Camp Rock (2008)

Directed by: Matthew Diamond | 94 minutes | comedy, family, romance, musical | Actors: Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, Meaghan Martin, Maria Canals-Barrera, Alyson Stoner, Julie Brown, Daniel Fathers, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Jasmine Richards, Jordan Francis, Roshon Fegan, Kevin Jonas, Nick Jonas, Aaryn Doyle, Giovanni Spina, Jennifer Ricci, Edward Jaunz, Bailey Stocker, Hayley Lochner

The Jonas Brothers. Do you know that group? The three Jonas brothers are well-known pop stars in America with a number of successful albums to their name. They are one of those young acts that appeal to a growing teenage audience. After all, the public that actively spends money on music is getting younger and the commercial possibilities of this growing target group are fully addressed. In the US, the Jonas Brothers have already appeared in movies and even in their own TV series. ‘Camp Rock’ is a Disney film starring the three brothers.

The story is quite simple: girl of humble origin, Mitchie (Demi Lovato), wants to realize her dream at a music camp to achieve something with her music. She falls in love with the pretty rock star at the camp, Shane (Joe Jonas), but also has to compete with the popular rich kids who form a powerful clique. Meanwhile, Shane is looking for the girl with a beautiful voice that he has heard singing without knowing that this is Mitchie. Everything comes to a boil at the final music night where the various contestants compete for recording time with Shane.

Does this sound familiar? Indeed, the pattern follows quite well the story of Cinderella, a fairy tale that has also been turned into a beautiful cartoon by Disney. ‘Camp Rock’ is a “live-action” film and can best be described as a combination between ‘School of Rock’, ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Clueless’. The movie is well put together. Good slick/produced pop rock music on the soundtrack, fresh youngsters in the lead, beautifully filmed and sounded, and well choreographed dance and song scenes.

The popularity of the Jonas brothers will certainly not harm the film, although that will probably not be due to their acting. The lead role of Demi Lovato is likeable and the rest of the cast do a great job. On its own merits, ‘Camp Rock’ is a well-made children’s/teenager film with an overly clichéd story. The question remains whether this slick, easy-to-look Disney fairytale does not paint a too cheerful picture of the music world of today, which certainly also has its less cheerful sides.