Wide Screen: High School Musical 2
It’s been quite a while since we’ve done a Wide Screen, but I just saw High School Musical 2 (of course I did) and I figured we should talk about Martha. You might remember her as “fat chick who secretly loves hip hop dancing” from the first film, and her role (and those of several of the other secondary characters) has been greatly expanded here.
Character: Martha Cox, played by Kaycee Stroh
Credits: Basically, the High School Musical movies. According to Wikipedia, Kaycee is a 23-year-old dance instructor who ended up auditioning for the film along with her students.
Plot points: Martha is employed at a resort with the rest of the Wildcats. She dances around a lot. She doesn’t actually have a “storyline” per se.
Stereotypes: In her recap for the movie, Miss Alli says: “did they have to make the fat girl the cook? Jesus Christ. Camryn Manheim this, you assholes.” So, yeah. Her job is as a cook. And yet in the song “Work It Out” (see the link below) she is the first one to join in the dancing. Her love of hip-hop (and her talent as a dancer) is kind of an anti-fat girl stereotype. Six of one….
Sex/Romance/Attractiveness: It’s hard to say. If two people are paired off in the big dance number at the end, does that make them a couple? And if Martha is paired up with the clearly gay Ryan (Ryan and Chad are even wearing each other’s clothes at the end of one song) does that make her a fag hag?
Fat jokes: None. In the first film the “unexpected” combination of a fat girl who loves to dance might be considered as played for laughs. In the second film, it’s just an established part of her character.
Overall: I feel pretty positive about the character of Martha. I spent a lot of time watching her dancing in the background and she’s clearly a great dancer and it’s awesome that they decided to upgrade her role. It definitely adds a positive message to the film.
The bottom line: Martha’s role could be bigger (ha, ha), but she’s a good character.
Rating on the offense-o-meter (10 being Norbit): 2
But how’s the movie?: Incredibly cheesy. Did you even have to ask?
Bonus: There’s a bootleg version of her dancing around in her chef’s hat that (for now) can be seen right here. So did anyone else see this movie, or the first one? What did you think?
Posted by mo pie
Filed under: Celebrities, Fat Positive, Movies, TV, Video, Wide Screen, Zac Efron
I first watched this movie as a school-wide activity at the high school where I work (I work at a special ed center, so all the students have moderate/severe developmental disabilities), and the students love it and sing along. So it was fun to watch. And I really did love that part where the fat girl started dancing on the table. I had been making fun of the movie, but when that happened I turned to my coworker (a very hot gay man who adores the movie) and told him the movie’s awesomeness just went up several notches.
Also randomly, I was just talking to one of my best friends today (he is also a gay man) about the movie and about the fat girl in it. While I wish she did end up with a real potential relationship in this second movie, I am happy with the fact that they at least don’t play up her weight as the main issue. She just is who she is. It’s refreshing.
Plus, I guess Zac Efron can’t end up with the hot fat girl in *every* movie he’s in… ;)
I’m kind of torn, too. My 8 year-old daughter is obsessed with all things High School Musical, so I’ve seen parts 1 and 2 multiple times. While part of me says, “hooray for the fat girl!” because I’m so glad that we’re represented, I do get bummed that she has no romantic counterpart. And what a stereotype that she dances with the gay guy!
Maybe in part 3 Martha and Ryan can both find significant others. One can dream.
I dont think Ryan is clearly gay at all… He is a mommas boy, not a tough jock..My son is similar and very not gay…my son doesnt care for sports and prefers acting and singing. So did Brad Pitt and he isnt gay.
Mo — have you seen High School Musical 3? In the opening scene, Martha is front and center of the cheerleading squad, rockin’ out. There is another cheerleader about the same size as Martha and the two of them take turns in the captain spot. You should see it, she looks great.
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there is nothing that could beat High School Musical 1. it is the best compared to Part 2 and Part 3