NEW YORK -- The Jonas Brothers and friends are helping to revive an 80-year-old movie tradition. It's called: "Let's put on a show!"
This talented troupe -- the three Jonas siblings Joe, Nick and Kevin, along with performing friends from Demi Lovato to Alyson Stoner, Canadian rapper Jordan (J) Francis and even nine-year-old Jonas brother Frankie -- are getting better at it, both on-stage and on-screen. In the midst of a Jonas world tour that introduces the songs and dances of Camp Rock 2, this Disney-made movie is coming to TV and home entertainment.
Coincidentally, just as the live tour hits Toronto and Montreal this week, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam makes its TV debut Friday (8 p.m. on the Family Channel in Canada). On Tuesday, the upbeat musical debuts on home entertainment. One option is a stand-alone DVD. There is also a combo pack combining a Blu-ray, DVD, digital copy and expanded extras. This is an Extended Edition with two bonus musical numbers plus other behind-the-scenes material from the location shoot in Toronto and Ontario.
Camp Rock 2 is far superior to the 2008 original. All the performers know it.
"This movie is so much better than the first, by far," says Stoner, who plays the character Caitlyn.
"It is, I agree with you," admits Meaghan Martin, a nice girl who plays the difficult diva Tess. "We had a bigger budget. Honestly, that does make a difference. And we knew what we were doing. We had already done it once so coming back and doing it again was pretty simple. I think that had a lot to do with it. We were more organized. We knew what worked and what didn't work. And this one also focuses more on the music. And, to be frank, that is most of our cast's stronger talent."
Indeed, everyone in the Camp Rock movies does their own singing, dancing and acting -- with acting third on the list. Enter the Jonas Brothers. They were a novelty act in the original. Now they are integrated into the plot.
"A lot has changed," says Joe Jonas, on a whirlwind day of interviews in Manhattan, after a New Jersey concert appearance and before they prepared for Thursday's first live show in Toronto (7 p.m. at the Molson Amphitheatre). "I think, individually, all the cast have had the opportunity to do more."
With the Jonases, Joe notes that the first season of their own Disney show followed the original Camp Rock. Plus they have branched out, including solo projects. "So we've all had individual experiences in which we're grown personally. Kevin, he found somebody he will spend the rest of his life with. We're all a little bit older."
As for Camp Rock 2 specifically, Joe says: "With the storyline and the way they were able to build it up, it showed they were able to grow our characters a little bit."
Kevin's on-screen clowning has blossomed. "I try to do my best. I enjoy it. I had a really good time and I hope that people will find it funny and not out of control," he says.
Nick gets romantic time on-screen with newcomer Chloe Bridges, who teaches him about honest communication in a relationship. Nick delivers his sentiments in a song. "The first time I heard the song it was a real challenge because it was so off the wall," says Nick. "But it was explained to me as a kind of Adam Sandler moment."
Lovato, the most difficult Camp Rock interview, is nonetheless dedicated to the new movie. She knows it has more emotion. "I put emotion into everything that I do," she says. "This is just a great opportunity to express myself once again. I had a great time shooting the movie. I thought that we could bring back musicals to the younger demographic."
So, you got it, they put on a show!
bruce.kirkland@sunmedia.ca
