Hello everyone! As you all know, we are still in the era of remakes and reboots, which are always a hit or miss. It can be tough trying to balance the perfect blend of nostalgia and the heart of many household favorites into something new and just as exciting. I also feel as though Disney has not been doing that well with their sitcoms and original movies for quite a bit. It is really a double-edged sword because on the one hand, I’m grateful for being a part of what I consider the last great generation of Disney television. On the other hand, it saddens me that newer generations will never understand how good it was compared to what it is today. This is why I was so back and forth on whether I would watch Camp Rock 3 or not, especially after seeing some of the teasers. Ultimately, I decided to watch the movie (just for you guys) to see what it was all about.
Right off the bat, I would have loved more of the original characters having a storyline or something that connected them to the movie. Though I do give the creators credit for adding in the new characters and storylines, I feel like having more of the original cast included would’ve made the movie feel more like a sequel instead of a reboot. It also would’ve bridged the gap between the O.G. audience and the newer fans. This is because original fans could have seen the progression of characters they grew up on, and newer fans would be more intrigued to go back and look at the original movies with a newer appreciation. Personally, the beginning was a little rocky for me as it felt like they were trying to fit in as many of the original songs and callbacks as possible. I eventually warmed up to the movie and tried to give it a fair shot. I will say that there were some funny and entertaining moments that I found to enjoy throughout. The moment that I loved the most was probably all of the finalists coming together and performing at the end. That is what is at the core of this franchise: camaraderie and friendship connected by music and rhythm. Having that element incorporated was definitely the right decision to make.
Overall, I do feel like each of the original characters could be seen through the new characters just in the roles and dynamics the new characters served, which is something I enjoyed. Though I was very scared and skeptical of this movie, it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. If there is another sequel, I would love for more depth in character development for the cast and more ways to incorporate the original characters. Even if it is just some of the original characters’ children becoming junior campers. I also would love to see more original music that also keeps the heart of what the older Camp Rock songs gave us. This movie might not be one I am counting down the days to watch again, but I would not be opposed to doing such, especially for a hang out. If you guys are interested in checking out the movie yourselves, it is currently streaming on Disney+ alongside the first two movies.