Did ska count as a valuable contribution to bandslams in 2009? And If so, why?
Regan Humphrey
Stagnant high school sophomore and music buff, Will Burton (Gaelan Connell) is suffocating, until his mom (Lisa Kudrow) moves them from Cincinnati, Ohio to Lodi, New Jersey. Van Buren is better than his last high school. No one there teases Will or knows about his father—in fact he’s actually starting to make friends. After being adopted by forcefully amiable Charlotte (Aly Michalka) and pairing with interaction-shy Sa5m (the five is silent [Vanessa Hudgens] for a project. he finds himself putting his encyclopedic music knowledge to good use. Will can’t wait to write David Bowie and tell him all about it.
REF SCORE: 43%
Soundtrack: 40%
Story: 100%
Writing: 40%
Diversity: 60%
Daring: 100%
Racism: ABSENT — 0%
Gender Bias: ABSENT — 0%
Homophobia: ABSENT — 0%
SUMMARY
Bandslam (2009) is a film whose premise holds enormous promise. Its execution, however, was poor, despite the dual splendor of socially awkward Gaelan Connell and Vanessa Hudgens. The script was fresh, but oddly seasoned and undercooked in some places.
ref score 