“Hannah Montana: The Movie”
Starring Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus
Released: April 10, 2009

WATCH THE TRAILER

While the movie is decently amusing, Miley Cyrus will never live up to the legacy of Hilary Duff.

I DID NOT go into the Savoy 16 with any preconceived negative views on Friday night.

I expected that "Hannah Montana: The Movie" would amuse me — put me in a good mood with the singing and dancing and overall ridiculousness.

I expected "Hannah Montana" to be a revamped version of that earlier Disney hit TV series and movie spinoff, "Lizzie McGuire" (with a Southern accent). But it wasn't.

Unlike "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" — which was amazing — "Hannah Montana: The Movie" was just too cheesy.

In this latest Disney offering, we have a Southern gal living a double life: Hannah the pop star and Miley Stewart your average teenager (both played by Miley Cyrus).

When Miley loses track of what is important and Hannah is all over the papers for getting physical with Tyra Banks over a pair of shoes, her father (Billy Ray Cyrus) makes her visit their family's hometown in rural Tennessee for two weeks.

As Miley returns home, she starts to realize what is important to her: family.

While "Hannah Montana: The Movie" attempts to be touching and emotional, it seriously fails. It seems almost childish when Hannah and her best friend (Emily Osment) fight over a ruined Sweet 16 party. Even the double life portrayed in the film seems less realistic than in "The Lizzie McGuire Movie."

Lizzie (Hilary Duff) is an average teenage girl who is mistaken for an Italian pop star. Lizzie sings in the Colosseum and galavants around Rome on a school trip. Hannah shops in LA and sings in a barn at a fundraiser.

Lizzie's parents discover that their daughter is posing as an Italian pop star, while Hannah’s family is trying to keep her two identities a secret.

Plus, Lizzie's clothes are way cuter!

Maybe the problem is that I have never seen the "Hannah Montana" TV show, and I was an avid follower of the "Lizzie McGuire" show. I found the secret double life of Hannah Montana to be totally ludicrous! While Disney Channel shows are cheesy, "Hannah Montana" takes it to the max.

There just wasn't as much fun teenage drama in "Hannah Montana: The Movie" as in "The Lizzie McGuire Movie." I mean, Lizzie and Gordo (Adam Lamberg) … so cute! Gordo takes the heat for Lizzy to ensure that she performs at the Italian Music Awards. He gets sent home but stays loyal.

What does Hannah's love interest, Travis (Lucas Till), do? Nothing that romantic! While Miley is trying to have a date with him, Hannah must attend a dinner with the mayor (Beau Billingslea), and Travis discovers that Miley is Hannah. He gets hurt, and I think you can guess what happens. (Eventually he comes to his senses, though.)

Even the music isn't that great. Other than "Butterfly Fly Away" and maybe "Hoedown Throwdown," I was not that impressed with her musical stylings.

Hannah Montana, I'm sorry, but you are nothing compared to Lizzie McGuire.

"Hannah Montana: The Movie" is currently playing at the Goodrich Savoy 16, 232 W. Burwash, Savoy, and the Beverly 18, 910 Meijers Drive, Champaign.

"HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE" AT A GLANCE

• Starring: Miley Cyrus (as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana), Billy Ray Cyrus (as Robby Ray Stewart), Emily Osment (as Lilly Truscott/Lola Luftnagle), Lucas Till (as Travis Brody), Jason Earles (as Jackson Stewart)
• Directed by: Peter Chelsom
• Written by: Daniel Berendsen (screenplay), Michael Poryes (characters), Richard Correll (characters), Barry O'Brien (characters),
• Genre: Comedy, Family, Music, Fish Out of Water
• Rated: G
• Runtime: 102 min.
• Release date: April 10, 2009
• Summary (from IMDb): As Hannah Montana's popularity begins to take over her life, Miley Stewart on the urging from her father takes a trip to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tenn., to get some perspective on what matters in life the most.