Camp Rock

I decided to watch this when I was bored one night, being a 20 year old female college student I was obviously not the chief demographic, but I enjoyed High School Musical enough, so I thought I would give it a shot.

The only emotion this movie invoked was the urge to slap the blonde, who was wonderfully venomous and probably was my favorite character in the movie because she at least brought some reaction out of me. The music was incredibly average, also I was disappointed that Alyson Stoner didn't get to dance more, she's wonderful.

So at the end of the movie I was even more bored than when I started, annoyed by Demi Lovato's smile, and feeling let down. Obviously younger audiences will love the Jonas Brothers and the inspiring plot, but the terrible execution of an okay plot pretty much killed the movie for me.

I recently watched "Camp Rock" quite frankly because I was bored and I like to keep the T.V. on when I read. I am out of the age range that Disney tries to appeal to (a.k.a. preteens) but I figured "what the heck? let's try to get back in touch with the good old days".

First off, I found none of the songs really catchy and the choreography not quite what it could've and should've been (this from a dancer's POV, by the way). The ending song was especially cheesy and useless and should've been thrown out altogether. The ending choreography was just repetition and boring.

Secondly, the acting on the part of the lead girl, Lovato, was good for Disney Channel and she could probably be seen in more Disney movies to come. Because we all know that pretty much no Disney Channel actors ever leave the Big D. The Jonas Brothers aren't probably the greatest actors in the world and there certainly is no harm in an acting class (or two.... or three...).

And lastly, the plot has been done so many times (not only Disney is guilty of this either) that it was really predictable and boring and I found myself rolling my eyes. Girl likes boy, but oh no! a girl who wants the spotlight! And so on and so forth.

I'm sure many teenyboppers who love The Jonas Brothers, hoping for a resurrection of HSM will love this movie and have their rooms decked out in HSM and "Camp Rock" but for the rest of us.... probably not worth the time.

Okay, DO NOT get me wrong. I love the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato to death but honestly, it feels like this film is missing something. I know this is supposed to be a Disney Movie and that it has been endlessly compared to High School Musical but I have to say that... High School Musical carries an element of magic that is missing from Camp Rock.

The songs are all catchy and entertaining and unlike the unpredictability of a musical, when the characters sings: It makes complete sense. The acting is mediocre, there were points where the actors delivered completely while in others, their ability comes into question.

The movie itself was relatively interesting and kept me vaguely hanging, even though there were times where I just got up and walked around (got food and refreshments). Shane Gray is a convincing jerk. Overall, you can see where the movie was headed from the moment it started. But it carries you through the movie and you believe that there is such a camp out there (which is something we all wish).

I NEVER said that the movie was bad, just predictable and half-hearted. But no matter what, THERE IS SOMETHING TO ENJOY.

Even though I was jealous of Demi Lovato when Joe Jonas sang to her lakeside. & I had to pause my DVR when he got out of the lake because well... look at him.

Watch the movie and you'll find something you'll like but don't come in expecting Oscar standards.

I wasn't sure what Camp Rock would be like, as I heard a lot of bad things about it, and a lot of comparing to High School Musical. As I didn't care that much for the latter, I gave Camp Rock a shot, expecting it to be bad. Instead...it wasn't THAT bad. Yes, it was predictable and bland, but there were some enjoyable things about it.

Admittedly the story is very predictable, it is the sort of thing you have seen before and there is nothing special here. The script also has its weak spots and clichés, and some of the characters felt shallow.

However, the performances had a lot of spirit and enthusiasm about them, with Demi Lovato sweet and pretty in the title role especially. I thought the soundtrack was groovy and in general quite catchy, not my sort of thing really, but even after 15 minutes I can still remember the end song. The choreography is good, repetitive perhaps in one or two areas but not too bad. Also the ending has a touch of feel good about it.

Overall, nothing to rave about or anything special, but not as bad as I thought it would be. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato) is desperate to attend the prestigious Camp Rock. She is overjoyed when her mother gets a discount by working in the kitchen. She is befriended by Caitlyn Geller (Alyson Stoner) but she abandons her to be a follower of snooty selfish Tess (Meaghan Martin) who has a famous mother. Like everyone else, she falls for celebrity counselor Shane Gray (Joe Jonas) who is trying to rehab his damaged public reputation. He overhears her singing and falls for her without actually seeing her or knowing her identity. All the while, she is hiding her poor kitchen help background from all the other kids.

Demi Lovato is a thing. The Jonas Brothers is a thing. I was never into that thing. I'm not a hater. That's not my thing either. It's nice to see the origins of these things. Everybody has the energetic sincerity. These young performers have good charisma. The story is a mash of various underdog, Cinderella, musical things. It's all very sincere and appealing in that try-hard way. It was supposed to be the next High School Musical and it faltered as that. The everybody gets along happy ending is too saccharine and it devolves into a glee club grind. Nevertheless, let's not be haters.