The first time I watched High School Musical, directed by Kenny Ortega, was during primary school, when I was on a long, monotonous flight without much to do.

I recall flashy costumes, creative choreography, and, of course, unforgettable music. The characters and songs remain clear-cut in my memory, each with their own distinctive personality and musical flair.

A few years later, not much has changed. The characters are still larger than life, the songs are still as catchy as ever, and the set design still manages to maintain a delicate balance between the Broadway musical genre and Disney movies. The timeless message and entertaining plot guarantees the movie a solid four stars, yet some of the humor and clichéd stylistic features might be a bit outdated. The film is an enjoyable watch for all audiences, yet would best be suited to a primary school audience of around nine to 13 years old.

Even at such a young age, the simple love story of Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez was memorable enough for all the songs to be seared into my memory and remain largely unaffected for the past eight years. High schoolers Troy and Gabriella meet at a ski lodge before the beginning of the school year, delivering the film’s first song, “The Start of Something New.” The song provides a solid introduction to the film, with the simple musical accompaniment highlighting the talented vocal performances of the protagonists.

When the term begins, Troy is shocked to discover that Gabriella has joined his school. During a basketball training session, Troy is conflicted by his feelings for her and his desire to try singing, even though it contradicts his image as a “jock.” Gabriella and Troy audition for the school musical, yet are constantly thwarted by the “tyrannical mean girl,” Sharpay Evans. The jealous Sharpay tries to prevent Gabriella from auditioning for the musical by encouraging her to sign up for the scholastic decathlon, which conflicts with the audition time. The school is shocked by Troy’s attempt to engage in activities outside of his immediate clique, and this inspires many other students to start sharing their secret interests. After a series of mishaps, Gabriella and Troy are able to attend the callback for the musical, while not compromising their other activities.

High School Musical caters to almost every type of teenager: teenagers who love theater, sports, science, baking, music, or dance; teenagers who are loud and boisterous; teenagers who are caring and sweet; teenagers who are contemplative and quiet. Although the show does overdo quite a lot of these qualities, the musical-like way it approaches showing the different personalities of the characters ensures that a wide range of young people can see representations of themselves in the film.

Aside from providing different representations of the average high school student, High School Musical also depicts relatable characteristics in teachers and parents. The enthusiastic, caring, and somewhat eccentric Mrs. Darbus is likely to resemble a teacher high school students are familiar with, and the passionate yet authoritative Coach Bolton is a figure that many might recognize.

The film’s popularity can also be attributed to the somewhat timeless nature of its soundtrack. Heavily inspired by Broadway musicals, the soundtrack is largely upbeat, with a pop and theater sound. Highlights include songs such as “What I’ve Been Looking For” and the highly creative “Bop to the Top,” which incorporates a blend of diegetic and non-diegetic sound. Each song is accompanied by dramatic, over-the-top choreography that emphasizes the personality of each character.

Viewers have criticized the film as an oversimplification of the stereotypical high school experience, yet I would argue that this is what makes it so timeless and relatable. The film leans heavily onto existing stereotypes for high school students, only to subvert them and challenge the boundaries of each clique.

It can be argued that High School Musical’s approach to representing the experiences of teenagers at school is surface-level and oversimplified, yet the message of the film rings clear and true 20 years after its release. Perhaps one of the reasons why the popularity of High School Musical has endured is because of its simple message.

The idea that young people should subvert social stereotypes and pursue their personal passions is not a revolutionary one, yet all young people have struggled with overcoming social expectations at some point. Just like Troy and Gabriella overcome the social limitations that high school cliques force onto them, the film encourages young audiences to seek opportunities and experiences outside of their immediate interests. At some point in their lives, all young people have faced challenges and decisions similar to the ones Troy and Gabriella experience, and thus the film maintains its reputation as a relatable and timeless watch.