5 Ways The Lizzie McGuire Movie Is The Best Disney Channel Movie Tie-In (& 5 It's Hannah Montana)
Both Lizzie McGuire and Hannah Montana were huge hits on Disney Channel. Lizzie McGuire's stories of a relatable teenage girl and her best friends kept the show grounded. The series and eventually made it one of the most popular shows to come out of the network. The Lizzie McGuire Movie followed Lizzie's middle school graduating class on a trip to Rome. While there, Lizzie meets Paolo, an Italian Pop Star, who claims Lizzie is identical to his singing partner, Isabella. The movie succeeded in bringing the fan-favorite series to an end with a final event that gave Lizzie, Gordo, and Kate closure.
Hannah Montana: The Movie highlighted the success of Miley's alter ego within the series. However, this movie takes place slightly outside of the series. Miley, Robby Ray, and Jackson return to Tennessee for Ruby's birthday and in the aftermath of Miley's latest stunts. Hannah Montana: The Movie does a better job of acknowledging the show's history rather than setting up its future.
10 Lizzie McGuire: Continuity
Given The Lizzie McGuire Movie is technically the ending of the series, nothing about it needed to carry over to future seasons. Lizzie's adventure in Europe gets to remain a fantastic element of her life without complicating it or acting as if it never happened. Fans may have wanted another year of Lizzie McGuire, but the series concluding allowed the film to handle Lizzie's relationships with Gordo and Kate without regressing them afterward.
This is where Hannah Montana: The Movie makes some major errors. The film exists almost separately from the rest of the series. Hannah's popularity, while already high, seems to skyrocket in the film, only to return to regular Hannah fame in the series. The movie premiered in the midst of the show's third season, yet the episodes make almost no references to the film's events. There are quick acknowledgments to Miley revealing the Hannah secret to Crowley Corners and Jackson coming home from Tennessee. Still, none of the substantial plot, development, or characters are relevant in the show.
9 Hannah Montana: Highlights The Double Life
Hannah Montana relied on the double-life storyline throughout the series. Miley Stewart was an average student one moment and a massive celebrity the next. Several episodes suggested that Miley's secret comes close to coming out.
Hannah Montana: The Movie doesn't drop that concept at all and integrates it into the plot.
8 Lizzie McGuire: Works As A Finale
The Lizzie McGuire Movie works to complete long-standing character arcs and relationships while also suggesting a new turn of events for the future. Lizzie had never been one for the spotlight, but the film allowed Lizzie to release a musical talent to the world.
The film also reinforces Lizzie and Kate's dynamic, showing them slowly go from the antagonistic relationship they had since the pilot episode to something more reminiscent of a friendship they once shared. Gordo and Ethan even bond while being roommates.
7 Hannah Montana: Return To Tennessee
A return to her roots is just what Miley needed after getting into a shoe fight. Expecting New York and landing in Tennessee was not what Miley wanted, but Robby Ray ensured they would be present given her grandmother's birthday.
The return to Tennessee introduces her mother's side of the family, all of whom had been absent from the series thus far. Miley's connection to her roots helps her grow and shows another side of the character.
6 Lizzie McGuire: Supporting Characters
Miranda may not appear in the film, but Lizzie and Gordo quickly explain she was in Mexico City. Ethan and Kate continue to play key supporting roles in the movie, and even Matt, Jo, Sam, and Melina have a subplot. The Lizzie McGuire Movie handles its already existing characters well, including them in events and making sure they have functions in the story.
Hannah Montana: The Movie doesn't quite get that right. Lilly is the most seen supporting character, but she disappears a handful of times. Oliver and Rico, on the other hand, are barely in the movie a few minutes. Their appearance is also useless as they are diminished to a joke about an exploding cake, only meant to add to Lilly's frustration about Hannah Montana attending her birthday party.
5 Hannah Montana: Reveals Hannah Secret
Viewers had eagerly waited for the moment Miley finally ripped off the wig. Granted, the way it happens probably isn't how anyone had in mind. Still, it was a moment that has an essential purpose to the story.
Miley can not lie to the place she grew up. After struggling to uphold the secret, Miley finally reveals the truth to the crowd, expecting it to be the end of her career, except it isn't. The crowd is shocked but not against it and happily agrees never to reveal Miley's secret. Even the reporter is convinced to leave it alone.
4 Lizzie McGuire: Lizzie And Gordo
Lizzie and Gordo's relationship is one of the most essential elements of Lizzie McGuire. Toward the end of the series, Gordo had revealed his crush on Lizzie but hadn't done anything about it. The film enhances that, showing Gordo be a good friend, dealing with possible jealousy, and still coming to help Lizzie after lying got him in trouble.
After everything, Lizzie accepts that Gordo is right about Paolo's scheme even though it hurts. While their relationship isn't labeled in the end, there are hints that Lizzie and Gordo could've become something more later.
3 Hannah Montana: Family-Centric
Hannah Montana: The Movie is very much a family-centric film. Miley, Robby Ray, and Jackson are three of the most important characters. Miley and her father's relationship stands out even more so with Miley calming down from the high of being Hannah Montana. Miley also spends a lot of time with her grandmother, who helps keep her grounded while in Tennessee.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie includes Matt, Jo, and Sam, but it is not a movie about family. Lizzie's individual journey is the main story, with Gordo, Kate, and Paolo all being integral to it. Lizzie's family is a subplot meant to include longstanding original characters while also finding a way to get them to Rome just in time for Lizzie's performance.
2 Lizzie McGuire: New Characters
One of the reasons the film additions work so much better in The Lizzie McGuire Movie is because it is clear that the main characters are also meeting them for the first time. Miss Ungermeyer, Isabella, Paolo, and Sergei are all relevant to the film's story. As three of them live in Rome, it was unlikely Lizzie would've spent much time talking to them after going back home anyway.
However, Hannah Montana: The Movie struggles with this element far too much. The significant characters Miley interacts with, such as Travis, Grandma Ruby, and Vita, are very confusing in the overall series. None of them appear or are referenced after the film's ending. They exist purely for the movie with no stakes, relevance, or consistency in the show. As Hannah Montana was still airing when the film came out, the new characters' lack of continuity didn't make sense.
1 Hannah Montana: Miley's Development
Lizzie does go through character development in the movie, but for the most part, Lizzie is very similar to who she was in the beginning. This is a mostly accurate statement for every major character other than Kate, who makes noticeable strides toward becoming Lizzie and Gordo's friend again.
Miley is in a fascinating place at the beginning of the movie. Hannah Montana has taken over every aspect of her life, not leaving space for friends, family, or even for Miley to breathe. Hannah Montana: The Movie puts a bigger lens on Miley emotionally. There are bigger strides in her growth throughout the film as she struggles with the Hannah secret.