Common Sense Media Review
Made for tween girls.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Raise Your Voice
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say that this film can be inappropriate for younger audiences due to some intense themes, including a car crash and a few scenes involving alcohol and kissing, which made some viewers uncomfortable. However, others found it to be an inspiring and heartwarming film with good music that resonates well with tweens and teens despite its predictable and somewhat average storyline.
- inappropriate for kids
- intense themes
- heartwarming film
- predictable storyline
- good music
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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.
Talk to Your Kids 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?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 8, 2004
- On DVD or streaming : February 15, 2005
- Cast : Hilary Duff , Jason Ritter , Rebecca DeMornay
- Director : Sean McNamara
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : New Line
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic elements and language
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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