SYNOPSIS:
They've rocked the U.S., grooved in Spain, and now they're off to India for new musical adventures in the hit Disney Channel Original Movie THE CHEETAH GIRLS: ONE WORLD EXTENDED MUSIC EDITION. Plus, this DVD features an awesome never-before-seen musical sequence, "Feels Like Love!" When the stylin' Cheetah Girls get cast in a Bollywood musical, they're ready to show the world their hot new music and hip new dance moves. This could be their big break! But when Chanel (Adrienne Bailon), Aqua (Kiely Williams) and Dorinda (Sabrina Bryan) find out they have to compete against each other for the starring role, their friendship -- and the group -- may be in serious trouble. Can they make their own dreams come true and still be The Cheetah Girls? Find out as they strut halfway around the world and follow their dreams to Bollywood!
MOVIE REVIEW:
With all the attention on how director Danny Boyle is creating an exotic India with Slumdog Millionaire, we get this TV movie produced by Disney Channel about a three American girls visiting the exotic land of India to make a Bollywood movie. Err, coincidence? Cashing in on the phenomenon? Without tracking the timelines of these two productions, let’s just move on to review this third Disney Channel Original Movie of the series that capitalizes on the country’s colourful costumes, catchy dance choreographies, large crowds of dancing Indians and hmm, elephants that look you in the eye whenever you pass by them.
At least, that’s what one Cheetah Girl experiences throughout the 90 minute TV movie.
Adrienne Bailon, Sabrina Bryan and Kiely Williams are back as The Cheetah Girls Chanel, Dorinda, and Aqua set off to India to star in a Bollywood movie. After witnessing the exotic country’s culture (elephants which look at you in the eye included), they discover that they will have to audition against each other to get the one starring role in the movie. Will this mean that they can be BFFs no more? What will this mean for the trio who promised to be friends forever?
Considering that this is a production from the House of Mouse, you can expect a happy ending that will leave no one sore and cynical about the true spirit of friendship. Also, because of the folks behind this production, you can expect wholesome messages throughout the movie. That’s for the kids, of course.
Having already built a brand name and a following for themselves on Disney Channel, the three female leads are comfortable on screen, exuding the right amount of energy to engage viewers to continue watching the otherwise predictably plotted movie. But it isn’t the story audiences would be excited about here – it’s the musical numbers and dances which will be ringing in your ears long after the movie. Yes, that also includes kids pestering their parents to get a copy of the soundtrack that’s available in all good music stores.
Does TV director Paul Hoen indulge himself with exoticism in this movie? You jolly well know the answer when The Cheetah Girls trot around India, experiencing the “local culture”, knowing local Indian boys, wearing traditional saris, and gawking in wonderment at things which are un-American. But let’s not complain. The movie is meant to provide entertainment, and it has done a proper job.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
This Code 3 DVD contains three minutes of “Bloopers” where you get to see the girls breaking out in laughter while attempting to be serious, nice introductions included. In “Backstage Disney: Cheetah Spots”, the girls talk about the making of the movie. It’s accompanied by a small split screen playing the movie throughout – so it’s like an audio commentary, just that you see them talking animatedly. They talk about memories, impressions of India and a certain Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan. There are three “Music Videos” “One World”, “Cheetah Love” and “Dance Me If You Can” included on the disc. You can also choose to “Rock Along with the Movie” by playing the songs from the movie and, err, dance along. Included in the “Sneak Peeks” section are trailers for other Disney titles like Space Buddies, Bolt and the upcoming Pixar animation feature Up.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The disc’s visual transfer enhances the colours of India nicely, and you can choose to watch the movie in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin or Cantonese.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by John Li
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