Nov

Review-”Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season”

Release Date: November 18, 2008
Publisher: Walt Disney
Price: $26.99 on Amazon.com (Buy It)
Rating: TV-G
Run Time: 588 minutes
Special Features: “Back Home Again with Miley,” the first episode of “2008 Disney Channel Games,” and “Hannah’s Highlights”
Starring: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jason Earles, Mitchel Musso, Moises Arias
Genre: Children’s, Comedy

Girls of the world rejoice, Disney is finally releasing the complete first season of “Hannah Montana” on DVD. If you read my review of the Hannah Montana DVD game, you probably know that I don’t exactly fit in the show’s target audience. However, I will try my best to channel the inner girl in me and determine whether the set is worth purchasing or not.

I’m sure most people reading this review already know what “Hannah Montana” is all about but for those who don’t, all you pretty much need to know is that main character Miley (Miley Cyrus) doubles as a pop star named Hannah Montana. Along with the normal routine of a schoolgirl, she must also record songs, attend premieres, and avoid the press.

Obviously the show is meant for families (especially ones with young girls). While parents definitely won’t enjoy the show as much as their daughters, the show is still somewhat entertaining for adults. It’s pretty much your usual sitcom, just meant more for kids than adults.

One of the main reasons the show works both for kids and adults is the solid cast. Most of the cast members are young and have little experience but they all do a pretty good job. I personally don’t think Miley Cyrus is talented vocally (cue thousands of angry comments) but she is pretty funny as an actress.

Since “Hannah Montana” airs on cable, the video quality obviously can’t compare to network television. The DVD transfer is still pretty good, just not as good as what I’ve come to expect from TV on DVD releases of current shows. Audio quality is also serviceable but it really should have been better. Extras are a bit lacking with just a track that shows pop-up trivia during a few episodes (Hannah’s Highlights), a featurette featuring Miley and her dad Billy Ray at home (Back Home Again with Molly), and an episode of the 2008 Disney Channel Games.

“Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season” is obviously meant for families with younger girls. The show isn’t bad but I really can only recommend it for that specific audience.