List: Movies to Lift Your Spirit from Rogerebert.com

Posted on July 31, 2016 at 2:03 pm

I was honored to be asked to participate in this critics’ discussion of movies that may not be our favorites or the best but that always cheer us up.

Here’s what I wrote:

I have a bunch. I call them “flu movies,” and they are the only ones I will buy, to have on hand any time they are needed. Many are musicals, like “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” “The Music Man,” and “Bells are Ringing.” In a moment of very dire professional circumstances, I admit it, I watched “High School Musical.” Three times in a row.

Some are funny, like “Galaxy Quest” and “Happy Texas.” Some are romantic like “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist,” and some are empowering like “Stick It.” Some I know by heart, like “The Philadelphia Story” and “His Girl Friday” and “I Love You Again.”
My view is that movies fall along two axes. The horizontal is bad to good. But the vertical is what I call “watchability.” Some movies aren’t especially good, but they effortlessly evoke a kind of pleasant dramatic justice that makes them cinematic mood-elevators. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.

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Features & Top 10s

Happy Birthday Lucas Grabeel

Posted on November 23, 2008 at 8:00 am

Today is the birthday of Lucas Grabeel, an extraordinarily gifted performer I’ve seen in four different movies in the past few weeks. He’s still best known for playing Ryan, the twin brother of the scheming Sharpay, in the High School Musical series.

They highlighted his singing and dancing, especially the third one, where he gets a little more screen time. In Alice Upside Down he played the title character’s older brother, showing an appealing on-screen confidence and a deft touch with comedy. They had to add a line to explain his shaved head — he had just completed an appearance as a young Lex Luthor in an episode of “Smallville.” He took the lead in the cute comedy The Adventures of Foodboy as a high school senior who discovers he has the power to make food appear.

And he has a small role in the prestige film “Milk,” co-starring with Sean Penn in the story of the first openly gay man to win major elective office in the United States. Grabeel plays photographer Danny Nicoletta, and you can glimpse him with a camera in this trailer for the film. I am very impressed with the range, screen presence, and charisma of this talented young actor and I expect him to be a breakout star.

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Steve Russo’s Biblical Lessons from HSM

Posted on November 3, 2008 at 4:00 pm

Steve Russo, author of Wildcats in the House: Spiritual Stuff You Can Get From High School Musical, has given Beliefnet 10 Biblical lessons from “High School Musical,” like relying on faith, gratitude for God’s gifts, and keeping your priorities clear.

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Spiritual films

High School Musical

Posted on October 20, 2008 at 8:00 am

A-

Lowest Recommended Age:	All Ages
MPAA Rating:	G
Profanity:	None
Alcohol/ Drugs:	None
Violence/ Scariness:	None
Diversity Issues:	Diverse characters
Date Released to Theaters:	2006
Date Released to DVD:	2006
Amazon.com ASIN:	B000F2BNW2

This week, as the powerhouse franchise that is known as “HSM” moves from television to CD (top-seller of the year), DVD, stage show, video game, ice show, birthday party decoration theme, and now feature film theatrical release, it’s time to take another look at the original that became the unstoppable hit of 2006, the original Disney Channel movie, “High School Musical.”

When Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) find themselves singing karaoke together at a resort on New Year’s Eve, they feel a connection. But then it turns out she has transferred to his school. Vacation is one thing, but at school people tend to stick to clearly defined roles. He’s a basketball star. She’s a math whiz. Their friends all think anyone outside their group is not worth talking to, and the idea of liking anything different is not tolerated.

But they still have music in common — and a lot of chemistry (Efron and Hudgens became a real-life couple). Despite the best, or perhaps I should say worst efforts of bother-sister scene-stealers Ryan and Sharpay Evans (Lucas Grabeel and Ashley Tisdale as HSM’s version of Team Rocket) to hold onto the lead roles in the…high school musical, talent and integrity win the day.

My favorite number in the show is the joyous salute to being yourself, “Stick to the Status Quo.” Can’t wait to see HSM3. Go Wildcats!

HSM3 Trailer!

Posted on October 16, 2008 at 8:00 am