Project-Blu Hannah Montana: The Movie, by M. Enois Duarte

Hannah Montana: The Movie

By: M. Enois Duarte, 8.17.2009

The Movie Itself:
Hannah Montana: The Movie is that sort of feature-length release which requires at least some familiarity with its origins for it to be fully appreciated. Needless to say, it's very likely those watching the movie (or possibly even reading this particular article) also watch the show on which it is based on. Thankfully, I'm very much informed with the television series and its crazy high jinks involving a teen pop-star trying to live a normal life while keeping her fame a secret.

The situational comedy, starring Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana (duh!) and her real-life father Billy Ray Cyrus, can be amusing and funny at times, as Miley Stewart (the girl beneath the Hannah wig) is confronted with your average high school drama and learns a valuable lesson in each episode. Keeping her true identity a secret, as well as participating in the all the shenanigans, are her two best friends Lily (Emily Osment) and Oliver (Mitchel Musso). They …

Okay, let's stop right there for a quick second.

Huh. Looking back at the above, I certainly know quite a bit, don't I? Maybe, I should rephrase my previous statement. Ahem. I'm somewhat embarrassingly well-versed with the popular Disney program that's captivated the minds of pre-teen girls everywhere. Having watched many an episode with my teen daughter --- the true resident Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus devotee --- I can see where the movie comes into play.

Much of the show has always, in some way or another, revolved around Miley Stewart's celebrity status, her reaction/attitude to all the attention she receives, and of never allowing it to interfere with her family and friendships. To help guide her in this journey, Miley is supported by her father Robbie Ray (Billy Ray) and brother Jackson (Jason Earles). Guest appearances by Brooke Shields, Vicki Lawrence, and Dolly Parton add reminders that fame is a hallow existence without friends and family cheering her on backstage.

The movie is then, basically, an extended version of the series and joined by most of the same cast. Only here, Miley's stardom has gone straight to her head, not thanks in large part to her publicist/manager Vita (Vanessa Williams), and fame starts to completely take over her life. After being involved in a fight with Tyra Banks and then ruining Lily's Sweet 16 party, Robby Ray takes Miley back to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tennessee to gain some perspective on the things that truly matter in life.

Where this 100-minute episode differs from the program is the way in which it approaches its subject matter and how Miley's dilemma is played out. There's more maturity and honesty portrayed here, as the young pop star comes to the realization that her desire for fame can hurt those closest to her. Five minutes into the movie, it isn't difficult to figure out the story's intent. But the narrative shows a great deal of patience in allowing the character to figure it out for herself, of learning the suffering she causes to finally pain her emotionally.

Peter Chelsom's journeyman direction keeps everything in perspective and well paced, while also providing gorgeous panoramic views of Tennessee's pastures. The humor and slapstick misadventures are typical of the show's premise --- lighthearted and sparsely involving for older audience members. But Miley Cyrus displays a better acting range on the silver screen than she ever has on the small screen. And the plotline infuses a stronger, even unexpected, dramatic element which adds a slight seriousness to the story arc.

Ultimately, fans of the television series are more likely to be entertained by Hannah Montana: The Movie, as familiarity with the show will play a part in its enjoyment. But parents will also appreciate the story's message of family and friendship taking precedence over fame and fortune. It's a charming little tale of never forgetting what matters most in life and remembering where one's talent originates from, a goofy and welcomed family event.
Rating: 6/10

The Presentation:
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment offers fans an attractive, blemish-free video presentation in this freshly-minted AVC encode, in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio.

Hannah Montana makes for a very colorful movie with bold, solid primaries and accurate secondary hues, while facial complexions show natural and revealing textures, especially in close-ups. The picture offers plenty of visual details which compliment the movie since it was shot on location and filmed with a reddish brown filter for a nice cinematic quality. With Peter Chelsom's directing and David Hennings's panoramic photography, the hills and meadows of Tennessee look quite beautiful in the movie. Black levels are resilient and accurate, giving the image a pleasant depth of field and shadows take away nothing. It's not one of Disney's top-tier releases, but it's a strong high-definition picture nonetheless.
Rating: 8.4/10

For a movie filled with so much music and taking place a great deal in the outdoors, it's surprising the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack of Hannah Montana isn't a bit more engaging. That's not to say the audio is of poor quality. Rather, the movie's sound design doesn't offer much sustained activity. It's a mostly front-heavy mix with clean fidelity and clarity in the soundstage, while vocals are delivered precisely and well-prioritized. Separation is decent, but the mid-range holds up much better and low bass is hefty and responsive. Atmospheric effects are few and generally exhibited in the fronts for convincing imaging, but the use of the rear speakers are far and few, reserved for the occasional music number. Overall, the lossless track offers a pleasant listen, sure to be enjoyed by fans, but nothing spectacular for the format.
Rating: 7.6/10

Overall Presentation: 8/10

** 9 - 10 = Reference / 8 = Excellent / 7 = Good /
6 = Satisfactory / 5 = Average / 4 & under = Below Average **

The Extras:
The now standard 3-disc package from Disney arrives with a satisfying selection of bonus material in HD, some of which are exclusive to the Blu-ray, sure to keep Cyrus fans entertained after the movie's conclusion. While the first disc comes BD-Live Enabled, the second disc is a DVD copy of the film and a DisneyFile Digital Copy makes up the third, both presented in standard definition.

Audio Commentary
This straightforward commentary from director Peter Chelsom is nothing exciting, but in his enthusiasm he provides plenty of behind-the-scenes info fans can appreciate.
The Hoedown Throwdown Home Experience (15 min)
Located under the "Backstage Disney" number, it starts as a look at the choreography, but ends as an instructional video on the dance moves.
Find Your Way Back Home (15 min)
Cast members, Miley Cyrus and Emily Osment, give fans a tour of their hometowns.
I Should Have Gone to Film School (15 min)
Hosted by Jason Earles, it features interviews with cast and crew discussing the production.
Deleted Scenes (10 min)
Peter Chelsom takes a moment to explain the reasons behind the removal of these scenes.
Outtakes (4 min)
Typical collection of mishaps and blunders with the kids intentionally acting goofy.
Music Videos (27 min)
The collection includes Taylor Swift's "Crazier", Rascal Flatts' "Bless the Broken Road", Billy Ray Cyrus's "Back to Tennessee", two from Hannah Montana ("You'll Always Find Your Way Home" and "Let's Go Crazy") and finally one from Miley Cyrus ("The Climb").

Rating: 7/10

Final Thoughts:
Finally making its big theatrical debut, Hannah Montana: The Movie is nothing impressive but gives fans exactly what they expected. The Blu-ray edition of the movie arrives with a solid picture but an okay audio presentation. The collection of special features finally rounds out the package, giving Miley Cyrus devotees a fun-filled movie experience.
Rating: 7/10