"HANNAH MONTANA: KEEPING IT REAL"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: *** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Miley Cyrus as MILEY/HANNAH MONTANA Emily Osment as LILLY Jason Earles as JACKSON Mitchel Musso as OLIVER Billy Ray Cyrus as ROBBIE Rated TV-G Studio: Disney Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
With the Complete First Season available on DVD and a few one-shot discs on the shelves, it’s time for another “Hannah Montana” release. “Hannah Montana: Keeping It Real” takes four episodes (“The Test of My Love,” “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get the Phone,” “Yet Another Side of Me” and “We’re All On This Date Together”) of the hit Disney Channel show, all from the second season. Miley, Lilly and their family and friends get into various scrapes, including trying to pass a driving test, learning to deal with high society, dating Corbin Bleu and meeting film star The Rock.
WHAT I LIKED
While branded as a show for girls, “Hannah Montana” is actually quite accessible to anyone. It’s not just a show about teenager girls and their drama. Rather, it’s about a kid leading a double life and trying to keep that under wraps.
For those out there that follow the tabloid journalism, you’ll get a kick out of these episodes’ take on the toils of fame. In one episode, Miley and Lilly try to get money to buy zPhones (a not-so-subtle dig at the iPhone craze) by getting an embarrassing paparazzi shot of Hannah, and end up also trying to get one of The Rock. This episode gives a nice wink and nod to the audience to vent about the problems that Miley Cyrus has skirting the media that is constantly waiting for her to embarrass herself.
Another episode shows Miley contemplating a new style for herself, eventually settling on a grunge, rebellious look with disastrous results. In a way, this is the show – and Miley Cyrus herself – snubbing her nose at the caustic press and embracing her good girl image.
I didn’t just appreciate these episodes as slices of Disney fluff for the kids. I did also get a chuckle out of the introspective look at its own industry, and those who report on it.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
If you’re gunning for Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus, you’ll find plenty to complain about with this show. But forget the cynicism for a moment, and you’ll realize that this is just a kids’ show. Sure, it’s a bit pink and girly, but it’s still fun for what it is.
DVD FEATURES
Included in the DVD features is a bonus season-three episode “Ready, Set, Don’t Drive,” in which Miley using her Hannah clout to get her driver’s license. There’s also a look at the costumes of the series with the featurette “Miley’s Makeover: Hannah Gets a New Look.” I’m not wildly interested in the costuming of a series like this, but I did have to marvel at stylist Sammy Kassaie, who looks like he could give Sasha Baron Cohen’s Bruno persona a run for his money.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Tween girls, natch.
