2008 Woodie Awards
Duff Shines in Raise Your Voice
Erika Rohrssen
Issue date: 10/20/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Duff plays aspiring singer Theresa "Terri" Fletcher, who must regain her composure after her seemingly calm life is turned upside down by a personal tragedy. Terri, with the support of her mother, played by Rita Wilson, secretly disobeys her overprotective and unsupportive father, played by David Keith, and attends a prestigious summer music program at the Bristol-Hillman Conservatory in Los Angeles. When she first arrives at the school, Terri meets up with the good-looking guitar player Jay, who all the girls at the school fawn over. Jay, played by James, breaks through Terri's tentative nature and helps her to overcome her difficult first couple of days of the program.
While Duff's character is overwhelmed at first, she conquers her insecurities and fears with the help of her new friends. According to screenwriter Sam Schreiber, as reported on the Raise Your Voice official web site, "Her character is revealed through the decisions she makes during the hardest time of her life. If she's going to make it in her new environment, she has to learn to open up and express her feelings." Also, helping her along the way is Corbett's character, Mr. Torvald. Corbett wonderfully portrays the hippy music teacher who enjoys teaching his young students. While this role of teacher was not much different from Corbett's last film, Raising Helen, he brought a special dynamic to this film. Corbett's character is an energetic person that helps Terri break out of her newly formed shell to become the star he sees inside of her.
At the climax of the movie, Terri's father learns the truth about his daughter's whereabouts and is determined to take her home to Arizona before she can sing in her final performance. While Duff's character had in the past backed down from confrontations with her father, the audience sees her stand up for herself and tell her dad what she is feeling. Impressed with his daughter's new confidence, he decides to let her go on stage for the chance to win the scholarship she was in contention for.
While the movie is primarily about overcoming obstacles to fulfill your dreams, it also shows how one's family can be both supporting and loving, but also discouraging at the same time. The contrast between Terri's mother and father is classic in movies of this type, but is needed to keep the plot moving. Wilson, having children of her own, appealingly plays the caring mother, which helps to sharply contradict Keith's portrayal of the stubborn father.