Raise Your Voice (PG, 2004)

common sense media says

Made for tween girls.


parents & educators say

What 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.

Violence: Tense family scenes, character killed in (non-graphic) car accident.
Sex: Mild references to "bad" behavior, kissing taken seriously.
Language: Mild language.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Teen gets drunk in response to stress, adult says she needs a drink in response to stress.

More on Raise Your Voice

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
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?

What's the story?

What's the story?
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?

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.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: New Line
Director: Sean McNamara
Cast: Hilary Duff, Jason Ritter, Rebecca DeMornay
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: October 8, 2004
DVD release: February 15, 2005
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: thematic elements and language

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

9

Most useful reviews by all members

bap425
teen, 17 years old
 
Good for girls, bad for boys
If you are a boy, don't watch this! If you are a girl 10 to 13 watch this!

Hannah K.
teen, 18 years old
 
Pretty Good Movie
I watched this movie at a friends house and I really liked it. The kissing scene between Slone and Kiwi the movie could do without, I didn't even watch that part! The car accident I thought it would be messy and not cool to watch, but all you saw was a big truck light and the brother looks over at his sister and then it goes blank. The boyfriend who gets drunk doesn't do anything "bad". The part when Hilary Duff sings Someones Watching Over Me you like totally understood the meaning of the song. And at the end when they all came together and sang Jericho I thought it was really cool. If your 11 or under you might want a parent to watch it with you. I'm 12 and I totally enjoyed it. Parents if your kids are bugging you to watch this movie and your not sure if they can watch it rent it and watch it when your kids are in school or asleep. If it has parts that you think are bad explain to your kids why. If you watch it on DVD and you think that the scene between Slone and Kiwi is way too much kissing casually hit the skip forward button and your kids won't even know the difference. I really loved this movie it was so cool!

CSM Screen ...
teen, 16 years old
 
you may cry.....
It was a heart warming movie. you will love the voices and the ........everything. I think it should have gotten at least three stars.

jay5
kid, 13 years old
 
A movie about singing
This movie inspires people to sing out loud.You will love this movie its a family movie.Buy it on dvd today your sure to love it.

iMunchCookies
kid, 12 years old
 
raise your voice
such a nice movie. so sad at the beginning but the movie all round is great

 
Not A Must See
This movie should be on for ages 9 and up. It had one part where J got drunk because he thought he was "worthless" Also a tiny bit of language but not much. Terrri wasn't a very strong charectar until the end. Overall, I didn't think this movie was worth seeing.

aidanqm1996
teen, 15 years old
 
Great movie
It's surprising how music can move you so much. You can realize that in this fun, teen movie.

Twix
teen, 17 years old
 
This is a great movie. It is inspirational, sad, heart-warming, and the music is fantastic. It's a movie I would like to put on my shelf so I can watch it again and again as I please. I just about cried watching it.

lltrue
adult
 
It's Hilary Duff, what can I say?
This movie was OK. I wouldn't give it anything more than 3 or 4 stars.

 
Hilary Duff's Best
THis movie was pretty good it's not one i'd say you have to see but it's very inpirational. I was actually surprised Hilary duff was very good she fit her character well. Good movie for Singers.

lozzie98
kid, 13 years old
 
sad- heart warming i loved it

 
awesome movie for tweens and teens!
I love this movie! It's funny,sad,happy,musical,dramatic...everything that could be in a movie! One of my favorites.

 
I Cried!!!!
This Is A Heart Warming Story That Tells The Life Of A Teenage Girl With A Demanding Father, A Soft Hearted Mother, And A Brother That Thinks He Knows Everything. This Is A Must See Movie!!!!!!!!!!!!! ***** ^^5 Stars

I love frogs
kid, 11 years old
 
awesome movie!!
This is one of the best movies iv'e seen, i love hilary duff and this is her best movie so far! :)

Twilightgirl09
kid, 12 years old
 
OKAYYYYY!!!!!!!
This was good movie! IT was a little timy bit inapporprite but not really! It involes a drunk "boyfriend" and it turns into i guess u could call it a bunch of drama!

shanno15
teen, 16 years old
 
Im a tween
I absoulutly loved this movie but kids under 10 should not see it,a young teen gets killed in a drunk driver car crash, there is no gore but its shown dramaticlly through out the whole movie. Terri is shown in the hospital room, and she sees a flash back of the accident when bright lights are shined in her face. The father is sometimes aggresive, but not abusive. There is no sex, but there is one very graphic, and alittle too emotional kissing scene. The language is a bit colorful but not that intense.

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age