Raise Your Voice (2004)

A girl from a small town heads to the big city of Los Angeles to spend the summer at a performing arts high school.

Director:

Sean McNamara

Writers:

Mitch Rotter (story), Sam Schreiber (screenplay)

Stars:

Hilary Duff, Oliver James, Rebecca De Mornay

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hilary Duff	...	Teresa 'Terri' Fletcher
Oliver James	...	Jay Corgan
David Keith	...	Simon Fletcher
Dana Davis	...	Denise Gilmore
Johnny Lewis	...	Engelbert 'Kiwi' Wilson
Rita Wilson	...	Francis Fletcher
Lauren C. Mayhew	...	Robin Childers
Kat Dennings	...	Sloane
Jason Ritter	...	Paul Fletcher
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Aunt Nina
John Corbett	...	Mr. Torvald
Carly Reeves	...	Kelly
James Avery	...	Mr. Gantry
Robert Trebor	...	Mr. Wesson
Steven T. Palmer	...	Street Drummer (as Steven '17' Palmer)

Storyline

Raise Your Voice is a coming-of-age story centered around a small-town singer, brokenhearted by the death of her brother in a car crash,who had secretly submitted her for a summer session at a performing arts academy in Los Angeles. In the performing arts academy, she experiences a whole new way of life in the big city, far from the small town lifestyle she's used to. The film will revolve around her efforts to confront her lack of formal classic training and deal with a romantic entanglement.

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Plot Keywords:

small town | stage fright | music school | scholarship | choir practice | 

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Taglines:

Don't give up. Don't hold back. (Australia DVD)

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Genres:

Family | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

8 October 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled Christian Music Project

Filming Locations:

Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$4,022,693 (USA) (8 October 2004)

Gross:

$10,411,980 (USA) (19 November 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, FilmEngine, ChickFlick Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Evan Rachel Wood and Jonathan Jackson were the original choices for the roles of Terri and Jay respectively, but both dropped out due to production changes, as did Annie Potts (who was set to play Terri's mother) and director James Hayman. The story's location was then changed from New York City to Los Angeles.

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Goofs

When Terri walks in on Jay writing a song he closes the piano in embarrassment. When she talks him into playing what he wrote he turns to the piano, which is now open.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mr. Holcomb: Have a very pleasant Summer everyone. Miss Fletcher, rehearsal tomorrow at four.

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Connections

References Jason X (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Because of You"
Written by John Coda and John DeFaria
Performed by Salome

User Reviews

HILARY DUFF GOES TO 7TH HEAVEN

RAISE YOUR VOICE (RYV) is an extremely sweet movie about a teenage girl trying to find harmony amid a life of dischord.

HILARY DUFF plays Terri Fletcher, a small town girl who sings in the church choir. (Take that Avril and Lindsay). Fletcher is an angel loaded pop potential. She wears a cross, prays often, and scolds a character for drinking. She even goes to a Three Days Grace concert. (Yes the movie has Christian undertones).

Fletcher also has an overbearing and overprotective father, David KEITH, who threatens to unplug her musical dreams. But a sudden life changing experience convinces her to enroll in a nationally known summer music program.

HEARD IT BEFORE: A predictable plot follows. Fletcher is the outsider who must win the respect of her classmates. The students look like they walked out of Fame (1980). There is the future Bond girl (the classic group) on violin, the White hip hopper, and the shy punk pianist.

Despite the story's familiar melody, the young cast is fun to watch as they practice for the BIG CONCERT. Duff is in fine form and displays her considerable charisma. And the adorable 'home videos' of her remind us why she's a pop star. They're worth the price of popcorn alone.

MUSICALLY CHALLENGED: Surprisingly, the movie's biggest disappointment is the music. You'd think RYV would be a 103 minute commercial for Duff, but the songs are surprisingly subdued and lack a big radio friendly number. They also sound overdubbed.

But if you're a Duff fan or are looking for a movie with absolutely nothing offensive in it, RYV is for you. Otherwise, take your boom box elsewhere.