The Lizzie McGuire Movie – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Lizzie McGuire Movie

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2003

58%

WISE Score

Hilary Duff's Roman holiday is peak 2003 Disney Channel—safe, sparkly, and showing its age like a bedazzled flip phone.

The Lizzie McGuire Movie

movie

NR, 2003

58%

WISE Score

Hilary Duff's Roman holiday is peak 2003 Disney Channel—safe, sparkly, and showing its age like a bedazzled flip phone.

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the thing: The Lizzie McGuire Movie is perfectly safe, reasonably wholesome, and was a huge deal for millennial tweens in 2003. But we're now 22 years out, and this movie has aged like milk.

The fashion is museum-worthy, the flip phones are hilarious, and the entire aesthetic screams 'early 2000s Disney Channel' in a way that modern kids will either find charmingly retro or just... boring. The plot is predictable, the messages are surface-level, and while there's nothing wrong with it, there's also not much that's particularly great about it either.

If your 8-year-old is into wholesome tween content and you need something completely safe, sure, throw it on. But don't expect them to be as enchanted as you were in middle school. The nostalgia is real for parents, but kids today have access to much more sophisticated and engaging content. This is a 'rainy day, nothing else to watch, and you need something harmless' pick—not a must-see.

Age Fit

Best for 7-11 year olds who are into wholesome tween content and can appreciate (or at least tolerate) early-2000s Disney Channel vibes. Older kids will likely find it painfully dated unless they're watching ironically.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models positive friendship dynamics and self-discovery themes typical of Disney Channel content. The focus on popularity, fashion shows, and 'groupie' behavior does lean into materialism and social hierarchy, but ultimately centers on valuing real friendships over superficial popularity. Age-appropriate tone for tweens with gentle life lessons about authenticity.

Imaginative

Standard teen comedy fare with predictable fish-out-of-water scenarios. The Roman setting (based on the actual movie, not just the synopsis) offers some visual novelty and the pop-star mistaken-identity plot has a creative premise, but execution is formulaic Disney Channel material. Doesn't particularly invite creative thinking or exploration beyond passive entertainment.

Safe

Extremely safe Disney Channel movie with a Common Sense Media age rating of 7. No violence, sexuality, substance use, or scary content. Mild deception/lying plot points are the only behavioral concerns, handled in a consequence-appropriate way. The 9.6 IMDb rating (though likely from nostalgic fans) suggests no surprise problematic content.

Enriching

Light entertainment value with basic messages about being yourself and valuing true friends. Some cultural exposure to Rome/Italy setting. Minimal cognitive challenge or skill-building. The fashion/popularity focus is more aspirational consumerism than meaningful growth. Catchy music and Hilary Duff's charm provide entertainment but limited depth or lasting takeaways.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Completely safe Disney fare with zero concerning content—perfect for younger tweens who aren't ready for edgier teen movies
Rome setting offers some cultural exposure and beautiful scenery (even if the plot doesn't do much with it)
Solid friendship-over-fame message buried under the sparkles and pop music
Nostalgia factor for millennial parents who grew up with Lizzie McGuire
Catchy early-2000s pop soundtrack that's genuinely fun (if dated)

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What to Watch For

The fashion, music, and references are aggressively 2003—modern kids may find it hilariously outdated or just boring
Popularity and appearance themes are pretty front-and-center, though ultimately undercut by the 'be yourself' message
Some mild lying/deception in the plot (pretending to be a pop star) that resolves with appropriate consequences
The 'groupie' dynamic and popularity obsession might need a conversation about real vs. shallow friendships

Conversation Starters

"Would you want to be famous like a pop star? What do you think the hard parts would be?"
"Lizzie's friends became 'groupies' instead of real friends—have you ever felt like someone changed when they got popular?"
"The movie is from 2003—what looks really different or weird compared to now?"
"If you could travel anywhere like Lizzie went to Rome, where would you go and why?"

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