There's only so much cutesiness a sane adult can stand close-up, even given how bitter that adult inevitably sounds when bashing a successful commercial venture. Hating a phenomenon like "High School Musical" no longer makes you appear tasteful. It makes you seem stupid, as if you hated all of market capitalism, or all winners.

And indeed there's much to admire as the blockbuster Disney concept returns with a sequel tonight. "High School Musical 2," after all, offers sincere consolation for those perplexed by America's YouTube youth. It's a wonderful throwback, a candy-colored song-and-dance extravaganza set among teenagers for whom A.D.D. is rhythm and early-onset puberty is romantic comedy.

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