music. We're all suckers for high school movies -- but we're also suckers for a jazzy musical. Blend the two and look out!
It was a watershed moment -- broadcast on television no less! It was the only movie that did so well as a made-for-TV movie that it spawned a theatrical sequel. What franchise does that? Well, there is the X-FILES, I suppose. But, like the adventures of Moulder and Scully, the triumphs of Troy and Gabriella are hard to resist and infinitely watchable.
While in high school, we tended to keep our heads down and eyes on the prize of getting out. Those who enjoyed those four years were the same people who enjoyed being "cool" or "hip." It's like our everyday world. For most of us -- that is, 90% of the population -- we just get by. For the 10% at the top, life is a complete joy filled with great clothes, great looks, and great times.
So, given the opportunity to vicariously relive our restless youth, we're intrigued. Show me the worst high school movie, and I'll show you a film that will make most people stop what they're doing and watch as the nerd finally lands the beauty queen or the bully gets beaten up. I don't care how bad the film is -- if it promises to flip the reality of high school on its head, it'll play -- and play big.
This explains how a film like HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL could become the phenomenon it was. It plays against type, brings together people from different economic and social classes, and then slathers on the music. We're all suckers for high school movies -- but we're also suckers for a jazzy musical. Blend the two and look out!
It was a watershed moment -- broadcast on television no less! It was the only movie that did so well as a made-for-TV movie that it spawned a theatrical sequel. What franchise does that? Well, there is the X-FILES, I suppose. But, like the adventures of Moulder and Scully, the triumphs of Troy and Gabriella are hard to resist and infinitely watchable.
About the Author:
Revive your dorky days, only better and without the wedgies, with HIGH SCHOOL MOVIE.
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