Netflix Nostalgia

Three people are tweeting about “The Lizzie McGuire Movie is now on Netflix.”

This notification was enough to make me drop my fork into my Chipotle bowl, run to my family room and isolate myself for the rest of the night, singing along to the whole movie soundtrack and trying to push out the thoughts of my English essay due the next day.

While watching Lizzie navigate her way through middle school graduation and the historical city of Rome, I pictured my first grade self eagerly watching the movie – I’d pop the disk into my DVD player and sit back on my old, tattered green couch with an entire bag of Milano cookies. I dedicated my free time after school to watching that movie over and over again that year, sometimes even watching it while reciting “purple” and “triangle”, my spelling words for the week.

But when I sat on my new cream, leather couch, and pulled up Netflix on my laptop browser, unwrapping a Nature Valley granola bar, I couldn’t help but notice how differently I viewed the movie. How could I have considered asking for a hand glove for Christmas, just like the one Lizzie wears when she performs with Paolo in Rome? Boy was I naive.

When I first watched Lizzie ruin her entire middle school graduation as a kid, I couldn’t stop myself from wondering if everyone’s middle school experiences were that embarrassing. I imagined tripping in front of all the kids and parents I knew and prayed that would never happen to me. If I’m just like Lizzie in middle school, I thought, it wouldn’t be as bad as Diary of a Wimpy Kid status, but I’d still be totally embarrassing.

Now, I can’t help but wish I had been like Lizzie for the two years I walked the halls as a Knight. I now view Lizzie as a confident, smart and determined teenager who isn’t afraid to chase her dreams or stand up to Kate Sanders, every middle school girl’s worst nightmare. She’s no longer the clutz and social disaster I used to view her as. My much older mind has realized being popular and having a cute mini skirt don’t make the perfect girl.

No matter what I did, I couldn’t help but notice how the movie seemed as if I had never even watched it before. I’m sure even grasping on to all my Webkinz couldn’t bring me back to my first grade senses. Is Paolo really the guy I printed pictures off the internet of to put on my math folders?

Seven-year-old me fell head over heels for Paolo, the cute Italian pop star, when he was first introduced in the movie – Paolo’s big hair was almost enough to make me forget about my own first grade crush. I was so mesmerized by his athletic figure and smooth accent, that I found myself angry at the way Lizzie and Isabella play him in the end. I wouldn’t let myself believe that Paolo was anything other than in love with Lizzie and not just his career. I clearly didn’t have any standards.

But alas, I have come to the age where I just want to give Paolo a swift kick in the shins and flip him the bird. I’ve grown wiser and realized that not all attractive guys have great character, and this is true for the Italian. He took advantage of a bright-eyed Lizzie McGuire. After re-

watching this movie, I’ve realized that being conceited and selfish are two character traits that have made my turn off list. My young eyes couldn’t see past his perfect skin and bright smile, but now all I see is a $20 dollar spray tan and bleached teeth.

People say that there are dreamers in the world, and then there are the realists. I for one, am definitely a realist now, but every little kid can be a dreamer in some ways. What I had trouble with when I rewatched The Lizzie McGuire Movie is in what world does a 14-year-old receive a middle school graduation present of a parent-free trip to Rome? When I was 14, I was just happy that my parents let me walk down to the Village on Fridays after school; that’s pretty much all the parental freedom I got. The main issue I have with this movie – and most movies if we’re being honest – is just how blatantly unrealistic it is.

Even if you look “exactly” like an Italian pop star, the chances of you getting to ride a moped around Rome, holding on to some Italian hunk, is probably about as likely as being able to see into the future like Raven Symoné . It’s also doubtful that your arch enemy will all of a sudden help you sneak around your monstrous chaperone so you can present an award at an Italian awards show. Sorry Kate Sanders, no one goes from fiend to friend in a matter of seconds.

Finally watching Lizzie McGuire after so many years has made me so uncertain about the clothing choices of the early 2000’s – even Hilary Duff can’t make metallic bell bottom pants look good. This movie reminds me of the days when wearing a plain white T-shirt under a cami was considered “style”. But maybe in 15 years, our generation will look back at bodysuits and high-waisted jeans as a fashion faux pas.

As I sat in bed Lizzie McGuire and her mischievous friends were able to show me how much my character and mind have grown since the year of 2007. I’ve grown up in ways I never would have noticed without this movie – I finally realized I don’t need a cartoon, pint size replica of myself to help me get through life. Well it’s not necessary, but I totally wouldn’t mind it.