Whoever thought that the High School Musical is nearly over is dead wrong.  In fact, the overly successful Disney movie is hitting the big screen soon, with the film being released in October.  Now MTV is getting into the game with The American Mall, a new movie musical premiering tonight at 9pm.

Tired of the same old cheesy inspirational songs and love duets in the youthful High School Musical? Don’t give up just yet. MTV's The American Mall is an edgier, sexier version.  In fact, the setting of the movie is not in high school, but—you guessed it—at a typical American mall, where the older crowd go for retail therapy and relaxation while hanging out with their friends.  So what exactly separates this film from the gigantically successful High School Musical (aside from its setting)?

"We deal with more adult issues," said Blythe Auffarth, one of the movie musical's hot young stars.  “It's closer to home for maybe older groups of individuals, like [those] beginning years of college.”

Autumn Reeser, who appeared in The O.C. and now plays a scheming Madison in the film, adds that “It's not quite as poppy [as High School Musical].  It’s sexier.”

More importantly, the stars of The American Mall point out that they are all portraying more realistic characters who have real dreams and aspirations.

"I play Ally Shepherd, who's an aspiring singer/songwriter.  She's just like your average 18-year-old girl," Nina Dobrev said of her character, who is the central figure in the film.  "But she has a [problem where] she can't finish her songs, and life isn't going well until she meets this janitor Joey [played by Rob Mayes] who's able to finish her songs and inspires her to write more music."

Additionally, Ally will have to face Madison, who is also vying for the attention of Joey.  The cast say that this film focuses on how things eventually fall into place, in contrary to asking if things will work out in the end.

“It's about finding yourself and doing what you want to do and being true to yourself,” Mayes explained.  “And I think [for] a lot of people it's difficult to do that.”

Catch The American Mall tonight at 9pm on MTV.


-Valerie Anne del Castillo, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: MTV
(Photo courtesy of MTV)