Where there's a Will, there's a way (Bandslam (DVD))

Member Name: aylawarner

Product:	Bandslam (DVD)
Date:	03/09/09 (105 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Light-hearted funny film with some great music

Disadvantages: Didn't warm to characters, could have been funnier

When misfit Will starts a new school in New Jersey, he hopes that this time it will be different and that he won't be the object of ridicule. He immediately strikes up a friendship with the quiet and lonely Sa5m (the '5' is silent) but when ex-cheerleader, Charlotte, also shows an interest in him, Will can't believe his luck. Charlotte recruits Will as manager of her band in a bid to compete against her ex-boyfriend at Bandslam, a battle of the bands competition, where the winners receive a record contract. For the first time, Will finds himself enjoying his life and his new group of friends. But can this unlikely group of misfits overcome their problems and win the battle?

~ Cast ~
Will - Gaelan Connell
Charlotte - Alyson Michalka
Sa5m - Vanessa Hudgens
Karen - Lisa Kudrow
Basher Martin - Ryan Donowho
Ben - Scott Porter
Bug - Charlie Saxton
Omar - Tim Jo

From seeing the trailers for Bandslam, I have to admit this was a film that I wasn't too bothered about. It looked OK but nothing great. But after reading some reviews on here which all highly praised the film, I thought I'd better give it a go.

Gaelan Connell, who plays the main role of Will, was brilliant. He played the typical nice but geeky teenager who gets bullied at school. His character was very funny and his facial expressions and actions created plenty of laugh out loud moments. I was hoping to see a bit more of Vanessa Hudgens in the film as the trailers and posters all make it seem as if she a very prominent character and very similar to her role in HSM but I didn't find this at all. She wasn't the smiley and bubbly girl we've all come to know and love although the same joy radiated from her when she began to sing. I think her role in the film has been played up a bit so that all the HSM fanatics will want to see this. She did have one of the main roles but the lead female role was taken by Alyson Michalka. Although Michalka played the character of Charlotte brilliantly, I did think that a better casting could have picked in regards to looks. Charlotte is meant to be girl who used to be head cheerleader and one of the most popular girls in the school but I couldn't imagine her being like this. Although very pretty and blonde, she simply looked more like a rock chick and a girl who wouldn't be in the most popular gang. Lisa Kudrow acted the over-protective mother very well and it was nice to see her in a different role from Phoebe in Friends. I have to say though that she's starting to look quite a bit older but this didn't diminish her acting skills whatsoever. The rest of the supporting cast, which ended up creating a very unique group of friends, all created some very funny moments.

I think the main problem I had with this film was that I didn't find myself warming to any of the characters. Will and his mother were the only two characters that I really felt anything positive towards as they'd had a hard life dealing with Will's dad, but the other characters, including Sa5m and Charlotte, I didn't have any strong feelings towards them either positive or negative.

I'm not really sure why the film was rated a PG. It had a kind of High School Musical feel to it in that the characters in the film were the same age but nothing else was similar to HSM and I didn't really feel that it was a particularly good film for kids to watch. I think the storyline was more targeted towards adults and there was no dancing around or bursting into song at every possible opportunity, so those who are comparing it to HSM, it isn't the same at all and young children won't enjoy it anywhere near as much. The music only comes from the fact that the teenagers are competing in a music competition, so it isn't a musical film, and the type of music is rock rather than sweet and catchy (sometimes irritating) pop tunes. There were many opportune moments for rude lines or more adult comical scenes to be included which would have made the film that little bit funnier and could have easily given it a 12A rating. However, because these weren't included and the whole thing was very light-hearted and easy-going, it did make it a film suitable for the younger ones, but I just don't see them enjoying it as much as some other films personally.

I'm glad I decided to see this film in the end as, although I didn't find it brilliant, it was an enjoyable watch with some very funny, light-hearted moments and with some great music to sing and dance along to.

Running time: 111 minutes
Certificate rating: PG
Director: Todd Graff

Summary: A bunch of high school friends compete for a record contract in the local battle of the bands.