Raise Your Voice (2/15/2005)

Rated PG

Directed by Sean McNamara (The Even Stevens Movie-TV, That's So Raven-TV)

Starring Hilary Duff, Oliver James and John Corbett

Raise your expectations. Raise Your Voice was not just another teen flick. This film was intelligent and full of talent.

Life was “all good” for Terri Fletcher (Duff), a talented, pretty, small-town girl who gets accepted to a summer program at a big-city Los Angeles performing arts school. But “all good” quickly turns bad when her overprotective father refuses to allow her to go away to this “big city school.” And bad gets worse when a horrible tragedy occurs and Terri doesn’t even have the desire to sing anymore. The opportunity of a lifetime doesn’t seem possible anymore.

Terri’s mother and aunt don’t want to see Terri give up. They encourage her to move on and pursue her dream. They even help Terri arrange a “trip to her aunts” for the summer, where, in actuality, she will attend the school without her father’s knowledge. Terri gives it a shot. But once at the school, she finds it very difficult to fit in and almost impossible to get over the tragedy that stifles her desire to sing.

Raise Your Voice is about healing. What do we do when life knocks us down? Terri faces that struggle and has to choose between giving up or getting up and following her heart.

The film paints a realistic picture of how some of us hold on to our past and refuse to move on. Terri’s boyfriend Jay (Oliver James) addresses this, commenting how some people “just hang on,” referring to his clingy ex-girlfriend. Perhaps under the surface young Freud was talking about Terri’s tendency to “hang on” to this baggage from the past. Terri confirms this in a later scene, “Have you ever lost someone?” “I just can’t let this go!”

One of Terri’s music teachers from the school (John Corbett) finally confronts her. “Where is that talented young girl that applied to this school?” He listens to her and walks her toward the road of healing. He encourages her to take that pain and emotion and to express it through music.

Overall, Raise Your Voice was a pleasant surprise.

Why “surprise?” Several reasons:

1. Call me a cynic, but many (if not most) teen flicks are shallow, cliché, predictable, and unrealistic. Raise Your Voice didn’t travel that road. It might have swerved on it occasionally (the overprotective father was a little cliché), but you definitely don’t have to check your brain at the door for this film.

2. I admit, my expectations weren’t that high for this first time director. McNamara really hasn’t done much more than TV. But he came through with some great film moments, especially the tragedy (I won’t give it away), and the flashbacks throughout the film.

3. Casting in teen films more often seems to be based on looks than talent. “Make sure you have a bunch of hot bimbos in tight t-shirts, and you’ve got a movie.” This film didn’t sell out to that shallow mindset. Performances were very strong, especially from Duff and Joan of Arcadia’s Jason Ritter (John Ritter’s son). Combine that with several very creative characters—bizarre talent you might just find at such a school—and you’ve got quite an enjoyable ensemble.

The musical talent in this film was very impressive as well. And by musical talent I’m not referring to one girl singing and a teenage rock band . . . I’m talking about some great moments of classical orchestra, piano, and violin. Not to mention a few jam sessions that are like a scene out of a post 2000 “Fame.”

Was the film perfect? No. There were definitely a few elements that left me wondering. (like our introduction to one of the teachers who, after a classical cello piece, tossed the cello on the floor like a deranged “The Who” fan, trying to impress his students. I didn’t buy it.) But overall, the film was worth it.

Should kids see it?
Sure. The film had very little, if any objectionable language in it. No sex, nudity or coarse humor. (The worse was when Terri shook a goofy kid’s hand at the beginning of the film and he ran off excited. Her friend made a comment about him, wondering if he thought he got her pregnant- from the handshake.) I saw the screening with my 9 year old daughter and only got nervous during two kissing scenes, one romantic, and one humorous. But I didn’t need to worry . . . neither went too far. Kids will enjoy this film.

Religion doesn’t play a big role in the film. We do see her praying in a church, attending church and singing in a choir. But we also see her looking in the sky and talking to a deceased relative, hoping that he is “watching over her.” This is typical of today’s generation. Her boyfriend Jay also claims that music is his religion. Terry even questions him, “Music is your higher power?”

The message of this film is expressed well by Terri’s final song. She sings, “Yesterday is gone. I want to give up . . . but when it all goes wrong, I’ll still be strong. Someone’s watching over me. Be true to yourself and follow your heart. Standing in the dark I’ll still believe.”

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

1. What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
2. How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
3. How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?