Let Camp Rock 2 rock your world

MANILA, Philippines - Disney Channel’s multitude of young followers (and their parents) across the Philippines are in for a rousing treat.

Camp Rock, America’s No. 1 cable TV movie for 2008 — featuring the megastar trio of the Jonas Brothers (Kevin, Joe and Nick) and young superstar Demi Lovato, plus a bunch of Disney’s top teen artists led by Fil-Am Anna Maria Perez de Tagle — is back with a bigger and more electrifying sequel called Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.

The original movie franchise, which will premiere tonight at 7:30 on Disney Channel, is packed with elaborate production numbers showcasing cool and more demanding dance routines to a great soundtrack that spans pop, hip-hop and rock.

Anna Maria, who returns to the sequel as a completely changed Ella (she’s now friendlier and smarter), raves about Camp Rock 2’s catchy songs, and reveals that the dance numbers are “much more daring and more exhausting.”

“Exhausting but fun,” the granddaughter of the legendary Filipino actress and singer Sylvia La Torre points out. “The choreographer (Rosero McCoy) is so amazing he brought into the movie new and harder dance styles. He challenged us all and then brought out the best in us. He’s simply unbelievable.”

And like other Disney’s smash musicals, one of the movie’s strengths is its ability to convey to young audiences valuable messages in life that could inspire and guide them till their maturity — resilience, perseverance, loyalty, respect and teamwork — while providing solid (and clean fun) entertainment they will never forget.

During its Aug. 18 premiere at New York City’s Lincoln Center, adoring fans — groups of teens and tweens from all walks of life — gave the entire cast a rock star welcome with deafening screams and shrieks, as they watch them walk the red carpet in style and strike a pose before blinding bulbs of the international press.

Aside from the Jonas Brothers, Demi and Anna Maria, fans cheered the arrival of other Camp Rock stars like Alyson Stoner, Meaghan Martin, Jasmine Richards, Roshon Fegan, Jordan Francis, Matthew “Mdot” Finley, Maria Canals-Barrera, Daniel Fathers, Daniel Kash and Frankie Jonas, the youngest brother of the famous Jonas trio.

“People, the kids most specially, will be able to relate to the characters, what they’re going through,” Joe told reporters from across the globe. “Visually, it’s pretty stunning... and you will love the performances of all the amazing characters.”

In time for the showing of Camp Rock 2 is the ongoing US and world tour of Camp Rock that kicked off in July and ends in January 2011. Still the high-prized and most bankable Disney stars, the Jonas Brothers and Demi, along with Anna Maria and other select Disney teen artists, have been packing large arenas all over — as much as 25,000 capacity in some areas.

We got to witness the New Jersey leg of the concert tour at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J. and we were overwhelmed by a crowd of 16,000 die hard fans who gave the Jonas Brothers and co-stars a Beatles reception, and us their eardrum-piercing screams from start to finish. Another 16,000 trooped to the venue the following night. It was a clear testament to the extreme popularity of the Jonas Brothers as among the world’s top bands, and Demi as the reigning Disney princess.

Camp Rock 2, which was also filmed in Ontario, Canada and directed by Paul Hoen, is about the reunion of Camp Rockers all longing for a summer of fun and music, only to face a serious challenge from a state-of-the art and well-funded music camp (Camp Star) just across the lake. Camp Rock’s existence is threatened by Camp Star’s poaching of its counselors and campers.

Placed in a hapless situation with Camp Rock’s director (played by Daniel Fathers) already bent to shut down Camp Rock, it’s a thrill to see how the young campers would defy the odds and outsmart the other camp.

In the middle of tense scenes, the campers would break into song numbers that only pump up the audience’s energy to root for the underdogs.

Can’t Back Down is our most favorite cut in the film’s 14-song soundtrack. Here, Mitchie Torres (Demi) asserts her leadership and galvanizes her fellow campers to stand up and fight for Camp Rock in a big percussive rhythmic dance number that is a mix of rock and urban sounds.

“We can’t back down, not right now...don’t close your eyes, we’re in this together,” Mitchie and the campers sing in a superb production number.

Another crowd pleaser is the equally exhilarating It’s On, a magnetic hybrid of classic rock and hip-hop performed during the two camps’ first face-off as they agree to a showdown to prove who is the better camp.

As a Filipino, try not to get distracted by Anna Maria during those two high-octane dance sequences. The girl’s got the moves, and you’ll end up marveling at the sight of her on screen — and feeling proud that a young and seemingly fragile porcelain doll can hold her own in the presence of those hyper and multi-talented Disney artists.

Another Fil-Am in the cast is the delightful Roshan, who is reprising his role as Sander, the director of activities at Camp Rock. The son of TV actor Roy Fegan, Roshan is a noted freestyle dancer and is starring in the upcoming Disney series Shake It Up.

Watch out also for Mdot who plays the extremely talented but cocky Luke Williams from Camp Star. The handsome young actor, who is being introduced in the movie, is oozing with talent and charisma. Already playing front act for Jonas Brothers, Ciara, Mod Def and other major artists, Mdot must be destined for greatness as his searing, beat-driven solo number, Fire, can attest.

In between the fast numbers are beautiful love songs — and subplots of budding romance between Mitchie and Shane Gray (Joe Jonas), and Nate (Nick Jonas) and Dana Turner (Chloe Bridges) — that will surely touch the hearts of both the young and old. Try not to cry when Mitchie and Shane perform the pop/rock duet Wouldn’t Change A Thing that conveys the joy and anguish of the state of young love. And be ready to get amused by Introducing Me, an ultra fast-paced song by Nate as he charms the gorgeous Chloe by saying all the things about himself in two minutes.

The finale is a breathtaking battle royale between the two camps in a widely-televised competition that one shouldn’t miss. It will make you cheer, laugh, hope for the best, and cry, and in the end learn something wonderful in life — with a wide smile.