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Disney's 'Cheetah' has its heart in the right spot submitted by: Lisa D. source: Houston Chronicle Date: August 8, 2003 By MIKE McDANIEL The Cheetah Girls are a music group unlike no other. They wear cheetah-inspired fashions (lots of spotted clothes), speak a cheetah slanguage all their own (to be "cheetah-licious" is a good thing) and can sing, sing, sing. They may come from different backgrounds -- one's biracial, one's African-American, one's Latina and the fourth is white -- but when they get together, they are one voice with one dream: to make it big in the music world. But to make it, they'll have to negotiate several obstacles. First, they'll have to win the school talent contest, which will give them a chance to record a demo record. Second, they'll have to get their parents' permission -- and that won't come easily, because mothers are very protective and these girls are only 16 years old. Third, they'll need to spot the flim-flammers of the record business, who are more interested in lining their pockets than in helping the Cheetahs record the material they believe in. And fourth, they'll need to do all of the above without letting things go to their head. That's the game plan for The Cheetah Girls (7 p.m. Aug. 15, Disney Channel), but, trust me, nothing works out as planned. In fact, toss aside all conventional thinking. The Cheetah Girls may start out as cookie-cutter, but it detours through fantasyland. The happy Disney Channel ending may be predictable, but getting there isn't. Based on the book series by Deborah Gregory, the movie -- Disney Channel's first musical TV flick -- works so well because it's heart is in the right place. The Cheetah Girls live by an all-inclusive credo that precludes them from judging others by the color of their spots, or spending more time on their hair than their homework. Raven (That's So Raven) stars as Galleria, and, yes, Gregory confirms that she got that name from Houston, home of "the best mall in the world to buy Gucci shoes." Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams, two-thirds of the R&B/pop trio 3LW, and Sabrina Bryan are the rest of the Cheetah Girls. They portray Chanel, Aqua and Do (short for Dorinda). Each has personal issues that they deal with as individuals. As a group, they have "growl power." They're a talented bunch of singers with all kinds of attitude. They're not vulgar smart-mouths, just typical teen-age girls, testing the bounds of parenthood (Lynn Whitfield is a standout as Raven's mom), straining to become adults a few years before it's time. It's a difficult concept for them to accept. After all, they're so good together. They're hip-hop song and dance arrangements are cheetah-licious. But, the girls will find out, they've got a learning to do. The Cheetah Girls is a movie the whole family can enjoy. It's especially good for girls and their moms to watch together. The Cheetah Girls, 7 p.m. Aug. 15, Disney Channel. Grade: B+. Site design by: Dolphin Webpage Designs © 1996-2003