Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure Blu-ray Movie Review

Wait... so the girl is the one named Sharpay? Not the dog? Brace for 'HSM' ignorance, dear readers.

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown April 26, 2011

It takes a brave man to slip off his work boots, step into the ballerina flats of a fourteen-year old girl and evaluate a direct-to-video High School Musical spinoff like Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure in the proper frame of mind. But I am not that man. While I can understand the appeal of the HSM franchise, particularly in lieu of the cultural supernova that is Glee, I don't think I'll ever be able to wrap my head around the allure of this one, from the perspective of a thirty-year old man or a trailblazing teen. She may have been a bearable antagonist, but Tisdale's snappy, spoiled, self-centered Lava Springs prima donna makes for an obnoxious, unattractive protagonist, no matter what rosy, well-intentioned sweetheart may lurk deep within, no matter what New York adventure she might embark on, no matter who lowers their pink-tinted glasses to watch the formerly devilish diva flaunt her more grating personality quirks in a solo outing all her own.

“You mustn't be afraid to dream bigger, darling.”

So what's so fabulous about Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure? Nothing substantive. When veteran music producer Jerry Taylor (Pat Mastroianni) catches one of Sharpay's club performances, the would-be starlet earns herself an opportunity to audition for a coveted role on Broadway. First though, she has to convince her parents (Robert Curtis Brown and Jessica Tuck) to let her go. Enter Sharpay's shallow friends and their equally shallow, albeit thankfully short-lived scheme. Naturally, her parents relent, save one catch: she has just thirty days to prove she has what it takes to make it in the Big City, otherwise she has to return and work for her father at his country club. With primped pup Boi nestled snuggly in her designer bag, Sharpay heads to New York, has a not-so-chance encounter with a creepy but charming film student named Peyton (Austin Butler), finds herself slumming her thirty days in an ordinary apartment building, and begins obsessing over everything from her status to her style to her superficiality. Hot pink hijinks ensue, a suitably vile villainess rears her scarlet mane (Cameron Goodman), and Sharpay does her best to prove herself, embrace her biggest dream, and shed some of the selfishness weighing her down.

But with less music than every other entry in the High School Musical franchise, virtually no HSM alums to speak of (Tisdale notwithstanding), and a tiresome riches-to-rags-to-riches faux-fairy tale in tow, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure feels more like a paint-by-numbers Disney Channel cash-in than anything more worthwhile. Tisdale pulls double duty with airy ease -- leaping from unlikable brat to impish angel and back again, several times over -- but Sharpay remains a high society caricature. She doesn't grow so much as she survives; she doesn't evolve so much as she comes out on top; she doesn't grow up so much as she bests an even more narcissistic egomaniac. I suppose there are valuable lessons buried within Sharpay's grasp at Broadway stardom; at least enough to give weary parents an excuse when succumbing to a tween-terror's demands. And I suppose laughs will flow freely for HSMers attuned to the series' exhausting, fist-over-hand comedy. But I couldn't stop looking at my watch, desperate to know how much more Disney Channel brow-beating I'd have to endure before the credits put an end to my misery.

That said, I'm about as far removed from the film's target audience as can be. I can try to squeeze into a teen's ballet flats, I can attempt to predict how unwavering High School Musical acolytes will react to its heavy handed comedy, I can even take a shot in the dark and assume someone, somewhere will adore Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure for everything it is and more. But at the end of the day, and with no other HSM hopeful on staff, it comes down to one jaded writer's opinion of a spinoff intended for an entirely different kind of filmfan. The best I can do is wave my hands and warn anyone who isn't aware of what they're walking into. Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure isn't fabulously fun or fabulously funny. It isn't brimming with catchy songs, memorable up-and-comers or smartly penned NYC shenanigans. It isn't Black Swan Lite (although that would have been an absolutely brilliant move), it doesn't boast much HSM clout, and its performances are forced and irritating. It doesn't have much redeeming value (save a last-ditch effort or two), nor does it try to be anything more than a quasi-entertaining franchise followup. Unless High School Musical posters are strung across your walls, unless "I Heart Troy Bolton" is tattooed along your arm, skip this second rate spinoff and hand your teen a copy of a more meaningful film.

And for the record: yes, I'm still reeling from the realization that Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure isn't a Beverly Hills Chihuahua-esque romp through Manhattan starring a prissy little mutt named Sharpay.

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Well, it's certainly colorful. As if Sharpay didn't don enough pink to startle a flock of flamingos, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure is teeming with innumerable pinks: hot, demure, carnation, brink, pastel, cotton candy, ultra, cherry blossom, dusty rose, dogwood... you name a pink, it's here in all its fabulous high definition glory. The rest of Disney's 1080p/AVC-encoded follows suit, reveling in every vivid, vibrant scene the film has on tap. It isn't as stunning as, say, a high-dollar feature film -- Sharpay's low budget, direct-to-video roots result in a string of soft shots and consistently muted blacks -- but it's presumably an accurate rendering of its source. Detail ranges from decent to remarkable, fine textures and closeups are suitably impressive, and edge definition is fairly refined. More importantly, artifacting, banding, ringing and other lower class anomalies never sully the richer aspects of the presentation. All things considered, fans with reasonable DTV expectations will be quite pleased with the energetic parade of pink Disney has put together.

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Disney's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is certainly serviceable. Tisdale's song-and-dance numbers alone make good use of the LFE channel and rear speakers. But the film's made-for-TV mix limits the possibilities. Dialogue is nice and crisp (if not a bit too shallow at times), effects are clean and clear, and prioritization is passable (for a direct-to-video release anyway). Sadly, LFE output doesn't exactly beat down any doors, and barely gets the job done when called upon. Likewise, the whole of the experience is largely a front-heavy, conversation-driven one, even though a touch of directional prowess transforms busier scenes with brief but more immersive bursts of activity. Even so, George S. Clinton's bubble-pop music weathers the worst of Sharpay's tantrums to contribute to the studio's solid, albeit uninvolving lossless track.

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Seventeen minutes of special features hardly constitutes a supplemental package, much less a riveting behind the scenes experience built with High School Musical fanatics in mind. Even the most devoted HSMers will balk at the lack of any substantial content.

• The Evolution of Sharpay (HD, 9 minutes): Ashley Tisdale discusses her character's growth, shortfalls, personality, snarky comebacks and first steps into the HSM spotlight in this clip-heavy EPK.
• Austin Cam (HD, 7 minutes): Actor Austin Butler grabs a high definition camera and stalks his fellow cast and crew members on set, shots from which appear throughout the film itself.
• Bloopers (HD, 1 minute): This outtake reel's lone saving grace is its mercifully short length.
• Discover Blu-ray 3D (HD, 4 minutes): Timon and Pumbaa introduce the wonders of 3D... in 2D.
• Sneak Peeks (HD): Trailers, TV promos and quick sneak peeks are included for The Lion King, The Fox and the Hound and The Fox and the Hound 2, Bambi II, Prom, Cars 2, Shake It Up and Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension.

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure continues to elude me, even though I have no doubt its target teens will fall in love with High School Musical's self-centered drama queen. Disney's Blu-ray release isn't much better. While its video transfer is sure to satisfy fans, its DTS-HD Master Audio track underwhelms and its supplemental package disappoints. For diehard HSM fans only.