Hannah Montana: The Movie (G, 2009)

common sense media says

Hannah's music and Miley's romance are sure to wow tweens.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Miley Cyrus' legions of tween fans will be dying to see this big-screen comedy based on Disney's hit TV show. Like the small-screen version, the movie is upbeat and perfectly G rated ... if yet another marketing tool in Hannah's merchandise-rich world. The sexuality is completely innocent -- flirting, slow dancing, conversations about relationships, and three really short kisses -- and there's no language, drinking, or smoking. Expect frequent physical comedy (pratfalls, getting hit with a ball, bitten by an animal, etc.) and one scene in which Hannah and Tyra Banks fight over a pair of shoes.

Educational value: The movie is intended to entertain rather than educate.
Positive messages: Kids will take away positive messages about being sincere and not taking yourself too seriously, as Miley learns that it doesn't matter whether she's a star or not -- she's not allowed to forget her roots and act like a diva.
Positive role models: Characters have strong family relationships and friendships. Miley does
disappoint those closest to her as she struggles to balance her double
life, but it all works out in the end.
Violence & scariness: Hannah and Tyra Banks get into a cat fight (lots of jumping, pushing, and grabbing) over a pair of designer shoes. Other physical comedy includes several pratfalls, Miley getting hit in the face by a ball, a pesky ferret crawling all over a couple of characters, and a bit with a biting alligator and snappy ostrich.
Sexy stuff: Mild flirting as two sets of couples get to know each other. Other than three very quick kisses and some slow dancing, there's just a short glimpse of Miley's love interest with his shirt off after a swim.
Language: A couple of "oh my God"s; one adult uses an insult to another (he calls a woman a "succubus"), but it will go over kids' head.
Consumerism: The entire film is a Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana vehicle that will help promote the TV show, the movie soundtrack, and the piles of Hannah merchandise out there.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Hannah Montana: The Movie

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the movie's messages. What does Miley/Hannah learn about family and herself? Do you think she's a good role model? Why or why not? Does your answer change depending on whether she's being Hannah or Miley?
  • Why do you think Hannah is so popular? Do kids really love the show for itself, or are they caught up in the Miley/Hannah phenomenon and marketing messages? Do you think Cyrus will be as successful once she steps out from under her Hannah wig?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Anyone familiar with the hugely popular Disney show will instantly understand HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE. Miley Cyrus stars as Miley Stewart, a "regular" teenager who also happens to be world-famous pop sensation Hannah Montana. Without the platinum-blond wig and designer outfits, Hannah is "just Miley," but when her publicist, Vita (Vanessa Williams), starts offering Hannah more opportunities, Miley forgets her priorities. After Miley ruins her best friend Lilly's (Emily Osment) sweet 16 and misses her chance to say goodbye to her college-bound brother Jackson (Jason Earles), disappointed dad Robby Ray (Billy Ray Cyrus) drags her back to Crowley Meadows, the tiny Tennessee town they used to call home. While staying in her grandma Ruby's (Margo Martindale) farmhouse, Miley rediscovers Travis (Lucas Till), an old friend who's grown up into an adorable farmhand. All of a sudden small-town life starts to have considerable charms for Miley ... but Hannah eventually resurfaces and threatens the newfound country tranquility.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Thanks to a cast of veteran supporting actors like Williams, Martindale, and Melora Hardin (The Office) as Robby Ray's potential love interest, Lorelai, the Cyruses and their TV crew are in good company on the big screen. The heart of the story is Miley reattaching to her roots, growing closer to her grandma, falling for Travis, and realizing how much her father has sacrificed (including romance) to keep her double identity a secret. There's not much of Oliver (Mitchel Musso) and Rico (Moises Arias), but hard-core Hannah fans shouldn't fret, because the movie has plenty of gags -- and chances for Cyrus to rock out as her alter ego.

Speaking of the soundtrack, it's surprisingly well connected to the story and enhances -- rather than distracts from -- the plot. It not only includes catchy Hannah and Miley songs (the show-stopping single "The Climb" and the tribute to her father, "Buttefly Fly Away," are particularly sweet) but also contributions from the elder Cyrus, Rascal Flatts (the beautiful "Bless the Broken Road"), and Miley's close friend Taylor Swift ("Crazier"). With a CD's worth of new songs, a cast full of likable characters, and a puppy-love romance at its core, Hannah Montana: The Movie should leave tween fans feeling like they've gotten the best of, well, both worlds.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Peter Chelsom
Cast: Billy Ray Cyrus, Emily Osment, Miley Cyrus
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 102 minutes
Theatrical release: April 10, 2009
DVD release: August 18, 2009
MPAA Rating: G
Watch our review

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 
 

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What parents & educators say

8

Most useful reviews by all members

rebma97
teen, 14 years old
 
Fun for Hannah Montana fans
This movie is okay. You barley see Lily or Oliver in this one, or Jackson. And Rico is only at Lily's birthday party. I think it could of been better if they focused on the other main charcters like the series did. Also, Miley acted like a brat at the beginning of the film, which was weird because she usually wasn't that mean on the show

 
Good show!
really good show. I thought that I would hate it but it was actually quite good!!!

doggs123
parent of 19 year old
 
Good for any kid
My daughter Rachel loves this movie.

musicfan789
teen, 14 years old
 
good for hannah montana
I thought it was a good movie especially for a Hannah Montana movie! I dont like hannah montana but i luv this movie

xray75
kid, 11 years old
 
it is ok
its a fine movie it is quite fun to watch

dramaqueen@hot ...
parent of 11 year old
 
great for children and even adults !
well i think this was a very nice movie a movie for all the children to see but not just children adults can learn to watch this and enjoy it im 26 years old and i very much enjoyed it which is sorta strange for me to like a diseny film but i did just like i enjoyed the Lizzie McGuire movie im an adult i do not have any children but if i did i would defintely aprove and let them watch this movie besides its perfect for the younger ones its rated G has no bad lanuage or sex none of that this is great for both children and adults to watch very nice movie well done !

Kelly268
kid, 11 years old
 
perfect 4 the whole family!
ok, whoever thinks this movie is innapropriate, is totally wrong, and u know, i luv this movie sooooo much! of course kids r gonna think its 4 girls only. but boys would love the funny in this movie! everyone will love the catfight between hannah + tyra banks! :D lol

georgiagirl9923
kid, 12 years old
 
Cute
Cute

keiran
kid, 12 years old
 
Totally Fine
Any Hannah Montana fan will love this and some who aren't. I saw it and loved it there's some deep meanings in there it made me cry but i'm not even a fan of the show or music. Some unlikely/impossible things happen (SPOILER the whole of Crawley Corners, a town in Tennessee, know her secret but promise not to tell anyone) but they're all in good nature.

so watever
teen, 14 years old
 
the movie is great!!!!!!! sure to wow GIRL tweens and kids ages 6+.

alice2899
kid, 12 years old
 
Great movie but there is a bit about dating and boys

the boy in the ...
teen, 14 years old
 
A GREAT MOVIE FOR GIRLS
This movie is very funny and kid friendly. Miley at times is a very good rolemodel and at other times shes not because she keeps huge secrets from her boyfriend, gets into a sjoe fight, and is careless of the feelings of others. But as the movies goes on she learns to be more honest,strong,and true. Which is a very good message for young girls. I defineyl recomend this movie!

holagurrl12
teen, 15 years old
 
Luvv It
Vey Cute

 
Fabulous in every way for the whole family
One of the best movies our family has ever seen. Such a great message....great celebrities ( Taylor Swift, Rascall Flatts, etc.) and good story. Very clean.

blondesarehot1
teen, 17 years old
 
Loves this movie!
I love it ! Hannah montanna awsome movie! I like her much better with jesse or whats his name lol. Jake.

superstar559
teen, 13 years old
 
Best Movie ever
I Love It. The Best Movie Ever

purplebaron
teen, 14 years old
 
Don't expect a lot, the same as the TV show.
This is a dumb movie - bad acting and plot. It is just like the TV show, a bad Disney show. They focus to much on Miley, Jackson and Robby, and not enough on other characters. The only other one they focus on it Miley's love interest, who doesn't wear a shirt too often.

12Bows
teen, 14 years old
 
Hannah Montana. . . The Movie!
I may be a little old for Hannah Montana, but this was a really touching film. I favored it most because it has feelings. Miley is under pressure because she's having to go on Miley's dinner date, AND Hannah's dinner date on the same night. She ends up hurting someone she cares about and it's really upseting for her. But things work out for everyone in the end. It's not inappropriate in any way and is a really good movie.

Sosie98
teen, 14 years old
 
I hate Hannah Montana normally but this movie was great!! It was a mixture of everything that could possibly be in a movie and I loved it. The songs were catchy and the love story was heart warming. The chicken coop Miley paints for Travis is so adorable and I think I'll always want something like that as like a club house. I thought this movie was just gonna be a typical Disney teaches you a lesson so I was surprised when I found out that it was so awesome!!! Just so yall know Hoedown Throwdown is uh-maze-ing!! The only bad thing I saw in this movie was that at times Miley can be a little bit of a bad role model like being selfish and not wanting to go back to Tennessee for her grandmas birthday. But in the end Miley comes to love Tennessee anyway so all those problems are resolved and there's really nothing to worry about. I was surprised and I was almost on the verge of tears at point like when Miley was looking at the picture of her mother. The creators of Hannah Montana made a great decision when they said that her mother was dead because this adds an emotional pull to this movie. I loved it!!

MovieFan777
teen, 16 years old
 
Hannah Fans Will Go Wild!
This charming and sweet motion picture based of the hit Disney Channel series is a can't miss for Hannah fan's, but it is a definite pass for Hannah haters (which I'm not). But anyways, this film is refreshing and fun, and when it comes to Hannah that's what you want, and yes there is plenty of wonderful music you will be singing to yourself afterwards. And parents this film is clean as Hannah should be.

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