The Lizzie McGuire Movie

This article is about the film. For the books, see Lizzie McGuire books.

The Lizzie McGuire Movie
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Jim Fall
Produced by	Stan Rogow
Written by	Susan Estelle Jansen Ed Decter
Starring	Hilary Duff Adam Lamberg Robert Carradine Hallie Todd Jake Thomas
Music by	Cliff Eidelman
Cinematography	Jerzy Zielinski
Editing by	Margaret Goodspeed
Distributed by	Walt Disney Pictures
Release date(s)	May 2, 2003
Running time	104 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$17 million
Box office	$55,534,455 (Worldwide)

The Lizzie McGuire Movie is a 2003 Walt Disney Pictures comedy film based on the Disney Channel show Lizzie McGuire which was released on May 2, 2003, by Walt Disney Pictures, it was the first Disney Channel series to have a movie for Walt Disney Pictures. The film stars Hilary Duff, Adam Lamberg, and Yani Gellman. The movie follows main character Lizzie McGuire (played by Hilary Duff) as she graduates from junior high school and goes on a class trip to Rome.

The film was released in early May 2003 and reached number two in the United States box office behind X2: X-Men United. It was released August 12, 2003 on VHS and DVD.

Plot

During the junior high graduation, Lizzie McGuire (Hilary Duff) is forced to make a speech in place of the class president, Margaret Chan, where she trips on stage, and brings the curtain down on everyone who is onstage. She and her friends then leave on a class trip to Rome for two weeks, accompanied by her rude and strict new high school principal Ms. Ungermeyer (Alex Borstein) and her ex-best friend Kate Sanders.

After discovering she is sharing a room with Kate, Ms. Ungermeyer takes them to the famous Trevi Fountain where Lizzie throws a penny into the water for good luck. This causes several bystanders to trip. A few seconds later, she meets the famous European pop star, Paolo (Yani Gellman), who exclaims how much she resembles his singing partner, Isabella (also played by Hilary Duff). Paolo promises to meet Lizzie at the Trevi Fountain the next day if Lizzie wishes to see him again. The next day, Lizzie pretends to be sick and sneaks off to meet Paolo. She goes on a drive with him, agreeing to sing with him as Isabella to prevent Isabella from being sued for lip-synching. Later, Lizzie discovers that she also has to lip-synch "What Dreams Are Made Of", but agrees to do that too. Kate finds out the truth but helps Lizzie instead.

Lizzie continues to pretend to be sick, but when her scheme is about to be discovered, Gordo covers for her by telling Ms. Ungermeyer that he was the one who was sneaking out. Ungermeyer then has him pack his bags to go home as punishment. Just as he's about to board the plane home, he meets the real Isabella at the airport and discovers the truth about Paolo. Meanwhile, when Lizzie is looking for Gordo, Kate tells her that he's been sent home because he told Ungermeyer he was the one sneaking out. Lizzie is confused as to why he'd do that and Kate tells her to "wake up" and see that Gordo likes her more than a friend which Kate has obviously noticed. Gordo and Isabella race to the music event to stop Paolo from making a fool of Lizzie on stage. Paolo's plan was to show the world that Isabella is lip-synching; ironically, it turns out that Paolo was lip-synching. Isabella and Gordo expose Paolo by pulling the plug on his microphone, causing him to be shown for the fake he actually is. Angry that he's been exposed, Paolo leaves where he's ambushed by the paparazzi. Isabella then introduces Lizzie to the crowd and has Lizzie sing live"What Dreams Are Made Of" in front of the entire audience inside the Colosseum who cheer and applaud when she's done.

Later at the hotel, Paolo's ex-bodyguard, Sergei, has formed a new relationship with Ms. Ungermeyer. Ms. Ungermeyer talks to Gordo, saying that she has come to respect him for being a loyal friend to Lizzie and looks forward to their years in high school. Lizzie and Gordo sneak away for the last time from the after-party and went up to the roof to talk. Lizzie asks him to promise that things will always be the same between them to which Gordo reassures her that will be and tells her that he always believes in her. Lizzie then kisses Gordo as thanks for being there for her throughout the whole Paolo situation. They both decide to go back to the afterparty before they get in trouble again. So, they both return to the after party as the fireworks spell out the words "The End".

Cast

• Hilary Duff as Elizabeth "Lizzie" Brooke McGuire, the film's main protagonist/Isabella Parigi, Paolo's ex-girlfriend and singing partner
• Adam Lamberg as David "Gordo" Gordon, Lizzie's best friend and the deuteragonist. they both have crushes on eachother.
• Robert Carradine as Sam McGuire, Lizzie's father
• Hallie Todd as Jo McGuire, Lizzie's mother
• Jake Thomas as Matthew "Matt" McGuire, Lizzie's mischievous younger brother
• Yani Gellman as Paolo Valisari, a handsome, famous Italian pop star and the film's antagonist who plans to use Lizzie to avoid getting sued for breach of contract
• Alex Borstein as Miss Ungermeyer, the abrasive and strict school principal who chaperones the trip
• Clayton Snyder as Ethan Craft
• Ashlie Brillault as Katherine "Kate" Sanders, Lizzie's arch-rival who ends up helping Lizzie
• Brendan Kelly as Sergei, Paolo's bodyguard who eventually quits and forms a relationship with Ms. Ungermeyer
• Carly Schroeder as Melina Bianco
• Daniel R. Escobar as Mr. Escobar
• Jody Racicot as Giorgio
• Terra MacLeod as Franca DiMontecatini
• Haylie Duff as Isabella Parigi (voice) uncredited
• Claude Knowlton as Stage Manager

Production

The film was directed by Jim Fall with screenplay penned by Susan Estelle Jansen and Ed Decter. The film was produced by Stan Rogow. It was filmed in Rome, Lazio, Italy, and at the Trevi Fountain. All characters from the TV series reprised their roles except for Lalaine, who portrayed Miranda Sanchez, because she was busy filming another Disney Channel Original Movie called You Wish!.

Reception

Reviews

Based on 96 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film received mostly mixed ratings, earning an average 40% overall approval rating.

Ultimate Disney reviewed the DVD saying "I didn't expect much from this movie and would have never paid to see it, but maybe I should have because it's a great movie for what it is. I can forgive and forget the corny scene when she's singing at the end, since the rest of the movie makes up for it. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who watches and enjoys the TV series; it's like a feature-length show. If you're not familiar with the show, it's a nice feel-good movie you should check out. Gus' Movie Score (1 to 10): 8¹⁄₂ (Italian cinema reference intended? You be the judge.)"

Scott Brown of Entertainment Weekly magazine gave the film a B+ and commented in his review saying "Let's face it: Lizzie McGuire (Hilary Duff) is just too darn polished to be a junior-high underdog, even by the standards of her 'luxe suburban environs'. But that hasn't tarnished her comeback-kid cred among the six-and-ups who faithfully follow her Disney Channel show — and it doesn't make The Lizzie McGuire Movie, a clever, agreeably weightless theatrical outing, any less enjoyable."

Box office

In its opening weekend, the film grossed $17,338,755 in 2,825 theaters in the United States and Canada, ranking #2 at the box office, behind X2: X-Men United, was the best debut for an Walt Disney and Teen comedy film that week. By the end of its run, The Lizzie McGuire Movie grossed $42,734,455 domestically and $12,800,000 internationally, totaling $55,534,455 worldwide.

Awards

• 2004 - Nominated; Leo Awards for Feature Length Drama: Best Visual Effects (Gary Gutierrez, Jayne Craig, Bruce Woloshyn, Simon Ager, Wes Sargent)
• 2003 - Won; Teen Choice Awards for Choice Movie Breakout Star - Female (Hilary Duff)
• 2003 - Nominated; Teen Choice Awards for Choice Movie - Comedy
• 2003 - Nominated; Teen Choice Awards for Choice Movie Actress - Comedy (Hilary Duff)

Soundtrack

The Lizzie McGuire Movie
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released	April 22, 2003
Recorded	2002–2003
Genre	Teen pop, pop rock
Length	47:35
Label	Walt Disney
Producer	Matthew Gerrard, Bill Padley, Jem Godfrey, Pop Rox, Jill Cunniff, Mark Hammond, Christian Hamm, Robbie Bunchanana, Stephen Lironi, Marco Marinangeli, Chico Bennett, Lee Gillette, Charlie Midnight, Cliff Eidelman
Lizzie McGuire soundtracks chronology
Lizzie McGuire (2002) The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) Lizzie McGuire Total Party! (2004)
Singles from The Lizzie McGuire Movie
"Why Not" Released: June 23, 2003

The Lizzie McGuire Movie is a soundtrack album for the film, released on April 22, 2003.

It is mostly composed of songs from or inspired by the film, including Hilary Duff's "Why Not" and sister Haylie's "Girl in the Band". "Why Not" was released as a single outside the United States on June 23, 2003 and later included on Hilary Duff's second album, Metamorphosis, with different lyrics in the first verse. The album has been certified platinum by the CRIA and 2x platinum by the RIAA has sold 2,000,000 copies in the U.S.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Performer(s)	Length
1.	"Why Not"	Charlie Midnight, Matthew Gerrard	Hilary Duff	2:59
2.	"The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)"	John Holt, Garth Evans, Howard Barrett, Brian Padley, Jermey Godfrey	Atomic Kitten	3:22
3.	"All Around the World"	Samuel Hollander, David Schammer, Jill Cunniff	Cooler Kids	4:12
4.	"What Dreams Are Made Of" (Ballad Version)	Dean Pitchford, Matthew Wilder	Yani Gellman, Haylie Duff	1:44
5.	"Shining Star"	Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn	Jump5	3:17
6.	"Volaré"	Mitchell Parish, Francesco Migliacci, Domenico Modugno	Vitamin C	3:00
7.	"Open Your Eyes (To Love)"	David Friedman	LMNT	2:29
8.	"You Make Me Feel Like a Star" (Lizzie Mix)	Candice Beu, Christie Beu, S. Peiken, R. Neigher	The Beu Sisters	3:05
9.	"Supermodel"	RuPaul Charles, Jimmy Harry, Lawrence Thom	Taylor Dayne	3:45
10.	"What Dreams Are Made Of"	Pitchford, Wilder	Hilary Duff	4:02
11.	"On an Evening in Roma"	A. Taccani, U. Bertini	Dean Martin	2:24
12.	"Girl in the Band"	Chico Bennett, Midnight	Hilary Duff	3:02
13.	"Orchestral Suite from The Lizzie McGuire Movie"	Cliff Eidelman	Cliff Eidelman	7:31
14.	"Why Not" (McMix)	Midnight, Gerrard	Hilary Duff	2:50

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart	6
Canadian Albums Chart	8
Chart (2004)	Peak position
US Billboard 200	6
US Billboard Top Kid Audio	4
US Billboard Top Soundtracks	1

External links

• Official Site
• The Lizzie McGuire Movie at the Internet Movie Database
• The Lizzie McGuire Movie at Rotten Tomatoes
• Review: The Lizzie McGuire Movie - Disney Family
• Article about "Why Not" on TotalGirl! Australia
• Walt Disney Records | Lizzie McGuire Movie Soundtrack
• Walt Disney Records - The Lizzie McGuire Movie Soundtrack (Internet Archive)