 | ON: Content is age-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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Raise Your Voice
- Review Date: February 13, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2004
Common Sense Media says
Made for tween girls.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
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.
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?
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.
What families can talk about
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?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
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!
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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!
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Kid, 12 years old
September 19, 2011
AGE
raise your voice
such a nice movie. so sad at the beginning but the movie all round is great
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AGE
Great movie
It's surprising how music can move you so much. You can realize that in this fun, teen movie.
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AGE
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
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| Topics: | music and sing-along |
| Studio: | New Line |
| Director: | Sean McNamara |
| Cast: | Hilary Duff, Jason Ritter, Rebecca DeMornay |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 100 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 8, 2004 |
| DVD release date: | February 15, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | thematic elements and language |
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