"Hannah Montana: The Movie DVD Review: An Honest to Goodness Family Movie

The problem with most TV-based movies is a weak story that never really gives any good reason for the TV show to be on the big screen to begin with.

However, that’s not a problem with “Hannah Montana: The Movie” as the writers found the perfect way to send “Hannah” to the cineplex…

If you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, “Hannah Montana” follows the adventures of Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus), a seemingly normal teenager with a whopper of a secret—she’s also international pop star Hannah Montana. Helping her live her double life is her dad and manager Robby Ray (Billy Ray Cyrus), her brother Jackson (Jason Earles) and her best friends Lily (Emily Osment) and Oliver (Mitchel Musso).

In the movie, the seemingly normal teenager is developing quite the big head, thanks in large part to her publicist (wonderfully played by Vanessa Williams). After Hannah gets into a fight over shoes with Tyra Banks and embarrasses Lily at Lily’s own birthday party, Robby Ray decides Miley needs a Hannah detox and takes her back to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tennessee.

Of course, Miley hates it—that is until she reunites with old classmate Travis (Lucas Till). Little by little she decides that country life isn’t so bad. But then something happens that causes Miley’s two worlds to collide and she realizes just how many sacrifices have been made for her double life—especially when Hannah causes problems with Robby Ray’s potential new girlfriend, Lorelai (Melora Hardin).

As I said, the story is the perfect way to send the “Hannah” gang to the big screen because it actually makes sense. Instead of coming up with some wacky set of circumstances to send the family to another setting, we get a realistic one that families can actually relate to. What tween girl hasn’t been punished by her father for acting like a spoiled brat?

And yes, there is a lesson to be learned here, but it isn’t some out-of-the-blue one that just swoops in at the end of the movie to make it all worthwhile. It’s one about the importance of family. And I think we all need to hear that lesson as many times as possible…

Miley Cyrus has been getting A LOT of flack lately, but regardless of what you think of her, you have to admit she’s got acting chops. The movie gives her a chance to play physical comedy and drama and she handles both extremely well. But most of the movie’s best moments actually go to Billy Ray as he takes on the comedy-drama combination as well.

If you’re a “Hannah” fan, you know that Jason Earles usually handles most of the physical comedy on the show and he does have his moments here. Unfortunately, most of his storyline is cut from the film—a story that I think would have helped the movie tremendously by plugging some continuity holes. Thank goodness for the DVD so you can see the story in the special features…

Which leads to the movie’s biggest problem (for adults anyway). It never seems to find the balance between the story and the music. While the songs are fun and tween “Hannah” fans will love them, I wanted to see more of the story that inspired them.

But speaking of inspirational, I dare you to not get a little teary when Miley belts out “The Climb” in the movie’s climax. It almost makes you willing to forgive the “Quantum Leap” ending…

If you’re looking for an honest to goodness family movie, this one definitely fills the bill as there are humorous sight gags for the kids, fun musical sequences for the tweens (not to mention a super cute guy for the tween girls) and some good story for the adults—even if it isn’t as much story as we would like…

If you have a Blu-Ray player you’ll be treated to all kinds of special features including a chance to learn the “Hoedown Throwdown” and seven music videos. But those of you with regular players shouldn’t be too disappointed as the standard edition has deleted scenes, bloopers, a behind-the-scenes featurette, “The Climb” music video, a tour of the stars’ hometowns and an audio commentary…

“Hannah Montana: The Movie” DVD is available now…