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The New York Times did their review along with several other serious film critics who for the most part panned High School Musical 2 (HSM2). They said the lip syncing was horrid, the actors were over tanned, the dancing was mediocre and there was basically no plot.

Ok, so much for the experts. Here is the only review that really mattered to me and that is the one from the 5 ten year olds who watched it in our living room last friday night. They absolutely loved the movie.

With all the “reality” tv shows out there and the entertainment news shows that glorify young women behaving badly I am glad that my kids are spending their tv time still watching the disney channel.

The impact of the show really was made clear this afternoon while we were out shopping for a new pair of jeans and a new shirt for the first day of school. We looked through all kinds of clothes in the girls section (not even the junior section that is meant for teens and older girls but in the girls section that is generally meant for girls ages 4 to 12). There were lots of trashy clothes available in this dept. But my daughter chose a more modest top that was still stylish but quite appropriate for a 10 year old.

I really appreciate that this musical depicted all kinds of kids, who all had a style of their own but who all dressed like kids. It was almost disappointing in one scene of HSM2 where we could see Troys boxers over the top of his low rider jeans but I can let that one go.

One reviewer compared Vanessa Huchtens (sp) to Annette Funicello. That’s ok with me too. I loved that there was only one small kiss at the very end of the movie and that Troy and Gabriella’s relationship was based on something more than just the kissing.

So, for all of the grown up reviewers who had a difficult time trying to figure out how they could say anything good about the movie without feeling like they were losing part of their street cred as a serious reviewer all I can say is “What-ever” - I’m just glad my tweens are looking at HSM as their role model instead of MTVs my sweet 16 or Brittany Spears pantiless escapades through downtown L.A. or some equally vile depiction of americas youth.

Thank you HSM2 for helping to bring back cool to being yourself and doing it fully and modestly dressed.

(on a side note: I did watch the show from another room last friday and there were parts that were difficult as an adult to watch - some scenes were very schmaltzy and in Troys solo ballad “Bet on It” his solo run through the golf course took a serious second to Kevin Bacon’s run through the barn in Footloose. But other than that it was a fun movie - especially the song “I want Fabulous” - which for some reason sounded better on the soundtrack than on the movie - and I am looking forward to the DVD where, hopefully, they will include the Hawaiian song that was cut from the movie but made it onto the CD. )

So the High School Musical 2 debut has come and gone and now we are just waiting for the DVD to come out so we can buy that.   The tweens were thrilled.  The overall review from the 5 tweens watching it at our house was two thumbs up.

My husband and I watched it from the other room because the family room was filled with beach balls, lawn chairs and the girls as well as the High School Musical regalia (beach towels, posters, paper plates/ cups and other party supplies).  There were a couple of points in the movie that were so sacharin that my husband had to cringe a little bit and question whether or not he was going to be able to watch the whole movie.  But we made it all the way through to the end and could hear the squeals of delight from the other room at the end of the movie when Miley Siras from Hannah Montana made a cameo appearance.

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If you have a tween you probably already know this - But today is the big day!

At our house we have been waiting patiently for this day since we bought the DVD for High School Musical ( 1 ). The kids haven’t even seen HSM2 yet and they are already talking about HSM 3 The graduation musical.

So, Tuesday we went out and bought the CD for HSM2 and have been listening to that all week. Then on Wednesday the livingroom started the transition from regular family room to “Country Club” for tonight’s spectacular.

We have posters up all over the room, chairs pushed back with the chaise lounge chairs from outside in their place. Beach towels are draped over the other chairs, beach balls around the room along with all the high school musical paraphenalia gathered throughout this last year. The window seat pillows have been replaced with a red sleeping bag and red pillows ( wildcat colors ). We have pool party snacks and slushies. And finally, the girls have decided that if they were really at a country club they would probably go to the spa and get a facial and manicure, so they have the facial and manicure kits ready to give each other manicures after the movie.

I wish I had thought all this up but all I did was tell my tween that she could have the party here and she took it from there.

She bought her friends High School Musical peechees, lip gloss and fake flower leis for party gifts. She spent under $2.00 per guest for everything and used her own money.

She has actually become very skilled at throwing inexpensive, super fun, theme parties. For this one we spent $25 on food, $16 CD, $12 fan magazines for posters and other pictures and “scoop”, $9 High School Musical beach towel and $10 other miscellaneous party supplies including cups, little umbrellas for the slushies, table cover etc. For a grand total of less than $75.

So, this past week if anyone asked “what time is it?” the response was always “What time is it?” in song from the new CD. At least I have the tune to the Motion of the Ocean from the soundtrack to Hairspray out of my head.

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