HANNAH MONTANA/MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT TOUR: DVD

SYNOPSIS:
Miley Cyrus and her TV alter ego Hannah Montana appear in concert to thousands fans of adoring teenage girls.

Review by Louise Keller:
Brimming with confidence as she runs around the stage tossing her hair, when Miley Cyrus sings 'I've Got Everything I Always Wanted, Livin' the Dream', it is easy to believe she means every word. The song is called Just Like You, but it is unlikely that many teenage girls are just like this 16 year old superstar who sings about how she is 'just an ordinary girl living in an extraordinary world'. For the teenage girl target market, there is no question the film delivers as it alternates between onstage performances and backstage insights. We also meet Miley's superstar singer dad Billy Ray Cyrus, who talks about the songs his daughter writes.

Apart from the long blond wig, there's not much difference between the songs Miley performs as herself and those as her TV alter ego Hannah Montana. We go backstage as Miley starts her warming up exercise. It all seems like great fun. There's a flash back four weeks earlier when the show is blocked, choreographed and staged. 'You're really lucky to have such a great band,' her dad says before rehearsals. Miley seems likeable and totally natural as she bounds onto the stage with relentless energy wearing pants, glittery black & silver top and boots. She high-fives the waiting hands of the screaming teenage girls in the audience, while backing singers add vocal oomph and a giant screen projects its images behind her.

The concert tour was conceived and produced by Kenny Ortega and there is no question that Miley is a great role model for young girls. There's no shortage of hysteria either. "It's like standing behind a jet as it's warming up... actually worse," confides a roadie, referring to the screams of the eager waiting fans who are not shy to sing their favourite song for the cameras or scream on demand.

There are umpteen costume changes - jeans with rips, studs and spangles, dresses, skirts and tights - and the finale is filled with disco lights, spotlights, streamers and glo-in-the-dark sticks. DVD special features include a Sing-A-Long with the movie and The Ultimate Personal Tour backstage, which will fascinate the fans.

Published October 30, 2008