Lizzie McGuire Movie, The MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: +2

Popular Disney Channel character Lizzie McGuire (Hilary Duff) leaps to the big screen in this teen comedy. She is a pretty but clumsy middle-school teen about to embark on a two-week trip to Rome with her classmates. She embarrasses herself at her class graduation as the substitute speaker and receives snide remarks from self-centered, conceited Kate (Ashlie Brillault). Only Gordo (Adam Lamberg), Lizzies best friend, seems to understand her. Under the watchful eye of chaperone Miss Ungermeyer (Alex Borstein), one of the films funniest characters, Rome begins to look pretty tiresome until Lizzie catches the eye of Italian pop star Paolo (Yani Gellman). Paolo convinces Lizzie to sneak out of the hotel and pretend to be a superstar to placate the record company and demanding fans. Insecure, awkward Lizzie gets a breathtaking tour of Rome, finds romance and experiences a taste of fame. Fun and funny, The Lizzie McGuire Movie is not mean-spirited like so many teen movies.

Young Lizzie cant resist the temptation presented by Paolo. He offers her adventure and romance. Unfortunately, she has to lie to her chaperone, ask her friends to lie for her, and pretend to be someone she isnt. Loyal friend Gordo willingly covers for Lizzie but begins to see that Paolo is using her. Lizzie and her classmates learn some important lessons about friendship, the importance of truth and the futility of lying. Her obnoxious little brother (Jake Thomas), on the other hand, plants tiny spy cameras in remote-controlled toys so he can make embarrassing videos of his sister and seems to intimidate his clueless parents. The Lizzie McGuire Movie has no sexual content and is free of crude bathroom humor. Kisses on the cheek are as physical as the relationships get. Other than a few exclamatory profanities, the film is wholesome, although it still settles for catering to teenage superficial cravings. Overall, The Lizzie McGuire Movie earns Previews recommendation for family entertainment.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Walt Disney Co.