Camp Rock
Starring: Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Paul Kevin Jonas, Alyson Stoner
Dir: Matthew Diamond
Rating: 2/5
Camp Rock is just the latest original movie from the Disney Channel and it follows the lives of a talented teen Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato), who yearns to share her songs with the world and a tempestuous young superstar Shane Grey (Joe Jonas), who has lost his passion for music.
Set inside the acclaimed summer workshop, Camp Rock. Aspiring singer songwriter Mitchie Torres, a teen from a working class family, is thrilled when her mother, a caterer, takes a job as the camp cook so Mitchie can attend whilst working in the kitchen.
Befriended by fellow camp member Caitlyn (Alyson Stoner) but intimidated by the immensely talented Tess Tyler (Meaghan Jette Martin) and her friends Peggy (Jasmine Richards) and Ella (Anna Maria Perez de Tagle), Mitchie lives a double life hiding that she is the cook's daughter and posing as a well-to-do camper in order to become part of the hottest clique at camp.
When she's overheard singing, but not seen, by teen pop star and celebrity camp instructor, plus lead singer of Connect Three, Shane Gray (Joe Jonas), he is completely taken and sets out to find the girl behind the beautiful voice. Meanwhile, Mitchie will have to learn how to confront her fears, step out of the kitchen and into the spotlight as herself.
There is without a doubt a market for this type of movie at the moment and Disney are, as you would expect, cashing in on the success of High School Musical and the teeny bopper market really are going to love it.
But unfortunately for everyone else the story is what we have seen before: working class girl pretending to be someone else to fit in before realising who she really is the person she wants to be while trying to achieve her musical dream, there seems to have been a lot of that recently.
Demi Lovato did well with her role but she isn't going to have a long an illustrious career. As for the Jonas Brothers Camp Rock is nothing more than a vehicle to launch their music career and gain the following of that core teenage audience.
In all it was an ok movie that will only appeal to a certain age group, and it was no High School Musical so don't expect similar success but don't be surprised if there is a sequel.
Camp Rock is out on DVD now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw