Information about High School Musical 2

High School Musical 2
Official poster
Directed by	Kenny Ortega
Produced by	Bill Borden Kenny Ortega
Written by	Peter Mouseey
Starring	Zac Efron Vanessa Hudgens Ashley Tisdale Lucas Grabeel Corbin Bleu Monique Coleman
Music by	Randy Peterson Antonnia Armato Andy Dodd Faye Greenberg Jamie Houston David Lawrence Adam Watts Matt Gerrard Kevin Quinn Robbie Nevil
Distributed by	Disney Channel
Release date(s)	August 17, 2007
Running time	105 min
Language	English
Budget	$7 million [1]
Preceded by	High School Musical (2006)
Followed by	High School Musical 3 (2008)
Official website
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

High School Musical 2 is the sequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie, High School Musical. It debuted on August 17, 2007 on the US Disney Channel and Family Channel. The premiere brought in a total of 17.2 million viewers in America - almost 10 million more than its predecessor - making it the highest rated basic cable broadcast in U.S. history. The premiere brought in a total of 17.5 million viewers in Asia and 9 million viewers in the Philippines - making it the highest rated international cable broadcast in Asia.^[2]

Plot

The summer brings excitement to the East High Wildcats as they go over their plans for their break from school. Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) stresses over getting a job with the price of college looming on his mind, as well as trying to make sure he and Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) are able to stay together all summer (What Time Is It). As a symbol of his feelings for her, Troy gives Gabriella a necklace with his initial "T" on it on the last day of school. Sharpay and Ryan Evans (Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel) plan on spending the summer at their family's country club, Lava Springs (Fabulous). However, Sharpay's summer plan also includes breaking up Troy and Gabriella by getting Troy hired at Lava Springs and making her move on him. What Sharpay does not plan on is Troy talking to the club's manager, Mr. Fulton (Mark L. Taylor), into hiring Gabriella and their close group of friends: this includes Gabriella's best friend Taylor (Monique Coleman), and Troy's best friend Chad (Corbin Bleu). Fulton is unable to fire the Wildcats at Sharpay's command, since her mother (Jessica Tuck) approved their hiring, so she orders him to make them want to quit. Troy offers to help his friends working in the kitchen and convinces them that they can work their hardships out (Work This Out).

While Troy continues to worry about obtaining a college scholarship, Gabriella is simply thrilled to be in one place over the summer; the first time in her life where she doesn't move to a new city. Sharpay schemes harder than ever to make the Wildcats miserable, and win Troy, who has to choose between two worlds: his own with the Wildcats and Gabriella, or another where Sharpay's family can offer him a way to college and other luxuries he has only dreamed about. Meanwhile Kelsi, inspired by their relationship, writes a duet for Troy and Gabriella, and Troy agrees to sing with his friends in the upcoming talent show (You Are the Music in Me). Sharpay conspires to get Troy to perform alongside for the the show and holding his future over his head. She takes Kelsi's song away and forces him to sing it with her. A visit from a fellow college basketball team, the Red Hawks, causes a rift between Troy and Chad when Troy chooses to spend time with the Red Hawks instead of his friends. As Troy grows further away from what was formerly his, Ryan is pushed further away from Sharpay. Taylor and Gabriella even invite Ryan to the baseball game, and Chad offers him Troy's place in the game (I Don't Dance). Troy and Gabriella's relationship is silently strained to the breaking point when Troy sees Ryan with Gabriella, sparking a little jealousy, as well as Troy's now tentative friendship with Chad. Troy & Sharpay then practice their song for the Star Dazzle Show (You Are the Music in Me (Sharpay Version)).

When Sharpay finally crosses the line by banning the Wildcats from performing in Lava Springs' annual Star Dazzle Talent Show, even though Ryan has been working with the group to put together a performance, Gabriella confronts Sharpay. She makes it clear that she refuses to play Sharpay's "game," and quits her job at Lava Springs. Troy overhears the exchange and tries to persuade Gabriella to change her mind. They emotionally sing the song (Gotta Go My Own Way), in which Gabriella tells him that she'll miss him but that she can't trust him anymore due to the way he'd been acting lately; she returns the necklace he had given her and leaves crying.

Troy returns to work the next day to find that all his friends refuse to talk to him but Kelsi shows Troy the letter from Fulton. Troy then realizes the error of his ways (Bet on It), and goes to apologize to Chad and the others. Ryan gets help from the Wildcats to conspire to get Troy and Gabriella back together. Troy confronts Sharpay and tells her that he won't sing with her because of how she treated his friends, causing Sharpay to burst into tears. The Wildcats later convince Troy to sing in the talent show, which he does only under the condition that they are allowed to perform as well. Ryan gives Troy a new song (Everyday) to learn moments before the show saying that Sharpay wants to do to this song. However, Sharpay didn't switch the song and the group arranges for Troy to sing on stage until Gabriella arrives just in time to sing with him and the Wildcats all join near the end of the song on stage. In the end, Sharpay herself proudly presents her brother Ryan with the award for the talent show. After the talent show, the Wildcats (including Ryan and Sharpay) all head out onto the golf course to enjoy the fireworks. Troy and Gabriella finally share their first kiss, and the summer ends with a pool party and the Wildcats' celebration of a great summer together (All for One).

Cast

• Zac Efron as Troy Bolton, the male protagonist of the movie. He is the most popular guy at East High School and captain of the varsity basketball team. He is in a relationship with Gabriella Montez. They met at a ski resort while attending a teen party on New Years Eve in High School Musical and were called on stage to sing a duet together. Gabriella got his number and moved to Albuquerque. Along with most of East High, he takes a summer job at Lava Springs, the country club owned by Sharpay and Ryan Evans' parents. Over the summer, he gets new opportunities to go to a great college and easily obtain a basketball scholarship, but this causes jealousy in his best friend, Chad Danforth, and Gabriella starts to worry that he has forgotten about his friends. He is also friends with Jason and Zeke.
• Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella Montez, the female protagonist of the movie. She is a smart girl who took part in East High's Scholastic Decathlon in the first film. Known as the "freaky math girl" in her old schools, she appears shy and intelligent but finds a new popularity for herself at East High. She is in a relationship with Troy Bolton. Along with most of East High, she takes a summer job at Lava Springs as a lifeguard, the country club owned by Sharpay and Ryan Evans' parents. As the summer progresses, she feels that Troy has become a different person when he gets new opportunities with his promotion. The pair briefly split up but quickly reconcile. Her best friend is Taylor McKessie. She is also friends with Kelsi and Martha.
• Ashley Tisdale as Sharpay Evans, the antagonist of the film. She plans to spend the summer lounging around her parents' country club, Lava Springs. She has a noticeable crush on Troy Bolton and is always trying to steal him away from Gabriella. Her plan is taken to a whole new notch when she promotes Troy to honorary member and cancels the Wildcat's performance in the talent show. This is all because she thinks that Troy and Gabriella together could spoil her show just as the pair previously beat her and her brother out to star in the lead roles for the Winter Musical of "Twinkle Town".
• Lucas Grabeel as Ryan Evans, Sharpay's fraternal twin brother, whom is stuck in being a antagonist, and a male protagonist. Throughout the movies we see that he owes his total devotion to Sharpay to his utter stupidity; In High School Musical 1, he is unable to read the word 'Drama'. He can be very sneaky and cunning but has a hard time keeping up with schemes that are not his own. Over the course of the film, he finds his own person and abandons his place as Sharpay's lackey, becoming friends with the Wildcats.
• Corbin Bleu as Chad Danforth, Troy's best friend and is also friends with Jason and Zeke. He has a summer job at Lava Springs as a waiter and part-time golf caddie and is saving the money from his job to get a car to impress Taylor, whom he appears to be in a relationship with. After Troy gets promoted, he becomes jealous and begins to drift away from him but they make up near the end.
• Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie, Gabriella's best friend. She is captain of the school Scholastic Decathlon team and seems to be just as intelligent in math and science. She has a summer job at Lava Springs as a Event Coordinator. She always sees through Sharpay and tends to be cynical when it comes to boys. This cynism appears to have lessened since she and Chad began dating and she is friends with Martha and Kelsi.

Others

• Mark L. Taylor as Mr. Thomas Fulton, the manager of the Evans' , Lava Springs. It is apparent he is happy for the Wildcats' employment, but Sharpay orders him to take whatever management necessary to rid her of Troy's friends.
• Bart Johnson as Mr. Jack Bolton, the father of Troy. He is very supportive of Troy's basketball career. He is also the coach of East High's basketball club.
• Leslie Wing as Mrs. Lucille Bolton, the mother of Troy. She is somewhat strict and has power over her husband, her son, and his friends.
• Robert Curtis Brown as Mr. Evans, the father of Ryan and Sharpay. A very wealthy man who owns the Lava Springs Country Club and is an alumni of the college Troy wishes to attend.
• Jessica Tuck as Mrs. Evans, the mother of Ryan and Sharpay. A very wealthy woman, the Lava Springs board president.
• Chris Warren, Jr. as Zeke Baylor, has a crush on Sharpay and a love for baking.
• Ryne Sanborn as Jason Cross, is friends with Troy, Chad, and Zeke. In the classroom he is usually kissing up to Ms. Darbus and sometimes speaks before thinking it through. He develops a crush on Kelsi.
• Olesya Rulin as Kelsi Nielsen, is a student at East High. She plays piano for school productions and is good friends with Martha and Taylor.
• Kaycee Stroh as Martha Cox, is a student at East High. She enjoys hip-hop dance. She is best friends with Kelsi and Taylor.

Musical numbers

Main article: High School Musical 2 (soundtrack)

Song	Chiefly Sung By	Other Singers	Place
What Time Is It?	Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Sharpay, Chad, Taylor.	HSM Cast	Darbu's Class, School Hallways, Outside
Fabulous	Sharpay and Ryan	The Sharpettes	Country Club Pool
Work This Out	Troy, Chad, Taylor, Jason, Kelsi, Zeke, Martha and Gabriella	Other Kitchen Workers	County Club Kitchen
You Are The Music In Me	Troy and Gabriella	Kelsi, Chad, Taylor, Jason, Zeke, and Martha	Room in Country Club
HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A	Ryan and Sharpay	The Sharpettes, in the extended version	Dinner Area
I Don't Dance	Chad and Ryan	Company	Baseball Field
'You Are The Music In Me (Sharpay Version)	Sharpay and Troy	The Sharpettes	Dinner Area
Gotta Go My Own Way	Gabriella	Troy	Country Club Pool
Bet On It	Troy	N/A	Golf Course
Everyday	Troy and Gabriella	HSM Cast	Dinner Area
All For One	Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Sharpay, Chad, Taylor.	HSM Cast	Country Club Pool

Release

The premiere of High School Musical 2 aired at 8 PM Eastern Time on August 17, and included a telecast hosted by Kenny Ortega and the movie's stars. On Saturday, August 18, Disney Channel aired "High School Musical 2: Wildcat Chat," where the stars of the movie answer questions posed by fans. On August 19, Disney aired a sing-along version of the movie.^[3] On May 23, DirecTV announced that they would be hosting an exclusive high-definition airing of the movie a few days after the August 17 premiere on its network-only channel, The 101.^[4]

Disney Channel aired a weekly program called Road To High School Musical 2, beginning June 8, 2007 and leading up to the premiere of High School Musical 2 in August. The show offered viewers a behind-the-scenes look into the production of the movie. The world premiere of the opening number "What Time Is It" was on Radio Disney May 25, 2007,^[5] while "You Are The Music In Me" premiered on July 13, 2007.^[6]

Disney Channel On Demand debuted the movie on August 10, 2007.^[7]

The Sing-Along version of the film aired on August 19, 2007.

The Dance-Along version aired on September 8, 2007 where the entire cast taught the moves to the songs What Time Is It? and All For One.

Reception

The first broadcast of the film on August 17, 2007 broke records, receiving 17.2 million viewers.^[2] This number made it the most watched basic cable telecast in history (the previous record was held by an edition of ESPN's Monday Night Football on October 23, 2006, which attracted 16 million viewers), the most-watched made-for-cable movie ever (the previous record was held by TNT's January 21, 2001 airing of Crossfire Trail, which brought in 15.5 million viewers), and the largest audience of any program on broadcast or cable in the 2007 summer television season, along with Friday nights for the past five years. Ratings for the second showing of the movie fell to 8.4 million, and the third showing fell to 7.4 million, totaling the premiere weekend to 33.04 million viewers.^[8]

In the United Kingdom, the movie became Disney Channel UK's most viewed program ever, totalling 1.2 million viewers in its first showing.^[9]

Following the premiere weekend of the film, High School Musical 2 was up 442% on IMDB's MovieMeter, which measures the popularity of films.^[10]

The film was generally well-received by critics, gaining a score of 72/100 at Metacritic.^[11] USA Today's Robert Bianco awarded the film three stars out of four, saying High School Musical 2 was "sweet, smart, bursting with talent and energy, and awash in innocence".^[12]

While critics enjoyed the film, they noted that the timing of the movie's premiere seemed odd, premiering just when school was about to start up again, while the movie's plot involved the gang going on summer vacation.^[13]

Merchandise

DVDs

High School Musical 2 will be released on region 1 DVD on December 11, 2007. It will be released on region 2 on November 26, 2007 in Italy, December 3, 2007 in the United Kingdom and December 4, 2007 in France. It will be released on region 3 on December 22, 2007 in Asia.

Entitled High School Musical 2: Extended Edition, the DVD will include extended, original and sing-along versions, deleted scenes with never-before-seen Gabriella & Taylor sequence in the movie, and the never before seen Humuhumunukunukuapua'a music video.

• Bonus Features in Extended Edition
• Includes Exclusive Music Scene (Humuhumunukunukuapua'a)
• Sing Along Feature
• Backstage Disney
• Rehearsal Cam - Watch the dance rehearsal footage along with the movie
• Music and More
• High School Karaoke
• - Sing the lead vocals with help from optional on-screen lyrics
• Music Videos

On the same day, a Blu-ray Disc version of both this film and High School Musical will be released.^[14] Entitled High School Musical: Once Again Edition.

Books and magazines

• High School Musical 2: The Junior Novel (August 14, 2007)
• High School Musical 2 Magazine (August 17, 2007)

Release dates

Country	Channel	Date
United States	Disney Channel	August 17, 2007
Canada	Family Channel	August 17, 2007
Asia except Taiwan	Disney Channel Asia	September 9, 2007
Japan	Fuji Television	September 17, 2007
United Kingdom, Republic Of Ireland	Disney Channel UK	September 21, 2007
Australia	Disney Channel Australia	September 22, 2007
New Zealand	Disney Channel New Zealand	September 22, 2007
Germany	Disney Channel Germany	September 22, 2007
Austria	Disney Channel Germany	September 22, 2007
Switzerland	Disney Channel Germany	September 22, 2007
Chile	Disney Channel Around the World	September 22, 2007
Argentina	Disney Channel Around the World	September 22, 2007
Central America	Disney Channel Around the World	September 27, 2007
Mexico	Disney Channel Around the World	September 23, 2007
Peru	Disney Channel Around the World	September 22, 2007
Dominican Republic	Disney Channel Around the World	September 23, 2007
Taiwan	Disney Channel Taiwan	September 24, 2007
France	Disney Channel France	September 25, 2007
Italy	Disney Channel Italy	September 29, 2007
Portugal	Disney Channel Portugal	September 29, 2007
Spain	Disney Channel Spain	September 29, 2007
The Netherlands	Net 5	September 29, 2007
Poland	Disney Channel Poland	October 05, 2007
Denmark	Disney Channel Scandinavia	October 05, 2007
Norway	Disney Channel Scandinavia	October 05, 2007
Sweden	Disney Channel Scandinavia	October 05, 2007
South Africa	Disney Channel South Africa	October 05, 2007
Middle East	Disney Channel Middle East	October 05, 2007
Brazil	Disney Channel Brazil	October 07, 2007
Tunisia		October 27, 2007
India	Disney Channel India	December 09, 2007

Other Media

High School Musical 2: The Concert

Based to Director Kenny Ortega, the concert will be in 2008 after the premiere of High School Musical 3, the concert will be a festival because the songs in the next movie will be included in the concert. Sabrina Bryan or Adrienne Bailon or Kiely Williams will not replace Vanessa Hudgens. Vanessa will still work with Disney and be in High School Musical 3. She will be in the concert and this time Andrew Seeley will not join the rest. Zac Efron will and Lucas Grabeel will be the emcee once again.

Awards

High School Musical 2 won the Choice TV Movie category at the 2007 Teen Choice Awards. It also won a special Teen Choice Award for its record breaking premiere numbers.^[15]

High School Musical 2 won the "So Hot Right Now" award at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2007 in which High School Musical castmate, Zac Efron hosted with The Veronicas.

References