Hannah Montana: The Movie MPAA Rating: G Entertainment: +3 Content: +4

Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Emily Osment, Jason Earles. Teen/preteen comedy. Written by Dan Berendsen. Directed by Peter Chelsom.

FILM SYNOPSIS: The big screen version of the Disney Network hit has Miley Stewart played by Miley Cyrus trying to deal with her alter ego Hannah Montana’s popularity. On the urging of her father (well, she’s tricked by her father) she takes a trip to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tennessee to get some perspective on what really matters.

PREVIEW REVIEW: Unable to sleep one night, I hit the remote and came across an episode of Hannah Montana, a broad comedy aimed at 12-year-old girls. (Emphases on broad comedy.) Though I still couldn’t sleep, after five minutes I found it necessary to switch off the television, positive the program had been designed to eat away at brain matter. After that experience, I was not looking forward to viewing an entire movie about this same character and her wacky friends. But I was pleasantly surprised by the big screen version.

It’s for tween girls, make no mistake, and those in that age range at the screening were having a ball. Adults, may find it much like that Chinese water torture thing, but for young girls, it’s a different story. A couple of times the female youngsters in attendance squealed with excitement, but overall they were quiet, reverential, as if in the presence of the Great Oz. Miley is their leader. And I have to admit, I enjoyed her antics right along with her subjects.

Miley has a great voice and there’s lots of music to show off her finest ability. She’s cute as a bug (I love her laugh) and she has movie star eyes. I think Ms. Cyrus has a theatrical future, even after the Disney machine has found a new Lizzie McGuire, iCarly or Hannah Montana to immortalize for a couple of seasons.

Some of the humor is over the top, well, all the humor is over the top, but once they start playing their music, the film picks up. It’s clean, contains decent messages and lacks cynicism. Most of all it reminds little girls to wish upon a star.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Buena Vista