Reviewed by Helen Bolton
Stars Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Emily Osment, Lucas Till, Margo Martindale, Peter Gunn, Barry Bostwick
Written by Dan Berendsen, based on characters created by Michael Poryes, Rich Correll & Barry O'Brien
Certification UK U | US G
Runtime 102 minutes
Directed by Peter Chelsom
As she demonstrated on a recent Jonathan Ross show, Miley Cyrus does not have confidence issues. She’s funny, bright and, as she proves on this film’s stand-out song The Climb, she can belt out a country ballad too. While the latter talent comes across in this, the first big screen version of her smash hit Disney series Hannah Montana doesn’t really get to show off the former, aside from some slightly laboured slapstick. Still, if you’re an eight-year old girl you probably won’t notice or care that perhaps your female lead deserves a little more: you’ll be too busy screaming and declaring Hannah Montana: The Movie the best thing, like, ever. You know?
Unless you’ve lived under a rock the last 24 months, you should know the basic premise that Hannah Montana is the secret superstar alter-ego of young Miley Stewart (Cyrus). She’s a High School student by day and pop superstar by night in a combo that gives Disney one of its ultimate concept double whammies: stories about family values with a catchy pop / country soundtrack.
As far as the film goes, it’s very much a case of if it ain’t broke... as Hannah Montana: The Movie is effectively a longer-than-usual episode of the show, only with a better cast, direction and more expensive production values.
As the film opens, Hannah’s popularity is at an all time high, and the pressures of Miley’s dual life are becoming harder and harder to juggle, particularly as far as the key relationships — best mate Lilly (Osment), dad Robby Ray (the other Cyrus) — are concerned. Robby decides to teach his daughter a lesson so, while she’s expecting a visit to the Grammys, he diverts her private jet to the down-home delights of Crowley Corners, Tennessee, Miley’s birthplace. The ultimatum? Two weeks to learn what’s more important, the glitz of Hannah or the sweet, family-first Miley?
So, yes, eight-year old girls will lap it up. If you’re not in that demographic, you might think it’s all a waste of time and it is hard to imagine too many 18-year old, hoodie-wearing yobbos lapping up the heart-tugging morals and the air of general obviousness. However, that’s not to write the film off completely. Admittedly the comedy is basically Miley falling over (a lot), there are no great, dark twists in the script and the central romance — Miley and good ol’ boy Travis (Till) — is as wholesome and one-foot-on-the-floor as they come. But director Chelsom still has a decent eye for a laugh (and cheerily acknowledges the format's shortcomings), the ending isn’t quite as pat as you might fear and the music — once they’ve left the identikit pop behind and arrived in country, er, country — is terrific. As a package, that’s very hard to dislike.