Reviews for High School Musical 3 have been mixed leading up to the film's theatrical release. Positive reviews for the movie praised director Kenny Ortega's direction and choreography, while negative reviews criticized its "bubblegum plot."Variety: High School Musical 3: Senior Year Review (October 17, 2008) The Hollywood Reporter: High School Musical 3: Senior Year Review (October 17, 2008)

Peter DeBruge of Variety wrote in his review that Zac Efron was the "most likely to succeed" from the HSM3 cast, and noted that Ortega put Efron "center stage" because of that. DeBruge thought the script was "lazy," but felt the staging (and Efron) made the movie "worthy of the bigscreen."Variety: High School Musical 3: Senior Year Review (October 17, 2008)

The Hollywood Reporters's Stephen Farber believed HSM3 would satisfy the franchise's fans, but was too "tedious" to "win any new converts." Like DeBruge, Farber wrote that the film's plot "never really does kick in," lacking any "riveting plot complications" to keep the audience engaged beyond the songs that "aren't truly memorable."The Hollywood Reporter: High School Musical 3: Senior Year Review (October 17, 2008)

Todd Gilchrist of IGN summed up his review by stating that High School Musical fans will see HSM3 regardless of critical reviews. He noted that the movie was not "dark, unredeeming or demoralizing," which was why the movie was "a little bit entertaining" to watch.IGN: High School Musical 3: Senior Year Review (October 23, 2008)