Radio Rebel Review

Tara Adams (Debby Ryan from Disney Chanel's Jessie) is just an ordinary, shy, high school junior to most of those who know her.  However, Tara has a secret......a secret IDENTITY!  She's also the most popular DJ in Seattle, Radio Rebel.  As Radio Rebel she is outgoing, and gives voices to ALL kids, both the popular and the unpopular.  Radio Rebel questions the status quo, something Tara would never do.  However, as Radio Rebel's popularity grows so does the pressure to identify the secretive DJ.  Tara must choose between keeping the secret of her on-air identity or owning her voice and risk losing everything. 


I don't exactly get ecstatic when my daughter chooses the movies we watch.  Honestly, we've seen some real "gems" (after a particularly bad movie once, I told her she was never allowed to choose the movies again.  Obviously I relented, but let's just say that some of the movies she's came up with were pretty dang bad).  When I told her I had the opportunity to review Radio Rebel she told me that she wanted to do so, as she was already familiar with it since it had been on the Disney Channel and she really wanted to get the DVD and review it.  At that moment I did a double take.  Cassie says it's good and her track record lately was, well, lacking.  Her older brother saved her though and chimed in, "Yeah it's okay, Mom.  You won't hate it."  Now I know that she has gotten him to watch at least part of it, he approves (either that or he's trying to play a cruel trick on his Mom! LOL), so I agreed. 

We finally sat down to watch it and I gotta say, I really did enjoy it.  Tara is painfully shy, except when she's her alternate persona, Radio Rebel.  Radio Rebel starts on the internet, where she's DJing an internet radio show.  Her Step-Dad, manager of SLAM Radio, learns that she is Radio Rebel, and puts on her the airwaves where she becomes an instant celebrity due to her confidence and inspiring everyone to just be happy with who you are, instead of sticking to the stereotypes and what is expected of both the popular and unpopular.  With the celebrity, comes the demands.  People have to know who Radio Rebel is.  Will Tara be able to overcome her shyness and let her alter ego, Radio Rebel, help her become who she really is?

While I can see the audience being tween/teen girls (and even younger), I think that anyone who has ever lived through trying to find your own voice, even when you know that your voice might make you step out of your comfort zone, can appreciate this movie.  Debby Ryan is absolutely delightful as Tara. 

Radio Rebel is available at Amazon, as well as other online retailers, for purchase.