?Hannah Montana The Movie?
D: Peter Chelsom
S: Miley Cyrus

MANILA, Philippines?Tweeners have something to look forward to when ?Hannah Montana The Movie,? Miley Cyrus? second big-screen romp opens in theaters on July 8. For sure, the wholesome and derivative Disney feature is no mind-bender, but it doesn?t really take itself seriously and wears its heart on its sleeve. Moreover, its charismatic star is at her most winning, self-deprecating best here. Result: It registered the best opening-day gross for a live-action, G-rated movie ever.

This time around, Miley Stewart aka Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) is more comfortable with her dreamy dual life (she?s a regular kid who moonlights as a famous pop star after school), but dad Robby Ray (Billy Ray Cyrus) feels that his daughter?s immense popularity and power are starting to go to her head:

Scene-stealing entrance

Miley almost doesn?t make it to her own concert, makes a scene-stealing entrance to her best friend?s birthday party, and even gets into a very nasty catfight over a pair of shoes with?hold your breath?Tyra Banks! Uh-oh. Is Miley going the Britney and Lindsay route? Not if her father can help it!

To teach her a lesson, Robby Ray ships Miley off to Crowley Meadows, her grandmother?s home in Tennessee, for two weeks, sans her aggressively ambitious publicist, Vita (the delightfully wicked Vanessa Williams), and the conveniences of her superstar lifestyle. She hates her forced ?vacation,? of course, but soon enjoys her newfound anonymity, realizes the importance of country-style values, as well as the heady pleasures of young love?in the person of the hunky, blond hair-and-blue-eyed farm hand, Travis Brody (Lucas Till).

But, there are wrinkles in Miley?s moments in paradise: An opportunistic land developer who intends to turn Crowley Meadows? rural heaven into a cosmopolitan haven and a predatory tabloid reporter who?s slowly making the Miley-Hannah connection, which threatens to blow the 16-year-old teenage star?s cover!

With an overly familiar story, implausible plot and a fan-pleasing ending, the movie is no great shakes. But, the well-meaning and youthful vibe it conveys is undoubtedly catchy and?with all the doom and gloom around us?timely. The film is an infectiously frothy fusion of youthful optimism and wholesome entertainment, with winning musical numbers (like the father-and-daughter duet, ?Butterfly Fly Away?) that are as catchy as the flu.

Appeal

Making a welcome cameo is the oh-so-glorious Taylor Swift, who sings ?Crazier? before Miley brings the house down with her rousing ?Hoedown Throwdown? production number. Cyrus? charm isn?t of the conventional sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice mold, but her appeal grows on viewers because she?s gutsy, feisty, and she has a mind of her own.

Moreover, Miley aka Hannah doesn?t mind making a fool of herself?which endears her even more to her squirming young fans and their approving guardians. She obviously speaks their language. So, when she finally learns from the error of her ways and gets some perspective on what truly matters in life, they?re there to cheer her on!