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Ranking:
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Release Date: August 18th, 2009 Movie Release Year: 2009

Hannah Montana: The Movie

Overview -

Get ready to be dazzled by Disney's big-screen smash hit - Hannah Montana: The Movie - filled with laughs, adventure, family fun and fabulous music! Come along for the ride and see Hannah like never before as she returns to her roots and faces the most important decision of her life! When Miley Stewart (aka pop-star Hannah Montana) gets too caught up in the superstar celebrity lifestyle, her dad decides it's time for a total change of scenery. But sweet niblets! Miley must trade in all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for some ol' blue jeans on the family farm in Tennessee, and question if she can be both Miley Stewart and Hannah Montana. With a little help from her friends - and awesome guest stars Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and Vanessa Williams - will she figure out whether to choose Hannah or Miley? Hannah Montana: The Movie is a heartfelt major motion picture perfect for the entire family.

OVERALL:
Worth a Look
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Region A
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Length:
102
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.85:1
Audio Formats:
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles/Captions:
Spanish
Special Features:
Backstage Disney
Release Date:
August 18th, 2009

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

Miley Cyrus uses a blond wig the way Clark Kent employs eyeglasses, only she's not disguising a superhero identity, she's concealing her alter ego, Hannah Montana, pop super STAR! You see, while ordinary Miley is a brunette, Hannah Montana is a platinum blonde. Why no one ever realizes they're the same person is beyond me. It's just one of those plot points that force you to throw up your hands and surrender, 'cause this movie was made for your daughter, not you.

'Hannah Montana: The Movie' is just what you'd expect: One hundred and two minutes of Disney's Hannah Montana show, but with better production values. Miley loves being Hannah, because she gets all the fame, and she loves being Miley because she can walk around and no one will notice her. Like I said, that blonde wig is the disguise of the century.

Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley's father and manager, is concerned that all this fame is going to her head. Her best friend, who knows her secret, is frequently annoyed whenever she's upstaged by Hannah, even at her own birthday party!

I won't spend much time on the plot, since really, there's not much to discuss. It's essentially the same setup as 'Doc Hollywood' or 'Cars,' where a big deal city dweller gets stuck in a small town, and must choose between jetsetting fame or regular small town living. In Miley's case, the conundrums abound upon returning to her hometown for her grandma's birthday.

Which life does she pick? That's what we're all here to find out. It's a nail-biter, I'll tell you that much. Well, maybe it's suspenseful for young girls who imagine being in a similar situation.

'Hannah Montana: The Movie' aims for its target audience and scores a direct hit. I guess you can't really fault it for that. I watched the film with my niece, and she was quite interested for much of the film. At one point, around the 90 minute mark, she did she say, "This movie is too long," but she was attentive almost the entire time. Also, I must confess that I think Miley Cyrus actually has some real singing talent, as opposed to Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson. On the other hand, Mr. Cyrus needs to find a different profession other than acting. It always seems as though he's reading off cue cards!

While 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' isn't my thing, I can see it succeeding with the show's fans. It's a bit slapsticky, and at some points downright irresponsible, as when Miley's younger brother, who is always getting into hijinks, gets attacked by an alligator. Now I know from watching Animal Planet that when someone is attacked by an alligator they don't normally have much flesh left on their legs. But, here the attack is made to look pretty comical. Or what about the scene where the same brother falls backwards from a ladder two stories in the air? When I see slapstick humor like this with real people instead of cartoons I fear younger children will think that's what really happens in those situations. But hey, that's just my opinion on that matter. All in all, while I sat through this movie in a slightly bored stupor, my niece seemed mostly enthralled. In short, this is a film the young girls in your family will love.

Video Review

Ranking:

This 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer features some very strong visuals. The colors are vibrant and the fine detail is heavy. The visuals are the best when an open area like a beach stretching into the distance, or an open field is presented. Healthy contrast and consistent black levels make this transfer a very solid addition to Disney's relatively long line of quality transfers. No digital noise or anomalies were detected.

If you pick this feature up, take a moment to compare it to the DVD that's included in the package. The BD is a world of difference compared to the muddy looking DVD.

Audio Review

Ranking:

'Hannah Montana: The Movie' boasts a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack. The audio mix here works best when it's trying to replicate the feeling of being in a crowded concert. The music is blasted through the speakers evenly. If you like Miley's music you should be quite impressed with how it's presented here. Rumbling bass makes appearances throughout the film, mostly during the numerous songs. While this wasn't the rousing score some would expect from a pop star themed film, it works rather nicely here. It may be a bit understated, but the last thing you need is your daughter rocking your house off its foundation with Miley's vocals.

Special Features

Ranking:
  • Audio Commentary - I fail to see the need for director's commentary on a movie like this. Miley fans would've liked to hear Miley, not some guy that they don't know. Instead of doing something original here, this is the same generic commentary you'd hear on most discs.
  • Deleted Scenes (HD, 11 min) - Peter Chelsom, the director, introduces the deleted scenes. There are four of them. Chelsom explains why they were cut.
  • Music Videos (HD, 27 min) - As if the mini concerts in the movie weren't enough, this disc is packed with seven music videos. Along with a few videos from Miley, there's also a video from Billy Ray, a couple from Rascal Flatts, and one from Taylor Swift. Songs: "Back to Tennessee" by Billy Ray Cyrus "You'll Always Find Your Way Home" by Hannah Montana "Let's Get Crazy" by Hannah Montana "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts "Crazier" by Taylor Swift "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus (two different performances are included of this song}\)
  • Outtakes (HD, 4 min) - Generic blooper reel where most of the time you see actors laughing except you really are never shown exactly why.

'Hannah Montana: The Movie' is a family friendly film you can let your kids watch without worry. You're probably unlikely to acquire this title unless you have young daughters, but if you do, you'll know that they're getting a quality product tailored specifically for them. Recommended for parents with preteen girls. Everyone else, unless you're die hard Miley fans, you can miss this one.

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