The Cheetah Girls: One World (NR, 2008)

It's the last summer before college for the Cheetah Girls. Galleria (Raven-Symone) is already away at school, leaving the other Cheetahs -- Chanel (Adrienne Bailon), Dorinda (Sabrina Bryan), and Aqua (Kiely Williams) -- struggling to hold the group together before their studies begin. Just when they're fresh out of gigs, along comes an audition for a Bollywood movie -- and off the girls go to India to become international stars. But when the young director Vikram (Michael Steger) learns that his uncle/producer won't finance three stars for the movie, the girls are forced to audition against each for the lead role. Naturally, jealousy and misunderstandings ensue, especially when some cute boys are thrown into the mix, and the Cheetah Girls' loyalty is tested.

Young fans of the Cheetah Girls and their music probably won't be disappointed. Everyone else, well… While you'd expect more fun Bollywood beats to permeate the Cheetahs' pop sound, only two songs (particularly "One World") really deliver. The rest -- way too many for a feature this length -- are pretty boring and sound the same, and you can't even tell whose voice is whose.

Music aside, the story is cute enough. The innocent romance between Aqua and Amar (Kunal Sharma), and the way they end up meeting, is rather sweet -- as is the flirtation between Rahim (Rupak Ginn), the big Bollywood star, and the shy choreographer. And woven into the story are a few lessons for the Cheetahs on loyalty, embracing change, and facing obstacles. This makes up for some of the corny lines, silly misunderstandings, and treacly girl-bonding moments meant only for tweens' enjoyment.

Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Director: Paul Hoen
Cast: Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams, Sabrina Bryan
Genre: Comedy
Theatrical release: August 22, 2008
DVD release: December 15, 2008
MPAA Rating: NR