By Casey Lewis
Everyone with an internet connection — so, everyone — knows what a whirlwind few months Miley Cyrus has had, and the lucky folks at MTV caught it all on camera. The evolution of Miley 2.0 started when she released "We Can't Stop," which was a big deal since it was her first new song in a few years, but was an even bigger deal because it sounds like nothing else Miley's ever done. The release of the single, off her upcoming album Bangerz, was the first step in what she calls a movement, a buzzword that's mentioned throughout the doc. "People always want to call it a transition. It's not a transition," she explains in the movie. "It's a movement. It's a growth. It's a change."
A change indeed. Miley's come along way since her "Hannah Montana" days, and though she doesn't discuss the Disney show that made her famous, she insists she's always been the person she is right now. The only difference? Now she's in the position to make her own decisions. Have you seen the lyrics for "We Can't Stop"? "We run things / Things don't run we"—grammar aside, the girl means what she sings. These days, Miley is nothing if not empowered. "We live in the land of the free," she says early on in the documentary. "If you can't express yourself, you're not very free."
We've already given you plenty of reason to tune into the doc, but here are some more things to get excited about, whether you're a self-described smiler or not (yet!).
We will finally learn how — and why — that VMA performance came to be."You can watch that performance and think it's a hot mess," she says in the movie. "But it's a strategic hot mess." When Miley stepped on stage for her now-infamous performance at this year's Video Music Awards, she expected the network to pull the plug halfway through. Prior to the show, she was nervous—wouldn't you be?—until Kayne West stopped in her dressing room and told her how much he believes in her, and when Kayne West says he believes in you, you listen.
There are many, many celebrity cameos.Miley Cyrus has a bunch of A-list pals, so it'll come as no surprise that a few famous faces appear in the special. There's no mention of Liam, but there is a satisfyingly long appearance from Britney Spears (she doesn't say much, but she does giggle politely at everything Miley says, which is adorable). Her producer pals Mike Will Made It and Pharrell Williams also spend a lot of time talking about how talented and smart she is, and you totally believe them. The best is when Pharrell says, "Her dad is Billy Ray Cyrus, her godmother is Dolly Parton, and she grew up in the era when kids listen to hip-hop. People ask, 'Why is she twerking? Why is she doing this?' Because she's a product of America."
Though she seems pretty untouchable these days, Miley's real, insecurities and all.In addition to being super nervous for her performance at the VMAs, her arrival for the awards show didn't go as planned—though you'd never know, until you see the documentary. But moral of the story? Epic fails happen to everyone. Oh, and also? She gets sick. Miley Cyrus, the most famous girl in the universe, gets sore throats. (When you have to sing in front of thousands of people on "The Today Show," you can't just send in a doctor's note. So Miley performs her heart out, runny nose and all.)
New Miley is here to stay, and it's a thing to behold."I made one movie, and I never wanted to do it again. I want to make music for the rest of my life." But not just any music. Miley wants to make the kind of music she wants to make. Later, when discussing Bangerz, she says, "It has to be fully me and all my creative vision behind it, or else, I don't want to do it." So that VMA performance? The "We Can't Stop" music video? This behind-the-scenes doc? All her.
This is just the beginning. Next up? World domination."To me, a movement is bigger than just a record," Miley says. "A movement represents something like...taking over the world." The thing is, she's serious.
Tune in for Miley: The Movement on Wednesday, October 2 at 10 pm on MTV.
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