Raise Your Voice
A small-town girl chases her big-time dreams of being a singer in the sunny 'tween drama "Raise Your Voice" (New Line).

Directed by Sean McNamara, the film makes up for its lack of originality with its positive message and effervescent performance by lead Hilary Duff.

Duff plays Terri Fletcher, a 16-year-old Arizonan, whose lovely larynx has landed her an opportunity to attend a summer program at a prestigious conservatory in Los Angeles. Though she has the support of her mother (Rita Wilson) and older brother (Jason Ritter), Terri's hopes are quickly shot down by her overly protective father (David Keith), who wants her to stay at home and help out at the family diner.

A personal tragedy temporarily extinguishes her musical aspirations --- she can't even bring herself to sing in the church choir --- but, encouraged by her mom and bohemian Aunt Nina (Rebecca De Mornay), Terri realizes that her voice is a gift that should not be kept under a bushel in Flagstaff. Terri's mom and aunt devise a plan to tell Terri's dad that she is spending the summer with Nina at her home in Palm Springs. Some viewers may find such dishonesty troubling, but, in fairness to McNamara, the film clearly shows that Terri is not comfortable with having to lie to her father.

Upon arriving in L.A., Terri's small-town demeanor is sorely tested by the ultracompetitive atmosphere of the "Fame"-like academy. Lacking in any formal training, Terri wilts under the bright lights of the big city. But during the lunchtime jam sessions -- which seem to occupy more of the students' time than actual classes -- Terri manages to make a few friends, including sassy roommate Denise (Dana Davis) and British love interest Jay (Oliver James), and runs afoul of Jay's catty ex-girlfriend, Robin (Lauren C. Mayhew).

As if it was ever in doubt, Terri, with the mentoring support of an unorthodox teacher (John Corbett), rises to the occasion and finds her inner diva just in time for the big end-of-the-semester recital.

While laden with cliches and schmaltzy follow-your-heart speeches, "Raise Your Voice" is the kind of uplifting movie that would pass the test of most parents. And though some parents may disapprove of one scene where Jay shows up at Terri's room inebriated, the film's overall wholesome tone is in keeping with McNamara's television work for the Disney Channel. Family and faith are presented in a positive light and the picture avoids the prurience of most teen movies, limiting its central romance to a rooftop kiss and some walks along the beach.

Much of the film's appeal is due to Duff, who has managed to maintain her girl-next-door image, and resisted following the current trend of fellow pop idols to market themselves as sex objects. Her fresh-scrubbed radiance and role-model decency saves what is otherwise a hackneyed effort.

And while "Raise Your Voice" will probably not raise much interest beyond its intended audience -- girls straddling Nickelodeon and MTV (who will undoubtedly embrace it) -- its teen-friendly tenor and heartfelt believe-in-yourself message are most refreshing. For those things alone, this is a movie well worth raising your voice about.

Due to a fatal car crash, an instance of drunkenness and some mildly crude language, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

-- David DiCerto

Friday Night Lights (Universal)
Hard-hitting drama about a season in the life of a small-town high school football team (coached by Billy Bob Thornton) as it struggles to make it to the Texas state championship. Based on the nonfiction best seller by H.G. Bissinger and directed by Peter Berg, the film is an engrossing, at times unsettling, portrait of the lives and fragile dreams of young athletes which exposes the unhealthy pressure-cooker environment where teenagers are asked to shoulder the expectations of an entire community. Much football violence, some underage drinking, two sexual situations, one with partial nudity, an abusive father-son relationship and some crude language. (A-III, PG-13).

I Heart Huckabees (Fox Searchlight)
Quirky comedy about an angst-ridden environmental activist (Jason Schwartzman) who hires a married team of existential detectives (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin) to unravel the mystery behind the meaning of life. As eccentrically directed by David O. Russell, the film is a madcap mix of philosophy and slapstick, resulting in a brainy farce which, while intellectually loaded, is emotionally empty. A sexual encounter and much rough and crude language. (A-III, R).

Ladder 49 (Touchstone)
Above average -- if overly sentimental -- action drama and paean to firefighters concerning a young fireman (Joaquin Phoenix) as he progresses over the years from rookie to seasoned professional, with the unusual feature of there being as much screen time devoted to his domestic life as to the "Towering Inferno"-like fire sequences, which are generally more enervating than truly exciting. Director Jay Russell's drama -- which also features John Travolta as the paternal fire chief -- boasts a solid, appealing and down-to-earth performance from Phoenix and an authentic-seeming portrait of firehouse life with middle-class workers (mostly Catholic, as it happens) that compensates for the more conventional aspects of the plot. A couple of instances of crude language, an implication of premarital sex and some intense firefighting scenes. (A-III, PG-13).

Napoleon Dynamite (Fox Searchlight)
Offbeat, low-budget comedy set in rural Idaho about the high school misadventures of an oddball, wooly-haired misfit (Jon Heder) who lives with his slacker older brother (Aaron Ruell) and cheesy uncle (Jon Gries), and who befriends a shy Mexican student (Efren Ramirez) running for class president against the school's reigning queen bee (Haylie Duff). First-time director Jared Hess' quirky film is light on plot, but Heder's deadpan performance makes this tender ode to eccentricity curiously amusing, if not wholly satisfying. Some comic violence, and a few instances of mildly crude language and sexual humor. (A-III, PG)

Taxi (20th Century Fox)
High-octane, low-wattage buddy comedy about a bumbling New York City cop (Jimmy Fallon) who enlists the aid of a speed-demon cab driver (Queen Latifah) to help him catch a gang of beautiful but deadly female bank robbers (led by Gisele Bundchen). Directed by Tim Story, this revved-up remake of a 1998 French film has a full tank of high-speed car chases, but is running on fumes when it comes to laughs. Recurring vehicular violence, two robberies, a sexually suggestive frisk sequence, crude language and an instance of profanity. (A-III, PG-13).

David DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.