While the above may make the Hannah Montana series sound overly serious and dramatic, it is first and foremost a tween comedy. The comical moments come often, usually centering around members of the supporting cast, which include Miley's on-screen brother Jackson (Jason Earles) and her best friend Lilly (Emily Osment), as well as father Robbie Ray (played by Miley's off-screen father Billy Ray Cyrus). The episodes featured include guest appearances from American Idol contestant David Archuleta as well as Cody Linley, who revisits his recurring role as Miley's on-again, off-again love interest Jake. Because of the abnormally long "seasons," the first episode featured actually aired in November 2008. Hannah Montana: Miley Says Goodbye? includes Season 3's final episode, which does not air until a week after the release of the DVD, so die-hard fans will be able to get an early look at Miley's pending decision. As the title suggests, the final few episodes of Season 3 revolve around Miley's thoughts about leaving the superstar life behind in order to return to her Tennessee roots. Thankfully, the season does not end with a cliffhanger and viewers will not have to wait for an answer to the question posed in the title.
As I have stated in previous reviews of Disney Channel series DVDs, I'm not a fan of releasing a DVD with only a few disparate episodes of a season that featured a total of 31 episodes over the course of 18 months. It is an obvious marketing ploy, but one that seems to maintain popularity. Hannah Montana: Miley Says Goodbye? is no different in that regard, but the catch with this release is that it does offer a sneak peek of the season finale prior to the television airing, so I suppose that is a marketable bonus. Other bonuses include an alternate ending to the hour-long "He Could Be The One" episode and a behind-the-scenes vignette entitled "Sister Secrets," hosted by Brandi Cyrus, Miley's older half-sister. Also included inside the box is a photo frame with a holographic image of Miley and her horse, Blue Jeans. Truth be told, even as a father of three approaching 40 who puts these DVDs on to review and just "plans to get through them," I find that the show manages to keep me entertained, which is a tribute to the writing and acting (or my juvenile sense of humor, maybe both). At $19.99, the price may be a little steep for 6 episodes and a few bonus features, but these DVDs make great birthday gifts and, for the die-hard fans, are surely must-haves.
