How Hannah Montana Has Hypnotized America
By Norm Schrager at February 4, 2008 | 11:16 pm | Print
I have a new daughter, just born Sunday, so I wonder about a million things. Will I be able to provide for her the way she’ll need? Will the world be a happy place for her? Will she, like the rest of America, be hypnotized by the product known as Hannah Montana?
In case you haven’t read the news, Hannah Montana — or more accurately, the polished amalgam of Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus — has taken over the box office like no film since Titanic. In its first weekend, the film Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert earned $31.1 million on only 683 screens. That’s the single greatest opening for a film premiering on fewer than 1000 screens. Ever. As a comparison, the Jessica Alba thriller The Eye opened on 1800 more screens… and made $12 million.
Sure the film promised a limited release. And yes, advanced tickets were sold. And kids really love the real Miley, the character Miley, and the character-cum-character Disney creation Hannah Montana — you can understand the high grosses. But why the positive reviews? An 89 on Rotten Tomatoes? Are adults as transfixed as the tykes and pre-teens?
Not really. Critics are impressed with Cyrus’ work ethic and her nice-girl demeanor and that’s fine. But there’s a recurring opinion in the positive reviews that’s nothing short of phenomenal, in the literal sense of the word: The Hannah Montana movie actually performs a service, allowing parents to give their kids a Hannah Montana concert experience without shelling out $1000 per scalped ticket (if you could find any).
Now that really is critic proof. And Disney has decided to extend the film’s run past the original plan of one week. To which we say: No duh.
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9 Comments
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You cant knock Disney for missing the opportunity to execute its “tween” franchises, High School Musical included. But thats not new. They’ve been doing this (off and on, better and worse) since the original Mickey Mouse Club. Isn’t this just the same highly-produced but chaste product, many years later? The only thing controversial about Hannah Montana is it’s success. I can’t figure out why Disney doesn’t resurrect MMC for another go. They’ve never heard of synergy?
Congratulations! And fear not, there are worse things for a girl to love than Disney sitcoms. Middle-aged men, not so much.
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With three nieces under 10yrs old I can attest to the power of the Hannah Montana franchise.
And I saw Billy Ray on the History Channel hosting a reverent history of Hillbilly culture. Not since the Clampetts ruled the airwaves in the ’60′s has America so swooned for the talents of the Hill folk.
And I’m sure Disney already has a sample of little Sophie’s DNA and is hard at work figuring out exactly what she will TOTALLY NEED you to buy her in six years.
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- Brad –
You’re right, Disney does have a sample of my new little girl’s DNA. I believe the hospital was required to send it in.-Norm S. (Meet In the Lobby)
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