As the cast of "High School Musical" graduates to other projects, we can expect some growing pains.

They're certainly in evidence in "Free Style," in which Corbin Bleu stars as Cale Bryant, a struggling would-be motocross racer weathering all manner of tragedy and betrayal (Bleu is also a producer). But if he was hoping to put some distance between himself and his Disney past, he didn't get very far.

Oh, there are some differences (real kissing - take THAT, Zac and Vanessa!), but for the most part the only real clue that Bleu is playing a supposedly more grown-up role than Chad in "HSM' is the goatee he's grown.

Good call. A tattoo would have been too much, presumably.

"Free Style," directed by William Dear from a script by Jeffrey Nicholson and Joshua Leibner, has its heart in the right place, but it's crippled by an outlandishly sappy story. Cale works at an electronics store and delivers pizza, as well. His father left his mother (Penelope Ann Miller), so Cale has to help support the family, which includes his little sister, Bailey (Madison Pettis).

We learn he's a decent guy in the first race we see, when he GOES BACK AGAINST TRAFFIC to check on his fallen friend, Justin (Jesse Moss). Of course, he also forfeits whatever points he might have earned by a good finish. And so it goes, Cale getting shot down at every turn for basically trying to do the right thing.

But wait! There's hope, in the form of Alex (Sandra Echeverria), his new girlfriend (naturally, his first one dumped him). He also has to overcome unresolved abandonment issues.

Fine. Whatever. Bleu is an appealing presence, but the supporting cast is weak. To this point, "Free Style" isn't that great, but it's not a lot different than most of the movies on the Disney Channel (only, you know, that kissing - also anger and the threat of violence).

And then we get to the climactic race and the bottom drops out.

Look, sports movies often have corny, contrived endings. But what happens in "Free Style" goes beyond mere contrivance into the realm of ridiculousness. Yes, this is a "message" movie - try your hardest, do your best - but the race scene beats you over the head with it so hard you'll feel like your teeth have been jarred loose.

Growing pains, indeed.

Nevertheless, it's a step away from "HSM" for Bleu. Maybe next time he can take a real leap.

Rated PG for language, some sensuality and thematic material.