NOW, VOYAGER has a lot of appeal for highly romantic teenagers of both sexes, and for those who are interested in the dynamics and impact of dysfunctional families. Charlotte's mother is completely self-obsessed, consumed with power, incapable of compassion, much less love, for her daughter, but it is also clear that there is no way for Charlotte to be successful in pleasing her mother. In the end, Charlotte's independence and self-respect are much more threatening to her mother, who literally cannot survive Charlotte's assertion of her right to her own life.
The title of the movie is from a line by Walt Whitman that Dr. Jaquith gives to Charlotte: "Now voyager, sail forth to seek and find." Charlotte learns not to be afraid of what she will find, to risk getting hurt, to risk allowing herself to be known, to risk caring about someone else. It is also worthwhile for kids to see that Charlotte must love herself before she is able to love someone else, and that just as Jerry's love helps her to bloom, she is able to do the same for Tina.