Camp Rock

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 basically consider it a guilty pleasure as with High School Musical and the rest of Disney Channel Original Movies, I grew up with it. These definitely would be dispensable if not for having some themes and good messages for kids, teens and even young adults in some occasions. Although most of these repeat themselves a bit, themes like be who you are no matter what society expects or its norms, don't lie to your friends, don't opt for the easy way out or don't make the more money-oriented-but-hated decision.

Personally I'm a sucker for breaking-the-norms feel-good movies like these. At times the dull and badly acted scenes might drag a bit but when they break into song or at the time of conveying the message it's loud and clear, and fun!

What saves this movie is definitely the music. And also I can't condemn it because it sort of has a place in my heart and my memories. Unfortunately and contrary to other childhood movie revisits I have recently done, it doesn't warm my heart as much as others have like Annie 1999 and High School Musical. I learned a lot with it when I was a kid and I recommend it for kids to watch, it's timeless.

Face it, the majority of viewers were Jonas Brother fans. Nothing wrong with that at all, in fact, it was probably the movie's selling point.

However... The script was poorly written. Unrealistic moments and scenes are embedded throughout the movie, Camp Rock sitting at the top of them all. The plot was VERY predictable, and lines seemed forced and very, well. PLOTTED. haha. The Jonas Brothers made their appearance, as promised, but don't expect any acting close to Zac Efron's or Shia LaBeouf's. Joe Jonas, playing the main protagonist, is not meant to be an actor. His voice is mediocre and sounds nicer with backup vocals and guitar. Nick Jonas seemed robotic (why were his swim trunks so short?) but Kevin Jonas played a pleasing and likable airhead.

Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff and Shia LaBeouf have left Disney. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens are on the way out. Disney has come to realize that they can't keep depending on the JoBros and Hannah/Miley Cyrus to reel in the cash. So, they introduced a new, but not-as-cute as Hilary Duff face: Demi Lovato. Okay, she's not edgy and charismatic like La Lohan, not NEARLY as exotic as Hudgens, and not as experienced and cheeky as Cyrus, but hey! She did okay. Her voice is good enough to be unforgotten, but also be hard to remember. I'm happy they didn't use her best friend, Selena Gomez, who is another tool in Disney's attempts to recreate lovable shows that don't come close to Lizzie McGuire or Even Stevens.

Anyways, the music's simple, sounds familiar, but is fairly pleasing. The acting (including MORE not as talented faces)is mediocre and slightly painful at times. (Excluding Alyson Stoner, who was probably the best) I don't recommend watching the movie more than twice, because by then, you'll know each line, each verse, and each forced laugh, and fake diss. This doesn't rock completely, but it's not so disappointing either. :)

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.

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.