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Movie Review: Bandslam

Ilan Mester — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:01:54 +0000

If you go into “Bandslam” with very low expectations, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that this PG movie isn’t half bad. In fact, there’s some great lines, characters and story arches (for a Disney-style movie).

The key word here is Disney-style because Bandslam is definitely a step up from its Disney Channel predecessors. And don’t let Mickey Mouse alumna Alyson Michalka (“Phil of the Future”) and Vanessa Hudgens (“High School Musical”) discourage you from seeing this movie because tween, tween parents and everyone in between can take something out of “Bandslam” (including a lesson by Michalka’s character on how to kiss).

Hudgens plays Sa5m (the five is silent and no, I’m not kidding). Sa5m’s a high school misfit with an artistic personality, who speaks slowly and with little tone because she used to stutter as kid. Charlotte (played by Michalka) is her complete polar opposite. The former blond cheerleader (who has her own wikipedia page) ditches pom poms for music during her senior year.

The one thing these two girls share in common is Will Burton (Gaelan Connell), a music geek who’s new to the school and has a tough time making friends wherever he goes — and by tough I mean it’s impossibly hard (his best friend is his mom, just so you have an idea).

Then again, I think most of us could deal with our moms as best friends if only she were Lisa Kudrow (“Friend’s” Phoebe). But Will can’t seem to deal with his friendless life, so he writes everyday to his idol — rocker David Bowie — and fills the singer in on the events that unfold during the day, which becomes the movie’s narrative.

The first of the two leading ladies Will bumps into is Sa5m. When Will’s teacher says the two words he dreads the most (“buddy up”) for a project to showcase one another to the class, he teams up with Hudgens and their relationship kicks off from there.

Be warned: If you were expecting the bubbly sweet Hudgens from “High School Musical,” you’re out of luck because this time, she plays a slightly darker character with a small sense of humour and and an even smaller range of emotion (which the role demands). Sure this character isn’t completely out of her comfort zone, but it proves the former Disney star is able to pull off movie roles outside of the franchise that made her famous.

Sa5m’s relationship with Will is put on hiatus when he meets Charlotte, who asks him to manage her band after witnessing firsthand Will’s extensive knowledge of music.

Their goal is to perform at Bandslam, a regional battle of the bands, and place first to win the ultimate prize: a recording deal. Now, before you say “been there, done that,” because after all, “School of Rock” and “Camp Rock” have already charted into the “kids who rock” category, “Bandslam” shows that there’s still some unexplored territory (as little as it may be).

For starters, it gives the “unpopular kids” personality of their own and shuns away from the archetypical “popular kid” with Charlotte. It’s rare to find a high school movie where the popular girl isn’t as transparent as a glass of water. Charlotte remains mysterious by saying she doesn’t “do why’s” (meaning she doesn’t answer too many questions) and there’s a very funny scene where she claims not to signal on the road because no one needs to know her business.

The movie manages to combine the right dose of drama and comedy. Most of the drama comes from side plots involving Will and Charlotte’s fathers, but depending on your mood there’s actually a few laugh-out-loud moments, like when Will tries to kiss Sa5m and ends up petting her instead of touching her gently (now that one deserves a pat on the back).

The major downside of this movie is its length (it’s close to two hours, so at points, it drags) — and its credibility. Bands like “Pink Floyd,” “The Clash” and “Red Hot Chili Peppers” are name-dropped throughout the film but odds are, the movie’s tween audience won’t clue in on all of these references. And for some reason I just couldn’t buy Charlotte’s rendition of Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me”.

Still the verdict is see it. The kids will enjoy their favourite disney starletts and oddly enough, the older crowd may well enough enjoy “Bandslam” more than their younger siblings and/or kids. If anything, you should see it for a David Bowie cameo (apparently he does kids movies).

Lawsuit Dropped Against Vanessa Hudgens

Joelle Tomlinson — Mon, 04 May 2009 03:05:57 +0000

Vanessa Hudgens is finally through with the unfortunate legalities plaguing her life.

Plaintiff Johnny Vieira had accused the 19-year-old performer and her manager-father, Greg Hudgens, of breach of contract and fraud, seeking more than $27 million in damages.

Vieira dropped the suit, just days before the two sides were scheduled to go to trial. According to E! Online, court documents don’t indicate whether a settlement was reached, but Vieira and his Johnny on the Spot Productions said in a statement Friday that the two sides had come to an “amicable resolution.”

A trial on Vieira’s claim that Hudgens owed him at least $5 million in proceeds from the level of stardom he helped her achieve had been scheduled to begin May 11.

Hudgens is “glad to be able to resolve the issues in a mutually agreeable fashion,” her attorneys said in a statement.

The breach-of-contract claim was all that was left of a lawsuit that originally alleged defamation on the part of Hudgens and her dad Greg, in addition to other money-related offenses.

Vanessa Hudgens Relishes Youth

andPOP Staff — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:58:49 +0000

Vanessa Hudgens may be turning 20 this year but she’s not in any rush.

“Your fans are the ones who support your movies,” she says in the new issue of Teen Vogue. “Without them, your career is over. I’m turning 20 this year, so of course I’m going to have to grow up. But I’ll do it when the time is right.”

Hudgens has enjoyed success with the family-oriented Disney musical blockbuster High School Musical. The last of the franchise series is the upcoming HSM3 movie, scheduled for release on October 24.
Hudgens’ music career has capitalized on her young teen fanbase from High School Musical, having recently released her sophomore solo album.

“It’s a little more sophisticated [than my first album],” Hudgens explains, “though not in a sense where it’s too old for my fans.”

Hudgens has not been without controversy. Nude photographs of the young Disney star surfaced on the internet this past year. She, along with Disney, has worked vigorously to restore her wholesome image.

The Entire Class is Back for High School Musical 3

andPOP Staff — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:14:38 +0000

School is officially back in session, as all the stars of “High School Musical” have officially signed on for the third edition of the franchise.

Oren Aviv, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Production, announced yesterday that Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman will all star in “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.”

The last instalment shattered records, boasting the largest audience ever for any basic-cable telecast. This time, the Wildcats will have their sights set even higher, as HSM3 will be released to theatres as a full feature film.

Senior year will find Troy (Efron) and Gabriella (Hudgens) worrying about their future together as college approaches. Efron and Hudgens’ off-screen relationship has been plagued constantly with break up rumours, but they appear to be still together.

Hudgens’ Poor Explanation for Her Naked Antics

andPOP Staff — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:38:33 +0000

After nude photos of her popped up around the internet, nearly jeopardizing her career as a keystone child entertainer, you’d think Vanessa Hudgens would simply be a ball of regret. However, in an interview with Seventeen magazine, the actress admits that she does not regret taking the inappropriate pictures, but rather regrets being stupid enough to get caught.

“It’s very unfortunate, because with the Internet these days, you don’t have a personal life,” she explained to the magazine. “Nothing is private: Everyone knows everything, and they can find out everything about you. You’re not as safe as you think you are, and you have to be aware of the people you’re around. It was something that was meant to be private, and even though it isn’t anymore, I’d still like to keep it as private as I can.”

After the pictures showed up on just about every website imaginable, rumours began to circulate that the photos had been intended for her boyfriend, Zac Efron. Nevertheless, wherever their intended destination, the pictures were intercepted along the way, causing an uproar in the online community.

“I’m a teenager, and yes, kids do stupid things sometimes,” she told the magazine in a weak attempt at redemption.

Although it seems that Hudgens may not have learned all that much from the ordeal, judging by her lax answers, maybe her story can help others.

“I hope all my fans can learn from my mistake and make smart decisions.”

Zac Efron Will Earn $3 Million for HSM:3

andPOP Staff — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:48:06 +0000

Zac Efron will have a heck of a lot more money to spend on makeup and hairstyling costs after the upcoming “High School Musical 3.”

After holding out for more money and script approval, Efron has signed a deal with Disney for a $3 million paycheck.

Efron and all of his original co-stars, including his off-screen girlfiend Vanessa Hudgens, will be back. This time, however, the flick will hit movie theatres. The previous HSM movies have been Disney Channel television specials.

The movie will focus on the kids’ senior prom, and will start filming in March.

Vanessa Says Sorry For Posing Nude

andPOP Staff — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 08:54:07 +0000

Vanessa Hudgens, the 18-year-old star of the popular High School Musical apologized Friday for posing naked.

“I want to apologize to my fans, whose support and trust mean the world to me,” Hudgens said in a statement.

With the majority of Hudgens’ fans being children and teens, the Walt Disney Co. was left in a dilemma after nude pictures of Hudgens surfaced on the internet.

It is unclear yet, as to how the pictures were taken and how they got on the internet, but the Disney Channel appears to be sticking by Hudgens.