Like most 8-year-old boys, my son likes three things in his movies: action heroes, robots, and stuff blowing up. He is contemptuous of his sister's "Hello Kitty" and "Barbie" DVDs. If I let him, he would watch every PG-13 superhero film released in the last five years, back-to-back. Then, he would put on a cape and start jumping off of furniture.
Nevertheless, he likes the "High School Musical" franchise. No, scratch that. He loves it — not that there's anything wrong with that. But given his usual entertainment preferences, I find it interesting that he responds so enthusiastically to this jazz-handing Disney juggernaut. Does he want tickets to see "High School Musical 3?" Yes, he does.
There's a scene halfway through "High School Musical 2," in which an angry Zac Efron stomps across a golf course, singing, dancing and emoting like there's no tomorrow. You know he means business, because he's dressed in black and hurls a golf club. My friend J., a longtime lover of musicals, said it was way Jerome Robbins — in other words, "a very gay performance."
The last time "HSM2" was on, I watched my kid get up and recreate that "Bet On It" routine almost move for move, word for word. I am not exaggerating. If he had been auditioning for a production at his school ("Elementary School Musical?") he would have killed. Bring it, Efron!
What a little Renaissance man. Now, if only I could skip "HSM3."
5 comments:
Does he like other musicals? Have you tried him on West Side Story or Newsies or something?
Oh, you know you can't wait for HSM3. All for one!
DG, he's a huge fan of "A Hard Day's Night," and he generally likes anything music-oriented. I tried to change the channel when the Stones were performing, and he was like, "No! I'm watching this!" And H., will I be seeing you on opening night? :-)
My 8 year old step-son (about to be 9 years old) has already informed us that we'll be going opening day to High School Musical 3.
We're so lucky...
The Irredeemable Shag
http://onceuponageek.com
Oh, God. Maybe we can meet up if that would make it less painful.
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