HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE

Now that I've seen Hannah Montana: The Movie, I can actually answer that pesky question that haunts many people over the age of 13: What up with this Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus thing?

 

Well here's what I gleaned from the big-screen movie version that was spawned from the girl's uber-successful TV show and/or concert persona...

 

Hannah Montana is the biggest teen pop star in the world, in both fantasy and probably reality. But, see, no one knows that she is, in real-life Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus), a regular ol' teen who has volleyballs bounce off her head in gym class. No one except her extremely tolerant best friend Lilly (Emily Osment), her dad Robby Ray (aka Billy Ray), goofy brother Jackson (Jason Earles), and her manager Vita (Vanessa Williams). Everyone else is completely clueless, despite the fact Hannah and Miley look exactly the same, except for one is blonde, and one is brunette. Basically, we have to fall for the fantasy that hair color works just as well as Clark Kent's clunky glasses in hiding a superhero (or superstar) identity.

 

One day Miley ruins her best friend's birthday by showing up late, still dressed as Hannah (see, she lost track of time while having a catfight in a shoe store with Tyra Banks--actually a funny scene). Robby Ray decides that Miley's head is getting too big with all her self-absorbed Hannah fame, so he decides to set her straight: Miley/Hannah is going home to where it all began: Tennessee!

 

Of course Tennessee is where real, humble, good folks live, like grandma, who can teach Miley a thing or two about what's really important in life: family, being kind, helping out when needed, and collecting Elvis plates. It's a harmless and nice message for the target audience, and it sure goes down a lot easier when a hunky baby-faced cowboy/love interest (Lucas Till) says thoughtfully, "Life's a climb, but the view is great..." while building a chicken coop.

 

There's a subplot of saving the family farm... I mean, saving the small town's land from shopping mall development, and Miley (after a hoedown) ends up accidentally promising a benefit performance by her "friend" Hannah. This just throws in the opportunity for more forgettable and earnest songs (though I have to admit I quite liked "The Climb") where Miley emotes while strumming a guitar and singing about butterflies. (Note: There is a notably gorgeous acoustic song sung out on the porch by a bunch of good ol' boys. Turns out it was Rascal Flatts!)

 

Hannah Montana: The Movie is one of those benign flicks that is cheesy, palatable, and not an awful way to spend an hour and a half of your life (unlike many other geared-towards-tweens flicks). And now that Billy Ray Cyrus has ditched the mullet (though his overly-conscious straightened shag is a little odd) I have to say he is kind of a hunky dad. Sure his subplot of dating the farm foreman (underused Melora Hardin) is undeveloped, and he is not the strongest of actors, but he is still kind of easy on the eyes, especially with the cowboy hat. Rroowwrr. Oh, what? That's right, this is a kiddie movie...

 

 

Disney has packed Hannah Montana: The Movie in a DVD, Blu-Ray, and Digital 3-disc set, once again overlapping content in as many formats as possible. What you'll find as far as extras are a tidbit teaching you the hoedown dance (admit it, you want to try!), a short where the cast talks about their own hometowns, some behind the scenes peeks with Jason Earles (brother Jackson), deleted scenes with director commentary, bloopers, and a music video for "The Climb".