Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Since today marks the official first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, there is no better time than now to watch beloved 2007 Disney Channel Original musical movie High School Musical 2 on Disney+. HSM2 brings back the High School Musical characters you know and love — Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens), Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale), Ryan Evans (Lucas Grabeel), Chad Danforth (Corbin Bleu), Taylor McKessie (Monique Coleman), and Kelsi Nielsen (Olesya Rulin) — but shakes ’em all of by following them through the start of summer break.
By this point, Troy and Gabriella have been dating for several months (although we still haven’t seen them kiss, a fact that is teased several times throughout this sequel film), Troy and his basketball bros are tighter than ever (and seem to hold no grudges against musical theater), and Sharpay and Ryan Evans are eager to redeem themselves with a new spotlight after losing out to starring roles in the spring musical to Troy and Gabriella.
Sharpay hasn’t given up her crush on East High’s star athlete (we learn in this movie that apparently he not only excels on the hardwood, but also on the golf course! What can’t this floppy-haired heartthrob do?!) and Golden Boy, Troy, and she’s determined to get closer to him by getting him hired at her parents’ country club, Lava Springs (where, of course, Troy somehow brings on all of his teammates, his girlfriend, and her friends to join him on the staff). What ensues is delightful and silly high school drama, some very real worries about the future and college (especially as our stars head into their senior year of high school), summer job shenanigans, breakups and make ups, and some truly fantastic new tunes.
Seriously, I forgot how great the music was in this one, but between “Fabulous,” “I Don’t Dance,” “Bet On It,” and “All For One” (which Miley Cyrus is randomly in for like two seconds if you squint around the 3:45 mark), there are some seriously memorable bangers that will get you out of your seat and scream-singing with your pals over White Claws and s’mores (not sure if that’s a real combo, but they’re both very summery so we should make it a thing) all night long.
This movie is a classic and cheesy in all of the best ways, so make sure to do yourselves a favor and kick off the official start of summer the right way by watching High School Musical 2 as soon as you can on Disney+.
