Zac Efron: Hot Heartthob or Teenyboppin’ Terror?
Allison Ruderman ‘10: Disney turned him into a brand, correctly reading the tweenage demand for a star with a just-passable voice and a Beatles mop top updated with highlights. Now, with “Hairspray” behind him and a contract to play Ren in the upcoming “Footloose” remake, “High School Musical’s” Zac Efron is Hollywood’s resident it-boy. Thankfully, stars whose fans skew young typically experience a quick plunge from fame. That’s because a) preteens eventually grow up, moving on to bigger and better stars (like Jake Gyllenhaal and Matthew McConaughey) and b) the stars themselves ditch the wholesome shtick. Zac’s real-life and onscreen girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens lost Disney-approved appeal when she bared all in the public eye. Zac, too, could be one scandal away from obscurity. More »
