The plot was underdeveloped, the acting just all right. But I must admit, that going in without any expectations, "Hannah Montana: The Movie" was surprisingly entertaining, and not that unbearable after all.
Tweens and younger are familiar with "Hannah Montana" from the hit Disney channel television series starring 16 year old Miley Cyrus.
So popular was the face, name, songs and kid-safe trappings from the TV series it managed a big screen spin-off, which is almost like a continuation of a TV episode, only longer.
Just like many teen stars in real life Hollywood, Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) is struggling to juggle school, friends and her alter-ego, pop sensation Hannah Montana, whose overwhelming popularity is beginning to get out of control.
Her on-screen father, Robby Stewart (Billy Ray Cyrus) is determined not to let Miley lose herself and tricks her back to her hometown, Crowley Corners, Tennessee for some Hannah detox.
Whether it is art imitating life or life imitating art, it's hard to tell since the real Miley Cyrus was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee by the man who plays her reel-dad, who is in fact her real-dad.
Since it seems like Miley Cyrus is basically playing out her life on screen, her first film performance is delivered rather adequately and naturally.
Moving away from the glamorous Los Angeles, the rustic country twist adds a refreshing change to the Disney channel phenomenon.
Unfortunately, that's not the only thing that the big screen spin-off moves away from.
The screen time of the original cast is greatly reduced in the movie with more focus on the newer characters, with the exception of Emily Osment who plays Lily Truscott, Hannah's BFF in the show.
Even the storyline of Miley's college bound brother, Jackson Stewart (Jason Earles), seems to be there only to provide some slapstick humour and can be rather random at times.
The film is really all about small town pride with Lucas Till acting as Miley’s cowboy love interest, Travis and Melora Hardin as Lorelai, the foreman at Miley’s grandmother’s (Margo Martindale) farm and source of on-screen dad’s affections.
Littered with hoe-downs and numerous musical numbers mostly performed by Miley (or Hannah), including ‘The Climb’ and theme song ‘Best of both worlds’, some songs just might have you bopping about in your seat.
Most probably, many Hannah fans will be picking up on the catchy hip-hop flavoured, ‘Hoedown Throwdown’ dance in time to come as well.
Representing the country music scene, there’s a guest appearances by band Rascal Flatts and teen country music star Taylor Swift, who might have stolen a bit of the limelight from Miley.
But the best cameo appearance definitely has to go to former supermodel Tyra Banks, who makes a hilarious appearance getting into a catty shoe fight with Hannah.
As it is with most Disney movies, there is always a lesson to be learnt at the end of the day and those always provide some heart warming moments.
With Hannah Montana, the whole movie is really about finding yourself and staying true to the things that really matter.
While I’ll never get over the big stretch of imagination which sees Miley making herself unrecognisable as Hannah Montana just by throwing on a blonde wig, fans of the TV show (mostly tween girls who want to be just like Hannah Montana) would be pleased with this wholesome big screen spin-off.
-CNA
