i wrote this on another forum:
"i saw it just because...
it has all the elements of a cheesy teen romance flick aimed at pre-teens, much like the first one. the music felt so contrived, the plot predictable, and the characters stereotyped.
the only characters i enjoyed watching were the evans family. i found sharpay, scheming as she may be, a very likeable character. the actress's mannerisms and facial expressions were spot on and i'd rather see her prance around and hear her sing than the supposed female protagonist, gabriella. ryan is probably my favorite character. villain-turned-good guy has so much appeal. i've met lucas and i can't believe that kid is 24 and straight. i love his outfit, too.
gabriella annoys me to no end. her character is one-dimensional and too flawless, which i really hate. not to mention her voice is subpar for a "musical" and her acting even worse. i don't understand why so many people worship her, i think she's getting by on her pretty face.
troy is decently written, though i can't understand why zac efron did this project and the third one after his great stint on 'hairspray'. the rest of the characters are stock and not memorable, that's all i have to say.
one thing that upsets me is how unrealistic these kids' mindset is. truth is, college is important and work is important, maybe just as important as, dare i say it, friendship. the world is not all baseball games and love song renditions. just because someone spends time trying to pursue what they want for their future, it doesn't mean he/she needs to be vilified and deemed "unfaithful". true friends will never make you choose between them and your future."