Erm yes, I’m pitting these two against each other.
Why?
Well, because according to Miss E and Miss M they’re on a parr.
They like them both, equally.
The cute dogs are as fabulous as the cute kids.
The cool outfits are as fabulous as, well, the cool outfits.
The choreography and musical numbers…are as good as the yappy barking.
So my kids give both, yes you’ve guessed it, a five on the Beaufoix scale. We’re talking chocolate again people. I know. You feel slightly sick.
Me though??
I disagree.
A lot.
High School Musical 3 is what I expected. Both my girls, but Miss E especially, have been fans of the first two, and the third does not disappoint in that it is clean, honest fun. Bright, shiny teethed teenagers tackle the next big thing in their young lives, graduation, by shooting a few baskets, doing a few dance routines and teaching the grown ups a thing or two about themselves along the way.
This one is definitely, in my opinion, the least lovable of the three, perhaps because while the characters have grown up and are ready to go out into the big wide world, their audience are generally still in Primary School and not yet familiar with the idea of decisions on the grand scale that these kids are making. But the songs are still catchy, the show scenes vibrant and enjoyable and the ending fairly happy.
Our favourite scene is the one where Troy and Chad head back to their childhood and share the stage with a couple of mini mes. And we also enjoyed the final scenes where a nod was given to High School Musical 1 and 2, a sweet way to end the series. Because, I’m assuming it is the end…although some new younger characters were introduced so you never know. Maybe HSM will go on forever. Gulp.
Beverly Hills Chihuahua though?
Sorry Disney but I hate hate hated it. And as a dog lover that is something I really didn’t expect to say. The story was pants. Drew Barrymore’s voice lacked character, and to be honest I lost the will to live, or at least watch about 20 minutes in. The kids loved it. The grown up (me), much preferred wandering away from the TV and doing the washing up.
SO while E and M give these two films a whopping 5 out of 5.
I’m giving HSM 3 an ‘ok’ 3 out of 5, which means it’s a bit of a cheese sandwich, while Beverly Hills Chihuahua gets a reluctant 1 out of 5, known in the Beaufoix household as a trump salad. I would have given it a 0 but there might be something worse, somewhere, somehow…maybe.
The Blu-Ray format gets a 5 out of 5 though. Great sound. Vibrant, beautifully textured visuals, and that ‘almost there feel’ are still there in abundance. In fact it’s the only thing I can’t fault.
I was going to stick in a Beverly Hills Chihuahua clip just to scare you all, but then I decided I like you too much. 
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July 23rd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
You’ve said virtually exactly the same things as I did. Except I said them much better obviously.
There will be a HSM 4 apparently. It centers on a romeo and Juliet type romance between someone from East High Wildcats and someone from the West High Knights. I’m guessing it won’t be a same sex romance unless Disney has engaged in some serious policy changes.
You know what? I know far too much about this for a 33 year old man.
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Ha. Great minds and all that Dan. And yes, you know far far too much. Maybe it’s to do with all that make up you’ve been wearing?? ;D
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
thank you THANK YOU for taking the bullet for the huhnpudel clan. i so do not want to see this. and i think mr h took the bullet for hsm3.
so YAY! i escaped!
and thank you for not including a clip. i love you for that.
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Many thanks for not including the clip. I would have felt compelled to watch and possibly have been traumatized for life. You’re too good to us.
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
The things we do for our children….
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Haven’t seen HSM3, but totally agree with you re BH Chihuahua. I normally like children’s films, but I was bored. It left the kids cold too. I thought it was a wasted opportunity, because the initial premise (struggling to remember it exactly) had promise. Oh bu**er. ‘Initial premise has promise’ – what kind of a rubbish sentence is that? But back to my point. After the first few scenes, I thought it was going to be a latter day “Lady and the Tramp”. Remember that one? (“Lady and the Trump” in the Beaufoix household, I expect.) Posh female dog is wooed by rough diamond male dog. I thought that had potential.
I also think some of the chase scenes, and some of the police dogs, were too scary for small kids.
July 24th, 2009 at 1:20 am
I just asked my two which they preferred and they yelled: “Both!” I agree with you, though. HSM3 was okay, but I’d much rather wash up than watch BHC again. Yep, a definte trump salad. (you have such a lovely turn of phrase!)
July 24th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Yeah! I think I’ll trust you and Dan on this and not bother with either of them! Thanx guys! xxxx I hated the High school thing the first time round. Now Hairspray! I loved! I watched it over and over!
July 24th, 2009 at 4:18 am
My 3 year old daughter has just discovered High School Musical (although we are way behind the times and have only seen number 1).
But I also catch her older brother singing along to the songs And he knows all the words!
I think children are a lot more savvy than some film companies give them credit for. My two will watch anything Pixar over and over and over again and never get bored. Mummy too can watch them over and over and over again. Now THAT is the sign of a great movie!
July 24th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Zerilda, my pleasure hon. I know you’d do the same for me. Mwah.
Kim I couldn’t have inflicted it on a pregnant lady. ;D
Sybil I know. We are too kind. Sighhhhhh.
Iota yes, definitely Lady and the Trump.
I had higher hopes for this film too, but it was agonisingly bad.
Preseli Mags, ‘Trump Salad’ is one of Miss M’s (4). She tends to ask for either a trump salad or a trump sandwich at lunch time. She’s a charmer is my M.
Karisma I haven’t seen hairspray yet. I must get it.
Tara I totally agree. My two will watch Bolt over and over while BHCC they’ve only watched once. I would love to see Toy Story and Monsters Inc on Blu-Ray. I bet they’d be amazing.