TV review: 'The Cheetah Girls: One World'
TELEVISION REVIEW
The defection of actress Raven-Symoné makes the Cheetahs' new world just a bit less fun to be in than the group's first two TV movies.
In the beginning there were the Cheetah Girls.
Way back in 2003, when Hannah Montana was but a gleam in the Disney Channel's eye, Galleria (Raven-Symoné), Chanel (Adrienne Bailon), Aqua (Kiely Williams) and Dorinda (Sabrina Bryan) became a bouncy, lovely pop band. Their message was simple: Nothing can keep you from being a star, but only if you remember that friends are more important than fame.
Disney has since made billions embracing this creed: the "High School Musicals," "Hannah Montana" and "Camp Rock" all celebrate the glories of stardom while admonishing their audience to always choose friendship over personal glory.
Which makes the third Cheetah movie, "Cheetah Girls: One World," subtextually delicious. Debuting at 8 tonight on the Disney Channel, it seems, on paper, just another version of this same life-lesson: After successfully auditioning for a young Indian director, the Cheetahs giddily jet off to Bollywood only to learn that there is but a single female lead, for which they must compete. Which is, of course, so totally against the Cheetah ethos that it almost destroys the group.
Except, of course, it's already been destroyed -- the film is one very significant Cheetah short.
Disney doesn't often attempt irony, but occasionally irony is thrust upon them. As fiercely as the girls may fight for and sing about the power of the group, there's nothing they can do about the gaping hole left by Galleria, the group's writer and leader. Raven-Symoné passed on making this third film because she is focusing on her solo music and film careers.
Even an 8-year-old can connect those dots.
Early on in "One World," Galleria's absence is glibly explained -- she has been accepted at Cambridge and is in summer school -- and then her name is Never. Mentioned. Again. No texting, no cellphonage, no hard feelings. Galleria is simply on permanent radio silence. Meanwhile, the remaining girls act like they always do, swearing eternal devotion one minute, then turning on one another the next, as they struggle to maintain their Cheetah identity. Oh and hook up with various super-nice guys.
