There were some big questions going into "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," not the least of which was whether its concept is cinematically "worthy."
After all, there are other television projects that were similarly popular with audiences but still weren't ready for their respective big-screen close-ups. Also, there were doubts as to whether there was anything left to say with these particular characters.
There were concerns about whether the creators were really going to turn the franchise over to a new class of "High School Musical" students, too.
"Senior Year" answers all of those questions but with mixed results. It's as cheesy and predictable as you'd expect, and the material is a little threadbare.
And while it probably won't appeal to a much wider audience than the one it already has, it does have a likable cast and a lot of energy.
Zac Efron reprises his role as star athlete Troy Bolton, who faces some tough choices going into his final year of public school. He's not sure if he wants to continue playing hoops in college in New Mexico, or if he might want to chase some theatrical dreams.
His girlfriend, scholarly transfer student Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Anne Hudgens), has her own dilemma. She's been accepted to Stanford and is planning to leave high school early for college orientation. And she's been keeping that information from Troy.
You can bet that once conniving drama queen Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) discovers that information, she'll use it to drive a wedge between the school's popular couple.
Director/choreographer Kenny Ortega and screenwriter Peter Barsocchini are smart enough to keep the plotting simple, so it doesn't get in the way of the singing and dancing (you know, the big reason why people enjoy these silly things).
They also find ways to use the other returning characters — Chad (Corbin Bleu), Taylor (Monique Coleman), Kelsi (Olesya Rulin) and Sharpay's twin brother, Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) — without things becoming too unwieldy.
However, two new arrivals, underclassmen Jimmi "Rocket" Zara (Matt Prokop) and Tiara Gold (Jemma McKenzie-Brown), are pretty obnoxious.
Fortunately, they're mostly relegated to the background, and besides, there are plenty of songs. A New-Kids-on-the-Block-meets-"Stomp" number featuring Efron and Bleu is welcome, and it helps offset a couple of blander, white-bread romantic duets.
Also, keep you eyes peeled for recognizable Utah landmarks. (Like its two television predecessors, "Senior Year" was shot at Salt Lake City's East High School.)