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PrintIn the fictional world of New Jersey's Van Buren High School, rock 'n' roll is big. "Like, Texas high school football big," one character says.
So big, in fact, that the cafeteria can double as an electrified amphitheater at a moment's notice, which floors nervous newcomer Will Burton on his first day of school.
When a student band starts to jam in the middle of an ordinary lunch session, Will (Gaelen Connell) is stunned to see students ditch their seats and stand on their feet, screaming for the school celebrities like they're Billboard headliners.
It's all in anticipation for Bandslam, a high-stakes rock showdown that challenges the best high school headbangers to outperform each other in front of a live audience.
"Bandslam" is a motivating, fun and emotion-packed ride, just like the make-it-or-break-it competition it features. Although the film stars Disney Channel poster girls Vanessa Hudgens ("High School Musical") and Aly Michalka ("Cow Belles") to court the kiddie crowd, "Bandslam" isn't predictable pre-pubescent fantasy fluff. It has surprising soul for a movie that might appear to serve up typical teen fare.
- Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Aly Michalka, Gaelen Connell.
- Rating: PG for some thematic elements and mild language.
- Web site: bandslam-movie.com/
Sure, it has puppy love scenes to make the girls swoon and amplified rock sequences to excite the boys, but it does more than just ride the "Camp Rock" and "American Idol" phenomenon. It digs a bit deeper to teach lessons about superficiality, individuality and the true meaning of popularity.
It's about music's ability to equalize and connect students of all social strata with a common bond. Although the theme "it's OK to be different" might be common territory for teen movies, "Bandslam" uses the underground edginess of rock to pull off the message convincingly without sounding square.
Any kid who has felt ousted by the "in crowd" will relate to Will, an awkward and music-obsessed loner who suffers daily bullying at his first high school. After moving to New Jersey, however, he proves that one school's "weird" is another school's "genius" when his indie rock expertise makes him a valuable commodity at the music-minded Van Buren High.
The shift starts when he's befriended by Charlotte Barnes (Michalka), a gorgeous ex-head cheerleader and prom queen who's got "an entire Wikipedia page" written in her worship. When Charlotte recognizes Will's creative streak, she enlists him to coach her Bandslam-destined garage group, which turns him from wall flower to buzz-setter.
Along with managing the band, Will manages to bond with Sa5m (Hudgens), an artsy and off-beat classmate who can relate to a life spent as an outsider looking inward. ("The '5' is silent," she says, scribbling her name on paper for a "Prince symbol"-style introduction.)
Fresh from her bubble-gum gig as Gabriella in the "High School Musical" trilogy, Hudgens pulls off playing the cynical-but-perceptive introvert Sa5m, who resents competing with Charlotte for Will's time and attention.
Former child star Connell (whose last movie appearance was "Chocolat" in 2000) tackles his first lead role after an eight-year hiatus from showbiz. He's adorably awkward as the tentative Will and genuine enough to be both an uncertain loner and a favorite of two attractive girls. Michalka, half of the Disney pop duo Aly and AJ, is also well-cast as the manipulative Charlotte.
Although some of the plot is not believable, "Bandslam's" target tween audience likely won't mind. And neither will their older siblings and parents, who might just find that the movie "rocks" their socks off as well.
