Bandslam

WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

High-school misfit Will moves to New Jersey with his single mom and finds himself as socially anonymous at his new school as he was at the last. A music fanatic (he keeps a one-way letter-writing correspondence with David Bowie), Will finds his calling when, much to his surprise, the school's hot blonde Charlotte Banks asks him to manage her fledgling garage band. Will accepts the offer, taking a group that cranks out uninspired covers of ''I Want You to Want Me'' and moulding it into a high-functioning jamband, which he christens "I Can't Go On, I'll Go On." Thanks to his coaching, they're soon skilled enough to take on the high school's musical hotshots, Glory Dogs, at the city-wide battle of the bands, Bandslam.

All the while, Will is falling for the wry, deadpan Sa5m (the 5 is silent, I don't know why) and dealing with the social and emotional damage wrought by his no-good, absentee father.

WHO'S IN IT?

Gaelan Connell makes a compelling lead as the gangly and sweetly animated Will. Connell is smart, funny and endearing like your awkward little brother. Lisa Kudrow fully engages her perfect comedic timing as Will's kind, smothering mother. Aly Michalka plays Charlotte Banks, the blonde, guitar-playing former cheerleader with heart, and Vanessa Hudgens rounds out the crew as the introverted, bookish nerd dream girl Sa5m. Rock legend David Bowie plays himself in a cameo.

WHAT'S GOOD?

The film is laugh-out-loud funny and trusts its young target audience to pick up on humour more subtle than what's usually found in such teen fare. The dead/loser father subplots give the story a serious hook, making it a little deeper and more authentically poignant than what's expected. These twists also give Connell and Banks the opportunity to display their characters' emotional range, and they're up to the task. The way Will sways a surly audience of high school hecklers into a cheering crowd of fans might just bring happy, proud mother-style tears to your eyes.

The flick boasts solid musicianship from its cast members and a deep cut-heavy soundtrack featuring artists including Nick Drake, Wilco, The Velvet Underground & Nico and Bowie himself.

WHAT'S BAD?

The characters — sweet nerd, alluring alterna-girl, affected popular chick, gaggle of musical dorks — are all cliches, but the fine acting humanises the crew in that relatable Breakfast Club kind of way.

Also, at nearly two hours, the film is longer than the subject matter requires.

FAVORITE SCENE?

Will and Sa5m's trip across the bridge to Manhattan is a lovely, grainy, hand-held camera montage. This young love field trip/perfect first date reaches a high note when the duo breaks into shuttered punk mecca CBGB, and Will finds it everything he's dreamed (a scuzzy shrine to his idols) and more (a fine place to romance his Sex Pistols-endeared love interest).

Lisa Kudrow also reminds us why she was our favourite Friend for so long in her neurotic mom role. The scene in which when she pretends to be a young babe on the prowl in order to help Will lure in a drummer to the band is pure comedic parental love.

PARTING SHOT?

It's understandable that the public at large would perceive this flick to be a cheesy High School Musical-style hokefest for the Disney Channel set. Give Bandslam a chance though, and it'll prove itself to be a surprisingly smart little high school comedy that could simultaneously tide the Twilight legion over until New Moon comes out and endear itself to a broader audience wistful for a John Hughes-style, junior year coming-of-age story.

Hollywood.com rated this film 3 stars.