Well, the kids from High School Musical are back for more fun. Like the first movie, I found myself with flashbacks to the popular NBC teen series Saved by the Bell from the 1990's. Rather fun in school, viewers joind the cast as they head out for some summer fun at a local golf club and resort: the Lava Springs Country Club.. Most of the cast takes jobs there. As with the previous movie, there is a major contest to be the lead in a musical performance ... rather than a school play, it is a talent contest/revue.

Once again Sharpay Reed is out to get the scoop along with the help of her brother. This time she has the advantage because their parents own the club. She uses that connection to keep changing the rules to her advantage. As you can imagine, her plans don't go as planned. Troy, Gabrielle and their friends, along with Sharpay's brother, find a way to show that true talent overpowers cheating everyday.

There is more of the same type of dance routines and music. The story is just light and fun, and the message is as strong as it was in the first movie. The one odd thing is the title doesn't quite fit since the kids are not exactly at school and they are not working on a musical, but no one really seems to care.

These first two movies were originally created as TV flicks for the Disney Channel, but their extreme success has set up High School Musical 3 for a theatrical release. I have a feeling that it will not have any trouble being a success. It is guaranteed a number 1 for its release weekend.

In the end, I am really glad that I watched the films. I am sure they are not musicals up to Martin's standards, but they are light and fun, and we all need a little bit of upbeat escapism from time to time.