Reviewed by Hannah Sarney
Bandslam is touted as the indie kid’s answer to High School Musical.
Downtrodden Will Burton (Gaelan Connell) is the new kid in town. After a lifetime of ridicule and loneliness, he has retreated into his headphones and the world of musical trivia. Much to his surprise, this works in his favour at his new school – full of the usual cliques, but this time rock’n’roll dominates the schoolyard.
The main crew are a collection of misfits and social outcasts who have nothing but rhythm in common. Oh, and a few “real world” problems.
Bandslam steers clear of the typical popular, glossy sweethearts favoured by Disney. Instead they grit up the characters by introducing death and rejection into their lives.
Burton has essentially replaced his father with David Bowie (albeit in his head). A fine choice. It allows the soundtrack to reward the viewer through what is, overall, a frustratingly slow and cringe-inducing watch.
The Bowie fixation also provides director Todd Graff the excuse to hash between the various storylines that do little more than waft about for 111 minutes.
The film is an uplifting triumph-against-the-odds story, yet there is very little to cheer about at the end. It’s a movie about trying hard, not about winning – on more levels than I imagine the creators intended.
Although, whatever they did to convince David Bowie into making an odd cameo appearance warrants a star in itself.
Did he need the money, or have a tween desperate to meet Vanessa Hudgens? Who knows.
One and a half stars.
Bandslam
:: Director: Todd Graff
:: Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Aly Michalka, Gaelan Connell, Lisa Kudrow
:: Running Time: 111 mins
:: Rating: PG
:: Release Date: December 17, 2009
:: Trailer: Click here
