Hannah Montana: The Movie – Review

Reviews, Theatrical Reviews

So Miley is Hannah? I’m confused.

hannah_montana_the_movie
Image Courtesy of IMPawards.com

Director: Peter Chelsom
Notable Cast: Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Emily Osment, Jason Earles, Lucas Till, Vanessa Williams, Margo Martindale, Peter Gunn, Melora Hardin

The title Hannah Montana: The Movie is sort of a misnomer as the film serves more as product diversification than a full-blown feature film. Of course, the entire Hannah Montana experience is based on the whole “best of both worlds” motto.

For those unfamiliar with Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus), she is the alter ego of Miley Stewart (also Miley Cyrus). Miley Cyrus is the real life daughter of “Achy Breaky Heart” auteur Billy Ray Cyrus while Miley Stewart is the daughter of Tennessee good ol’ boy Robby Ray Stewart. There is no need to bother deconstructing where fantasy ends and reality begins because the movie’s message is presumably what the real Miley Cyrus, who does in fact play Hannah Montana, wants to say to her fans: she wants to take a break from being Hannah.

In the movie, Miley Stewart’s break from being Hannah is father imposed. After Hannah has a shoe fight with Tyra Banks (playing herself) which causes her to miss sending her brother off to college while simultaneously ruining her best friend’s birthday, Robby Ray forces her to go home to Tennessee for some old fashion rustic rehabilitation. Miley (the character) is so involved with her Hannah act that she can’t be bothered to worry about anyone else, but Miley (the person) is not fooling this reviewer.

It is clear the Miley Cyrus wants to be taken more seriously and develop her career into something more than being a tween sensation. Not surprisingly Cyrus’ real handlers (represented in the movie by Vanessa Williams) don’t want to give up their money machine so easily, thus Hannah Montana: The Movie stands as a sort of peace offering. It allows Cyrus to try her acting chops in a more organic setting while staying true to the Hannah Montana motif.

The movie also affords her the chance to continue working on the more mature Miley Stewart part of her routine. It is heartening to see that Cyrus is actually an above average country singer and she has some interesting things to say (assuming she wrote her own lyrics). The real life suits counting all the money Hannah Montana makes them should be comforted to know that when Cyrus one day hangs up the wig they will still have a marketable star.

However, if the movie serves as any indication, audiences shouldn’t expect that day to come anytime soon. Big screen or small, there is much mileage to gain from the crazy confusion and switcheroo fiascos that come from a young girl playing dress-up rockstar. Just observe Cyrus’ actual identity crises over the past few years, she doesn’t seem like she is even sure when she is Hannah and when she is Miley.

As a dissertation on art imitating life Hannah Montana: The Movie is an interesting sociological study. As a cry for help it is mesmerizing. As an extension of the Hannah Montana franchise it is the same old thing with a bigger budget.

FINAL RATING (ON A SCALE OF 1-5 BUCKETS):