About.com Rating
MPAA Rating: G
Genre: Family/Comedy
Age range: 7 years+
Runtime: 102 minutes
Starring: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Margo Martindale, Jason Earles, Peter Gunn, Melora Hardin, Mitchel Musso, Lucas Till, Barry Bostwick, Moises Arias, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, with Vanessa Williams and Billy Ray Cyrus
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Release Date: April 10, 2009
Hannah Montana the Movie - Overview
Miley Stewart's alter ego, Hannah Montana, allows Miley the best of both worlds.
She gets to be a rock star, but when she wants a normal life, she just takes off the wig and goes back to being a regular teenager. When Hannah's rock star life in the fast line begins to take over, though, Miley's dad decides she needs a dose of reality.
Miley and her father take a private jet to their home town of Crowley Corners, Tenn., where Miley reluctantly reconnects with her family and meets up with Travis, a boy she grew up with. Soon Hannah becomes center stage again, though, when Miley is talked into asking her "friend" Hannah Montana to perform in the small town in order to save a big chunk of land from developers.
Between painting the chicken coop, flirting with Travis, avoiding a pesky reporter, and trying to help her dad succeed with a love connection of his own, Miley already has a full plate. Even with the help of her best friend Lilly, can Miley really pull off fooling her friends and family in order to bring Hannah to town? Living two lives just might not be worth it anymore.
Hannah Montana the Movie - Guide Review
A discussion on the artistic merits of Hannah Montana the Movie is sort of pointless. I am sure parents are expecting a movie that is cheesy and highly unrealistic; however, Hannah fans will adore this film, and there is enough story and heart in it to entertain the whole family -- not to mention the music, which for the most part is pretty darn good. Just be prepared to hear, "Pop it, lock it, polka dot it..." non-stop for the rest of the week, at least.
The movie is perfectly geared toward kids, especially tweens, with enough romance to be exciting and dramatic, but not so much that parents will want to cringe. The movie does contain a couple of kisses (and near kisses), and a good portion of the plot focuses on the connection between Miley and Travis, and her father's budding relationship with the lovely Lorelai.
From the previews, it is obvious that the movie is about a teen who needs an attitude adjustment, but I was impressed that Miley's attitude in the beginning is not too overboard and obnoxious (other than the shoe fight). She has just gotten a little caught up in herself and her fame. Her father holds her to a high standard and expects her to show respect for others and stay grounded, so the film sends a good message to kids without getting ridiculous.
Parents should also be aware that there is one scene in which Miley sadly looks at a photo, remembering her mother who has passed away. Children who have experienced the loss of a loved one may be affected by the mildly emotional nature of this part of the movie (It made me cry, but that's not saying much.).
*For more detailed examples of possibly offensive, frightening or unsettling content, please see the overview below.
Hannah Montana the Movie - Content Overview
The following lists a few of the most prominent examples of possibly offensive content in the movie (may contain spoilers):Violence(Low)
- Two women fight over a shoe in a shoe store. One throws the shoe at the other with it sticking into the wall right next to her head. They also jump on each other and tackle each other. All of this is meant to be comical.
- Miley plays a few pranks on a reporter which result in him crashing down on a model of a building.
Sex/Nudity(Low)
- A couple of girls in the movie wear semi-short skirts and show some cleavage. A beach scene shows people in swimming suites.
Language(Low)
- The phrase "My God" or variations of the phrase are used a couple of times.
Alcohol/Drugs(None)
Bad/Disrespectful Behavior(Medium)
- At the beginning of the movie, Miley is self-centered. She is late to important events, she gets in a fight over shoes, and she is caught up in her fame.
- A tabloid reporter follows Miley and tries to find out secrets he can use to get juicy headlines.
- Miley plays pranks on the reporter such as switching his salsa to the extra hot variety.
Sad/Unsettling Scenes(Low)
- It is mentioned that Miley's mom passed away. We see Miley sadly looking at a photo of herself and her mother.
- Miley is devastated when she lets down her father and others; she feels like she is lying to people by being Hannah.
Hannah Montana the Movie - Discuss the Movie
- After watching Hannah Montana the Movie, children may have questions about the following topics: living a rock star life, tabloids, reporters, losing a parent, being famous, dating.
Hannah Montana the Movie - On Blu-ray/DVD
Available for a limited time, the combo-pack Blu-ray edition of Hannah Montana the Movie contains the Blu-ray disc, DVD, and Digital Copy. This is a great deal, especially on a kids movie since kids may want to watch the movie in the car or on a portable player.
Parents should know, especially if buying the movie as a gift or something, that the Blu-ray version contains the following exclusive features that will probably be important to kids:
- "The Hoedown Throwdown" Dance-Along: Kids (and adults) can learn the dance moves
- The Dance Experience with the Cast
- 7 Music Videos
- Cast Bloopers
- Deleted Scenes
- Audio Commentary with Director Peter Chelsom
- Find Your Way Back Home: Get a look at the stars' hometowns
- "I Should Have Gone to Film School": Behind the Scenes Movie Secrets and More