Post by merg on Oct 7, 2004 13:00:33 GMT -5
keep in mind this is from the reviewer's point of view, not mine...
Duff Ain’t The Stuff
Lower expectations for "Raise your Voice"
Mike Ward
Richmond.com
Thursday October 7, 2004
Hilary Duff is a clean-cut, straight edge teen idol. She doesn't get loaded with the Hilton sisters, doesn't starve with the Olsens, and doesn't pose for paparazzi like Lindsey Lohan. Duff has found another way to offend us and humiliate herself--making crappy movies.
"Raise your Voice" is a dumbed down after-school special that delivers a weaker message than a mall food court Chinese restaurant fortune cookie: "Follow your dreams. Even if these ambitions find you wanting to become a bad karaoke singer."
On the bright side, Britney Spears can finally be happy that a pop princess made a worse movie than "Crossroads." To understand the significance of this last statement, watch "Crossroads," but not before hiding sharp objects and locking up ropes.
"Raise Your Voice" is a coming-of-age "comedic drama" (I use the term loosely) about a young girl with a big heart and even bigger dreams. The bright teenage girl, Terri Fletcher (Duff), is an aspiring singer, just like William Hung, but without the novelty merchandise. Sure, singing in the school choir is fun, but she dreams of attending some elite L.A.-based summer arts program. But Daddy (David Keith) is a bit overprotective. And when brother and best friend Paul (Jason Ritter) is killed by a drunk driver, Pops becomes even less understanding, and the only way that Mom (Rita Wilson) can fool Dad into getting Terri into the program is by lying and saying she's going to go stay with her kooky aunt for the summer.
Washed up star alert! Why it's Rebecca DeMornay playing the aforementioned kooky, granola Aunt Nina. You could perform extreme sports in her wrinkles...I kid!
The music school itself looks like the set for a rejected "Fame” rip-off. It's a plastic world where aspiring musicians with wacky personalities are all tricked out in Goth getups and spiky hair. Thanks for the stereotypes, guys. The students break out into not-so-impromptu jam sessions that come off as sub par music videos. The vocal stylings of Duff are particularly laughable. Even in the scenes during which she's transformed into a supposed polished singer, her voice becomes drenched with an annoying digital reverb that reeks of studio over-editing. It's artificial, it's bad, it's a falsetto Max Headroom.
Oh yeah, she falls in love with some Brit with an on-again, off-again accent, duels in the choral room with your typical snooty, big-chested, jealous diva. And just when you're about to poke out your eyes Oedipus style, "Raise your Voice" ends with a heroine shot of sentimentality.
My favorite part of "Raise your Voice" doesn't even occur in the film, but in my imagined cynical world. Keep in mind that Tom Hanks is married to Rita Wilson, who plays Terri's mom. I can just imagine Tom forced into attending the premier with Rita and having to pretend to like it. How hilarious is that? It would have even been better if Tom said, "Hey honey, good luck with that crappy Teen Choice award...I'm going to stick with Oscars." You just got served, Rita!
So parents, if you prefer that your kids don't become modern-day Alyssa Milano's and end up starring in straight-to-video movie with either the words "sorority" and/or "confessions" in its title, then Hilary Duff might be a good role model. And if you need to punish your impressionable youngsters, forget the spankings or suspended phone privileges and instead force them to watch "Raise Your Voice" this weekend. They'll never stray again.
Duff Ain’t The Stuff
Lower expectations for "Raise your Voice"
Mike Ward
Richmond.com
Thursday October 7, 2004
Hilary Duff is a clean-cut, straight edge teen idol. She doesn't get loaded with the Hilton sisters, doesn't starve with the Olsens, and doesn't pose for paparazzi like Lindsey Lohan. Duff has found another way to offend us and humiliate herself--making crappy movies.
"Raise your Voice" is a dumbed down after-school special that delivers a weaker message than a mall food court Chinese restaurant fortune cookie: "Follow your dreams. Even if these ambitions find you wanting to become a bad karaoke singer."
On the bright side, Britney Spears can finally be happy that a pop princess made a worse movie than "Crossroads." To understand the significance of this last statement, watch "Crossroads," but not before hiding sharp objects and locking up ropes.
"Raise Your Voice" is a coming-of-age "comedic drama" (I use the term loosely) about a young girl with a big heart and even bigger dreams. The bright teenage girl, Terri Fletcher (Duff), is an aspiring singer, just like William Hung, but without the novelty merchandise. Sure, singing in the school choir is fun, but she dreams of attending some elite L.A.-based summer arts program. But Daddy (David Keith) is a bit overprotective. And when brother and best friend Paul (Jason Ritter) is killed by a drunk driver, Pops becomes even less understanding, and the only way that Mom (Rita Wilson) can fool Dad into getting Terri into the program is by lying and saying she's going to go stay with her kooky aunt for the summer.
Washed up star alert! Why it's Rebecca DeMornay playing the aforementioned kooky, granola Aunt Nina. You could perform extreme sports in her wrinkles...I kid!
The music school itself looks like the set for a rejected "Fame” rip-off. It's a plastic world where aspiring musicians with wacky personalities are all tricked out in Goth getups and spiky hair. Thanks for the stereotypes, guys. The students break out into not-so-impromptu jam sessions that come off as sub par music videos. The vocal stylings of Duff are particularly laughable. Even in the scenes during which she's transformed into a supposed polished singer, her voice becomes drenched with an annoying digital reverb that reeks of studio over-editing. It's artificial, it's bad, it's a falsetto Max Headroom.
Oh yeah, she falls in love with some Brit with an on-again, off-again accent, duels in the choral room with your typical snooty, big-chested, jealous diva. And just when you're about to poke out your eyes Oedipus style, "Raise your Voice" ends with a heroine shot of sentimentality.
My favorite part of "Raise your Voice" doesn't even occur in the film, but in my imagined cynical world. Keep in mind that Tom Hanks is married to Rita Wilson, who plays Terri's mom. I can just imagine Tom forced into attending the premier with Rita and having to pretend to like it. How hilarious is that? It would have even been better if Tom said, "Hey honey, good luck with that crappy Teen Choice award...I'm going to stick with Oscars." You just got served, Rita!
So parents, if you prefer that your kids don't become modern-day Alyssa Milano's and end up starring in straight-to-video movie with either the words "sorority" and/or "confessions" in its title, then Hilary Duff might be a good role model. And if you need to punish your impressionable youngsters, forget the spankings or suspended phone privileges and instead force them to watch "Raise Your Voice" this weekend. They'll never stray again.