Zac Efron, a heartthrob for millions of teenaged girls in the U.S. and Canada, is on a nakedly ambitious push towards leading man status. That is the motivation behind his title role in the melodrama “Charlie St. Cloud,” which arrived on DVD and Blu-ray this week.

“This is his passage into being a leading man,” says filmmaker Burr Steers, who directed Efron in both “Charlie St. Cloud” and last year’s “17 Again.”

Efron, a Californian, turned 23 on Oct. 18. “Charlie St. Cloud” focuses on a former high school student in the U.S. Pacific Northwest (although the movie was shot in British Columbia). Just after graduation and before he attends university, Charlie is a driver in a horrific car accident which claims his 11-year-old brother Sam. Even though he is not responsible, Charlie spends the next five years grieving, emotionally paralyzed. He is resigned to a life of drudgery in the graveyard where Sam is buried – and near where he visits Sam daily to play catch, apparently in a spirit world. But a new crisis gives Charlie a chance to redeem himself.

“It’s challenging material,” producer Marc Platt says in the featurette, “Zac Efron: Leading Man,” which is among extras on both the DVD and Blu-ray.

Efron debuted briefly as young Simon in Joss Whedon’s “Firefly” series in 2002. He became a star as the lead in Disney’s “High School Musical” trilogy from 2006-08. His first substantial dramatic role came in Richard Linklater’s “Me and Orson Welles” in 2008, as a romantic rival to Welles for the leading lady.

Then came “17 Again.”

“We were very conscious that ’17 Again’ was an incremental step away from the ‘High School Musicals’,” Steers says. “But, still, it was a comedy.”

“Charlie St. Cloud” is different. “It’s a huge role for Zac,” says actress Amanda Crew, his on-screen love interest, “and I am extremely excited for him.” Efron’s performance is good, although not great, because he gets too overwrought emotionally. “I immediately felt a connection to Charlie,” he says of his interest in the role.

“Charlie St. Cloud” generated a modest $44.5 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. But the DVD and Blu-rays are expected to do better, giving the charming Efron a wider, slightly older audience, especially because his “High School Musical” fans are growing up with him. [Source]