High School Musical party: How we survived

by Jay Allen (Subscribe to Jay Allen's posts) Jan 21st 2006 5:03PM

Last week, before my wife left to go cover Sundance, my eight-year-old daughter Neve asked if she could have a "High School Musical party". High School Musical, she informed me, is "the newest DCOM" - Disney slang for "Disney Channel Original Movie". (What was that Orwell said about corrupting the language?) Disney's Web site did more than just encourage kids to watch the film, though: it egged them on to throw their own "Red Carpet Premiere Party".

I don't know what mixture of pity and "there's a sucker born every minute"-ness caused me to say "yes", but last night my mother and I found ourselves wrangling a total of eight kids from 8pm until 10pm. Half of the kids were Neve's guests; the other were my three little ones under age 7, whom we had to keep entertained while the big kids watched their "dumb show". By the time we got everybody out the door at 10:30, the floors were littered with toys and popcorn shards.

Somehow, though, we managed to make it through without once losing our collective sanity. (It helped that my kids collapsed in their beds shortly afterwards.) It was one of those situations where you just have to accept that, for the next two hours of your life, you're going to be swimming in a cacophonous hell. And, hey - if you have to be in hell, you might as well bring a stick and some marshmallows and make a time of it.

And the movie itself? It was cute. Very...musical, I'm afraid, but cute. It centered around an inspirational plot about a science geek and a jock who enter the musical together, throwing the entire social structure of their school into disarray. I'm sure I'll be able to dissect its finer cinematic points over the next week, as my daughter astutely recorded it on the DVR. Thank the gods there's a new Full Metal Alchemist on tonight...

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Comments (124)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)

Kayla 2-07-2006 @ 5:34PM

Zac is so hot! I love him to death! I would love to meet him sometime in my life! He is the HOTTEST guy I've ever seen! :) E-mail me!

Sue 2-07-2006 @ 6:24PM

Zac Efron you know what you are the hottest guy ever my room is full of pictures. O hmy gosh i loved the part in the movie and your dad is talking and you dont have a shirt on! You are so hot my eyes are burning on fire!
As for all you girls hs mine! Get your own man, bitches!

alexandra 2-07-2006 @ 8:27PM

i love you zac efron and i really want to meet you and get your autograph.

Darby 2-08-2006 @ 2:40PM

I LOVE U ZAC!!!! UR SUCH A HOTTIE

Susan 2-08-2006 @ 9:11PM

Zac you are so hot! I just want to, ahhh! My eyes are burning my friends think im obsessed! But its not true im so glad you were in this movie i really want to kiss you! i watch Zac cam everyday and i focus on is you! forget all those other crazy girls that call that love! Kiss Kiss kissy kiss you are so so so so so so so sos os os so so so so so so so hot not like any other guy ive seen!
for all you girls get a life i have his email and i mailed him a picture of me he said i was cute! So Back off! Marshals right you girls get a bloody life!

Its susan again! 2-08-2006 @ 9:22PM

Zac Marry me and lets have a girl! My sister is so mad because we fought and i won! And because i pulled her hair and shes older than me and you! Youre a hottttiiiiieeeee!!!! Its LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE with you i have more pictures than sue in my room!

As for you girls , get a damn life bitches!

Andrew 2-11-2006 @ 4:02PM

Ashly Tisdale is thehottest hic like ever! MARRY ME ASHLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alexis 2-11-2006 @ 9:26PM

Hey zac i luv your movie... i really want to meet you.. e-mail me soon...I LUV U!!!!

Kelley Wilson 2-13-2006 @ 4:29PM

Hey Zac,
My sister Lauren absused over you I am to but not like her although she is 12 and I am 14 but going to be 15 March 20.She thinks your a babe.

Kelley Wilson 2-13-2006 @ 4:29PM

Hey Zac,
My sister Lauren absused over you I am to but not like her although she is 12 and I am 14 but going to be 15 March 20.She thinks your a babe.

Sarah 2-14-2006 @ 8:31AM

OMG Zac/Troy is sooo cute! and a good actor cuz I have seen the movie every single time its been played! Thank God theres gonna be a sequel! I love him so much I'm a little obessed!lol

Carli 2-17-2006 @ 5:43PM

OMG...ZAC EFRON IS THE HOTTEST/SEXIEST MAN ALIVE!!! High School Musical is also the BEST movie EVER!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG!!! ILU ZAC EFRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Love,
Your #1 fan!!!

gracie 2-17-2006 @ 10:33PM

hi
i really loved the show and some day i want to be a famous actress i probly never would but yea neways zac i love ur vioce i can sing good to but no one will never find out unless they go to my school amd the attack of the raido active cheer leaders its awesome so like if any one live in marysville ca they should come snd see it at 7:00 on the 24 or the 25 at the marysville california so yea

Alysssa Hecht 2-18-2006 @ 10:33AM

I love Zac!If we get married i'm going to su Ashley Tisdale for kissing him.Don't have any ideas he is mine!I love you Zac!Call me!

Shelby 2-18-2006 @ 4:56PM

Hey you probably think I am upsest with you but Im not I just think that the High School Musical moie was cool! So (if I had)5 thumbs up on that.
Shelby

Mary 2-19-2006 @ 12:02PM

Hey! Zac, i think that you and Ashley Tisdale should hook up, you guys are such a cute couple, except she's gonna be 21 in june, and you're 18..OH WELL! :)
*MUAH*

Mary Matchett 2-19-2006 @ 12:11PM

Hey yeah my family found out that we're related to Kerry Matchett..the one who plays on Invasion..i love that show! and LOST..but yeah..hopefully i'll become famous and meet you guys!,,L8ers!