Camp Rock --- Another Disney film in the vein of High School Musical

Camp Rock is one of Disney's latest attempts to further capitalize off of the major success they found with the first two High School Musical films. It's interesting that the genre has become so popular lately, but not all that surprising that it was Disney who found the magic formula. Camp Rock is in the same blood as many of their recent films, where they take a loose story, and surround it with a lot of song and dance to really keep the audience interested. You might as well call it a musical for all of the musical interludes that the story has, and they put a formula out there that was sure to entertain its core audience, even if the film didn't end up being impressive to those on the outside looking in.

Actress Demi Lovato gets the call in the lead role, after having stared in a couple of Disney shows that never quite got off the ground. It’s clear right away that she could be a teen-queen if she plays her cards right, and in this instance, Disney gives her the chance to really shine as an actress and a singer. In Camp Rock, Demi plays Mitchie Torres, who is (of course) a teen girl that wants more than anything, to be able to attend a prestigious camp that helps teach young musicians the ropes of what it takes to survive in the industry. It is called Camp Rock, and it is her dream to go there, but her family cannot quite afford for to her to attend. It's a huge disappointment to her, but when he mom finds a way to cater to the camp for the summer by being the chef there, Mitchie has an "in" to attend the camp.

While at the camp, Mitchie tries her hardest to fit in like she thinks she should, by boasting about things in her past that aren't quite true, but which gets her the attention that she wants. Unfortunately she falls under the assumption that to get the respect of a few divas in the camp that she needs to impress them, and she does so by making up a story about what he mother does, and how famous she was. It puts her at odds with the kinder people that want to be-friend her, and at first she is fine with that, until she ends up figuring out that it’s not what she really wants. Helping her see that light is someone that she develops a crush on, who just happens to be a famous musician spending some time at the camp to begrudgingly give back to the industry. In fact he is only really there because his brothers convince him, but he too learns the error of his ways, in that once he was selfish, and now he might learn to not be.

The main attraction to Disney viewers was the inclusion of the Jonas Brothers in the making of this movie. If you don't know who they are, they opened for Miley Cyrus for quite a while, and have become the new darlings of the Disney family. Joe Jonas takes on the lead male character of Camp Rock, as Shane Gray, the troubled musician who is going back to the camp where he started to discover his roots, and try out a new sound. Songs ensue, and the sub-plot of the film is that all the campers are working towards a final concert at the end of camp where they can show-case all the new talents they have gained. The film itself is quite formulaic, with no real surprises in the story, but at least it has a lot of heart and a few interesting musical numbers. The younger audience, and especially the Disney audience, will enjoy this one, which showcases Joe Jonas above everything else. For other fans of film, this one won't be as good as High School Musical, but can be a good family film to add to the collection.