Ashley Tisdale's Sharpay continues to be the most interesting character on the show, but is this time matched by the character of her brother, played wonderfully by Lucas Grabeel. It does have it's moments where it returns to it's former glory, mostly featuring the brother and sister characters of stage-diva Sharpay and her lost-in-the-flow bro Ryan. Now, they are all in this together (which you will hear said 20 million times), and Troy and g/f Gabriella are looking at some serious relationship issues.
Troy, however, also talks the rather easy manager into giving all of his friends jobs too. The conniving Sharpay snarls the manager of her parent's resort into giving Troy, her long-time crush, a summer job. High School Musical 2 starts on the last day of school before summer. What we get is a rather unsatisfying in-between. Unfortunately, we're not even always sure what they're trying to do: Make a serious and realistic movie, or desperately cling to innocence. HSM 2 fell into that oh so unfortunate pit of trying way too hard. They are replaced with a show that really tries to focus on the drama and even try to make itself be realistic- something this film was never supposed to be. But here, gone are the days of clear voiced showtunes and high school musical auditions. Apparently what Disney didn't realize was that what made us all love High School Musical was the cheesiness, the lameness of the whole scenario.
This sequel (High School Musical 2) is the disappointing product of that high thinking- the movie takes itself way too seriously, and that is it's main downfall. In other words, High School Musical started thinking highly of itself. But when the kids left high school and went to summer vacation, somehow some of the magic got lost. It even managed to pull off a good, if over-done, message. It was fun, filled with infectious show-stopping tunes, an incredibly attractive cast, and was delightfully cheesy. High School Musical (the first one) is really one of the better family films made, and definitely the best in recent years. But I also meant what I said: that I want to remember this summer, but not like this, Troy. Gabriella Montez: I'm sure you did, at the time. Troy Bolton: I meant what I said about movies, and summer, and just being together. Gabriella Montez: But if along the way you act like someone you're not, pretty soon that's who you become. I was only doing that because I'm working on the scholarship thing and you know that. Gabriella Montez: Blowing off your friends, missing dates, if that's you, then it's good to know. The club talent show was a big deal for Sharpay and evidently for your future, so it's cool, just make it happen, wear your new Italian shoes. Gabriella Montez: Us working together sounded good, but plans change and people change. Troy Bolton: Hey! What do you mean you're done here? I mean, you can't quit.
But you better step away from the mirror long enough to check the damage that will always be right behind you. You're very good at a game that I don't want to play. Gabriella Montez: The Star Dazzle award? You have to go through all this just to get either one? No thanks, Sharpay. Gabriella Montez: What's the prize? Troy? Sharpay Evans: You don't like the fact that I won. But you're messing with my friends and my summer and that's not okay with me. Gabriella Montez: I'm not interested in what you think you're doing for Troy, that's between you and him. I had to step in just to save Troy's job. Sharpay Evans: You've gotten him written up by Fulton for sneaking on the golf course and swimming after hours. Don't lecture me about Ryan, given the way you've been interfering with Troy's future.
Sharpay Evans: Oh boo-hoo, he'll be in the show, he'll do his celebrity impersonations. Gabriella Montez: Sharpay! Forget about the rest of us, how about the fact that your brother has worked extremely hard on this show?