Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Preamble
There are movies that have been released that are geared toward the younger set. Two that come to mind that have a lot in common with this movie are - The Princess Diaries and What A Girl Wants. With that said, I really didn't feel I would be out of place, seeing this movie. But, the whole time I was sitting there, I kept on thinking that I was definitely in the wrong place.

What It's About
Lizzie McGuire (Hilary Duff) has just graduated from junior high. After embarrassing herself in front of hundreds of people (she ruined graduation when she took a turn in the clumsy direction and pulled the decorations down), she hops a plane with her friend Gordo, (Adam Lamberg), for a two week program in Rome.

While her parents (Robert Carradine, Hallie Todd) and her little brother Matt (Jake Thomas) won't be going with her, she will be under the strict supervision of her soon-to-be-high-school-principal, Mrs. Ungermyer (Alex Borstein).

Lizzie and Gordo are on their way to having a mildly calm time in Rome when pop-superstar Paolo (Yani Gellman) mistakes Lizzie for his absent, singing partner - Isabella.

Will Lizzie and Paolo embark on a romance?

Will Isabella ever return from the island she is vacationing on?

Will Lizzie become a pop super-star?

Yes, yes, the answers are right under your nose my friends.

And I Thought...
Admittedly, I'm not a viewer of Hilary Duff's, Lizzie McGuire show on Disney so maybe, I am really missing something here...

Let's start with the entire plot line.

To begin with, the trailers for this movie were deceiving because they make you think that Lizzie has this big decision to make. Will she stay in Rome and be a pop star or will she return home to be with her family? That isn't even a factor in this movie.

It's interesting who Disney picked for the choice of writers for this movie. While I can understand why television Producer Susan Estelle Jansen was chosen for continuity, I'm not sure why they added the writers from The Santa Clause 2 movie (Ed Decter, John J. Strauss). I didn't consider that script to be all that funny and if I were them, I'd be looking for a different profession before they hit that three-strikes-you're-out syndrome.

Next on my hit list is director, Jim Fall. Does his name sound familiar to you? Probably not - that is - unless you're familiar with his 1999 film, Trick. It just happened to be a "R" rated film about two gay men. My point here is that the choice of him as director for a junior high girl movie seems to be a bit of a stretch to me.

That aside, he may have had a lackluster script to deal with but he could have at least made something out of it. Mr. Fall missed out on capturing the magic of what it's like to be a girl in special moments. See Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries, and even, What A Girl Wants for hints on combining story, acting, and music in order to create those goosebump moments.

And speaking of music - the choices made for this film were bad. Whoever suggested that remaking Blondie's song, The Tide Is High into something that a 13/14 year old would sing ala Kidz Bop - well - they've got some serious issues. Unfortunately, the rest of the music in the movie is just as bad.

So many people have made comments that Hilary Duff has the comedic energy of a legend like Lucille Ball. With the exception of her being clumsy like three times in the film, I'm not sure where anyone can draw that comparison.

Acting wise - Hilary Duff was fine. I really got tired though, of seeing her smile 99% of the time. I consider myself perky, and she's just way over the top perky. No junior high girl is that happy. Also, she had no pimples. She had perfect skin. See something wrong with that picture?

I'd comment about the rest of the actors but really - there's no point.

While I would never say that this is the most horrible movie in the world, I will tell you that if you spend full price on it at the movie theater, you are a person who likes to throw your money away. Your 'tweener might enjoy this - especially if they like the Disney show - however I can't say that as an adult, there will be much in it for you.

Recommended: No

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8