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Friday
10Apr2009

Movie Review - 'Hannah Montana: The Movie'

DateFriday, April 10, 2009 at 12:41AM
Hannah Montana: The Movie

Starring Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Williams, and Billy Ray Cyrus
Directed by Peter Cheslom
Rated G

hannahposter.jpg Because Hannah Montana is a pre-fabricated phenomenon and because its target audience is still a good three years away from trying alcohol for the first time at a seventh grade party, it's tough to evaluate the latest Disney opus, Hannah Montana: The Movie, in the same way we would, say, No Country for Old Men.

Unlike other family fare, like the recent Monsters vs. Aliens, there's not much attention paid to the look of the film, and even some elements of the story simply don't matter; they exist only to fill space so that this movie isn't 45 minutes long.

Therefore, any analysis of the film on those merits is not only a waste of time, it's also missing the point.

As for the plot developments the audience is supposed to take seriously, Hannah Montana actually begins well enough. Hannah is the pop star alter-ego of teenager Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus). Miley wants to remain a normal kid, so Hannah deals with the screaming fans and the press and paparazzi and Miley lives a rather anonymous existence.

But when Hannah begins to dominate the choices in Miley's life, like preferring the bright lights of New York to her grandmother's birthday in Tennessee, her dad (uh...her dad, Billy Ray) makes an executive decision: No Hannah for two weeks. Yep, she's been grounded from her alter-ego. The subtext is clear: How long can someone live a lie this big? What are the repercussions?

Perhaps kids aren't supposed to get that deeply involved in the message. Perhaps they're only supposed to laugh at pratfalls, swoon when Miley falls for a boy, and move in their seats when she sings a song, but I believe that movies aimed at children should instruct them in some way. And that is, unfortunately, where Hannah Montana drops a notch.

At the risk of revealing too much about the story, Miley is faced with a decision: Keep wearing Hannah's blonde wig or get rid of it forever. And the reasons behind her decision are strong and redeeming...until the people closest to her unbelievably change her mind. If this movie is intending to send a single message, it sends the wrong one after coming so close to the right one.

And that, more than anything else you could joke about or deride as being childish, is the reason this movie fails. It's not disastrous (the low bar for family movies is Alvin & The Chipmunks and this is a lot better than that), and kids who love, love, love the Hannah stuff will enjoy it. But parents might see this one as missing a golden opportunity to instruct a captive audience. If Hannah can sell backpacks and makeup and CDs and clothes, then why can't Miley sell girls on just being themselves?

AuthorColin Boyd | | in , | Print ArticlePrint Article | | Comment4 Comments |

Reader Comments (4)

The real question is, how was Rico?

Friday, April 10, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterAlbert Ching

hahaha i love you albert

Friday, April 10, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterlisa

Very funny movie, good movie for the kids.... The blue security golf cart that Miley uses in the movie has been donated to "Fiesta of the Spanish Horse" and will be raffled off May 2, 2009 with proceeds going to cancer research. Go to www.fiestaspanishhorse.org to see the golf cart and to get your raffle tickets... One very cool thing, Miley knew that the cart was being donated and raffled off with proceeds going to cancer research, so she has autographed the front of the golf cart,,, we thank her very much for doing that..... Don't miss out, this is a one of a kind golf cart...

Thursday, April 16, 2009 | Unregistered Commentersteve silverman

hey hanna or milley,u know u r so cute nd preeti girl.i m ur a fan.u r good actress.i like ur acting.ur show is so comedy.the song of hanna montana is very good.i m waiting 4 ur responce.
(A)..........I LIKE U.....................................

Sunday, June 7, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterankita

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