Bandslam

2009 Comedy

A gifted young singer-songwriter recruits the new kid in town to manage her fledgling rock band in this music-driven comedy starring Vanessa Anne Hudgens and Gaelan Connell. Charlotte Banks (Aly Michalka) has what it takes to be a true rock star, and with the battle of the bands approaching she's determined to win. Her chief opponent in the upcoming competition is none other than her egotistical ex-boyfriend Ben (Scott Porter). Ben may be cocky, but there's no denying his charisma when he takes the stage. With a little help from new arrival Will Burton (Connell), Charlotte's band begins to develop a unique sound and starts writing some original songs. Meanwhile, as Will and singer/guitarist Sa5m (Hudgeons) start to make a love connection, disaster strikes, and the band is forced to choose between conceding the competition or standing tall and finally living up to their true potential. more..

Director: Todd Graff

Starring: Alyson Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Gaelan Connell, Scott Porter, Lisa Kudrow

Reviews

  • Had Cameron Crowe and the late John Hughes collaborated on a movie populated by Disney Channel superstars, the result might have looked and sounded a lot like Todd Graff's Bandslam. And that's meant as a compliment.

    Michael Rechtshaffen - The Hollywood Reporter

    29 November 2012

  • the script's earnest intelligence and the actors' charm (Connell, Hudgens and Kudrow are especially fun to watch) make this film an entertaining ode to teenage joie de vivre.

    - The Washington Post

    29 November 2012

  • This isn't a breakthrough movie, but for what it is, it's charming, and not any more innocuous than it has to be.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    29 November 2012

  • Misfit teens in the process of forming a high school band learn life lessons and raise their goblets of rock. But there's enough of a strong filmmaking backbeat in Bandslam to carry the movie's light tune.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    29 November 2012

  • Bandslam is "Camp'' with rock 'n' roll instead of show tunes, but its roots go back to the Busby Berkeley backstagers and Mickey-and-Judy let's-put-on-a-show musicals of the 1930s.

    Ty Burr - The Boston Globe

    29 November 2012

Awards

No awards