Reviews
Summer Camp (2024)
Headliner Cast.
Summer Camp features a promising cast. Unfortunately they are brought down by weird plastic surgery, a strange cairacture supptoring role, and a food fight between 60-somethings, which would never happen. The most real parts of the movie were in the very first scenes, when the main characters were girls.
The premise makes me wish I could return to my summer camp days: sleeping in a cabin, making frieds with other girls, doing arts and crafts, waterfront, and campfire.
This script did nothing for these star players. Costuming was totally unrealistic as well. I would have fallen asleep if I was watching this at home; fortunately I was in a theater with food and a beer.
Raise Your Voice (2004)
Top Music School?????
As a music teacher, I was extremely disappointed with the quality of music performed by the vocal students in this movie. For instance, the choir teacher tells the choir on the first day of class that the piece he is teaching them is full of counterpoint and too difficult for them to learn and perform well... but it's just the "Hallelujah Chorus", a well-known and easy piece. And much is made of Duff's character getting into the "top music school in the country", but the way she sings, she would have no business being there. She has no breath support, doesn't open her mouth, and adds a pop flavor to the classic Italian aria "Caro Mio Ben". It doesn't make sense. This movie has too many musical holes in it to be enjoyable. Even the faculty ensemble that is shown playing at the beginning is not comprised of real musicians (except for the violinist?)And where are the chaperons... they're not keeping 16-year-olds from having free reign in the city of Los Angeles. Disappointing. Saving grace: Duff's character has a boyfriend but hesitates to even kiss him.