Radio Rebel
2012 · Directed by Peter Howitt
Original language: English
- comedy
- drama
- family
- tv movie
- music
The story
High school senior Tara is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out -- doing mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tara surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, "Radio Rebel" -- and to everyone's shock, she's a hit!
What it’s like
Bright, glossy daytime-TV colour, with sunlit Miami streets, a cramped bedroom lit by laptop glow, and a radio studio full of hot pinks and chrome. The camera stays close and friendly, and the soundtrack is upbeat pop-rock that swells whenever the heroine finds her voice on air. Warm, buoyant, and lightly comic, with a current of quiet awkwardness running underneath: a girl who freezes in the hallway and transforms once the microphone is switched on. Family tension over a stepfather and a rival DJ adds some sting, but it stays easy and resolves cleanly. Scenes are short and brisk, with plenty of bouncy montage. The intensity is gentle throughout: no violence, no real threat, just mild teen jealousy and a little romance. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a comfort watch with a bowl of popcorn, or a sleepover with a group of younger viewers. It is made for people who want an uncomplicated, feel-good story about a shy kid finding her confidence.
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