Raise Your Voice (PG)
Made for tween girls.
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Seen the movie?
Movie details
- Studio: New Line Cinema, New Line Cinema
- Directed By: Sean McNamara
- Cast: Hilary Duff, Jason Ritter
- Running Time: 100 minutes
- Release Date: 10/08/2004
- Video/DVD Release Date: 02/15/2005
- Genre: Family and Kids
- MPAA Rating: PG
- MPAA Explanation: thematic elements and language
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie includes the death of a major character in a drunk driving accident. This is powerfully but not graphically depicted, but it may make the movie too much for under-10s or even some sensitive under-12s. An adult character responds to a stressful situation by saying, "I need a drink," and an underage character gets drunk when he's upset over a misunderstanding. There's some PG-level language. The movie makes it clear that Terri thinks carefully about whether she's ready to kiss a boy, even though it's someone she really cares about. Another girl makes a reference to being "bad" to get the boy she likes, but it doesn't work.
Families can talk about why Terri's father is so strict. Why was it easier for Paul to speak up than for Terri? What should Terri have done when her mother and aunt told her to lie to her father about where she was? What did Terri like best about the music program? How did her brother and her teacher give her a chance to see things within herself that she did not see before? Why didn't Jay like Robin anymore?
Families can talk about why Terri's father is so strict. Why was it easier for Paul to speak up than for Terri? What should Terri have done when her mother and aunt told her to lie to her father about where she was? What did Terri like best about the music program? How did her brother and her teacher give her a chance to see things within herself that she did not see before? Why didn't Jay like Robin anymore?
Message
Social Behavior:
Diverse characters.
Consumerism:
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Teen gets drunk in response to stress, adult says she needs a drink in response to stress.
Violence
Tense family scenes, character killed in (non-graphic) car accident.
Sex
Mild references to "bad" behavior, kissing taken seriously.
Language
Mild language.
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Nell Minow
In RAISE YOUR VOICE, Hilary Duff plays 16-year-old Terri, a good girl whose loving older brother Paul (Jason Ritter) wants her to fight back when their over-protective father (David Keith) won't let her go to the summer music program of her dreams. Even though Paul is grounded, he and Terri sneak out to go to a rock concert. On the way home, their car is hit by a drunk driver, and Paul is killed. Terri's father becomes even more strict. When she is accepted into the program her mother (Rita Wilson) and aunt (Rebecca De Mornay) conspire to find a way for her enroll. Her father thinks she is visiting her aunt. The program is more challenging than Terri imagined, filled with highly focused and very talented kids. But she makes some friends, especially a handsome composer (Oliver James) and her violinist roommate, Denise (Dana Davis). It is a competitive group, especially when it comes to who gets the solo in the big choral performance and who will win that $10,000 scholarship at the end of the summer.
Is it any good?
Squeaky-clean Hilary Duff's latest movie plays like a cross between a Disney-fied music video and a script developed by girls playing with Barbies. So, it will please its target audience of tween girls while leaving parents relieved, if not entertained. Duff has more hairdos than facial expressions, but the movie is designed around the one look she has down pat, a sort of sweet, slightly abashed, "Gosh, can I really do this? Look how adorable it is that I don't know I'm adorable" sort of look.
It does not go well when she tries to go beyond her range, as when she has to learn that her brother has died or confront someone she thinks has betrayed her, and especially in one painful moment when she tries to act "street." Similarly, the music is designed around her slight but sweet pop voice. If the studio-enhanced dubbing is a bit too obvious in the classroom scenes, it fits with the bubble-gumminess of the tunes.
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Parents and kids say
All Reviews
There are 11 reviews.
Posted on 05/19/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15
Age 13+
Posted on 01/19/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Posted on 10/30/05 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13
Age 11+
Posted on 02/28/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Adult Reviews
There are 3 reviews.
Age 13+
Posted on 01/19/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Age 11+
Posted on 02/28/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Kids Reviews
There are 8 reviews.
Posted on 05/19/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15
Posted on 10/30/05 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13
Posted on 02/25/05 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13
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