Sad posting about this but I feel like a rant. Took my wee cousin to see this yesterday afternoon, cinema was packed as it was a Saturday afternoon. It was a fromage-fest and the kids loved it, but I was left feeling pretty gutted. I’ll explain as best I can- it’s a Disney brand, right? And thirty or so years ago, the live-action Disney films that kids lapped up were films like Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks etc. Films with at the heart of it, a core message relaying that having a secure family and people that loved you were the key to building a pretty cool life.

High School Musical teaches kids that being able to sing, dance and have a boyfriend (with a gay-face) are actually what makes you happy. Hmmmmm. The distorted images here really confused me – the third film (I’ve not seen any of the others) revolved around them planning their final school show and of course, their prom, and it was HEAVY ladened with the subtext of ‘the night of nights’ – ie, let’s all get it oaaaaan!

Now I’m not daft, I know that kids now live in a different world to the one that previous generations lived in and that the media itself will always make the products that will make the most money. It just sticks in my throat a little that Disney, who built their reputation on keeping childhood magic alive, would so flagrantly undermine itself for the sake of the buck. It’s lazy, it’s damaging and it sucks!

Not a patch on this….