It’s been two decades, but The Lizzie McGuire Movie still inspires many to visit Rome. While you may think it is a simple nostalgia play, it’s more of an ode to a character who shaped a generation…
By Stephan Petar
In the latest season of Emily in Paris, Emily (Lily Collins) visits Rome where her suitor, Marcello (Eugenio Fransceschini), whisks her away on Vespa to show her the city’s iconic landmarks. For many the visual may seem reminiscent – a handsome Italian man giving an American girl, who has never been to Rome, a tour. Once Emily and Marcello arrive at the Trevi Fountain we learn why.
Emily: “I’ve seen so much of this city in movies, I feel like I’ve been here already.”
Marcello: “You mean like La Dolce Vita?”
Emily: “I was thinking more like The Lizzie McGuire Movie.”
The Vespa scene, while not confirmed by creators, is a subtle homage to The Lizzie McGuire Movie when Paolo (Yani Gellman) takes Lizzie (Hilary Duff) on his red Vespa around Rome.
“I sadly can’t take credit for that line, but I found it to be one of the more genius lines of the season. I definitely grew up loving that movie, Lizzie McGuire, so I was very proud that Emily Cooper would make that reference,” Collins told PEOPLE.
Lizzie McGuire aired 65 episodes between 2001 and 2004. It followed Lizzie as she navigated her adolescent years in junior high, with her true emotions expressed by an animated version of herself. The movie, released in May 2003, takes her to Rome on a post-graduation trip where she is mistaken for Italian popstar Isabella. The film debuted with $17M USD and grossed $55M USD by the end of its theatrical run.
While the Cheetah Girls and Olsen twins have travelled the world, Lizzie’s legacy stands the test of time. Search #TheLizzieMcGuireMovie on social media and you’ll find people recreating the Trevi Fountain scene where she meets Paolo or reciting random lyrics from the lead song across Rome. Some search for filming locations and others question the logistics of how an award show could be held in the Colosseum. The most popular videos you’ll find are of people performing What Dreams are Made of at the Colosseum.
As TikTok user Nía said in response to a video of Duff re-watching the scene, “Does she know that an entire generation thinks/sings/records this song when they go to Rome or anything related to Rome comes up?”
It’s true, the movie was referenced as the “female version” of the viral “Roman Empire” trend and during my visit to the Colosseum in April, I heard What Dreams Are Made Of almost everywhere in the historic circular fighting ring. People of varying generations were either adding it to Instagram Stories or filming mini-music videos (I am guilty of it). But what is it about Lizzie that has made her almost as popular as the gladiators who fought to the death? How has she helped make Rome a destination for millennials? Why did it have such an impact?
A world of dreams and possibilities
For many, the film was one of the first glimpses of Rome. Steve Smyth, a self-identified Lizzie fan who travelled Italy wearing a Lizzie and Isabella shirt, said, “It was probably the first time I saw Europe as this larger than life place where anything could happen.”
Reflecting on my exposure, prior to The Lizzie McGuire Movie, I saw the city watching classic films like Roman Holiday or those starring Sophia Loren. The film’s made the city feel inaccessible for a tween.
Lizzie presented Rome in a modern context, through the eyes of a tween who was wide-eyed with wonder. She embodied a pure excitement for discovering the city, which was likely due to Duff blurring the lines of fiction and non-fiction. The actress told Good Morning America, “I had never been to Italy before, so getting to shoot a movie there was so much fun.” While each scene likely took several takes, we can assume Duff channeled the excitement of being in a new environment, making the portrayal believable and romanticized for audiences.
“Seeing Lizzie explore Rome made me eager to immerse myself in new cultures and destinations,” said Martha Mora Nova, who recently travelled to Rome and recreated scenes from the film.
While Lizzie sparked dreams of travel and adventure to Rome, her message extends beyond the Italian city. On a date with an Italian man, he and I bonded over the character. When I asked about the film, I thought he’d be critical, but instead told me how it encouraged him to see other countries and to learn English.
While no studies, that I found, have been done on the film’s influence on travel, many I’ve spoken to noted it inspired them to explore the world and visit places they’ve seen in films. While the character Lizzie may not have started any popular trends, the film may have created a generation of “Set-Jetters,” which are travelers who visit filming locations. Flight Centre Canada’s Amra Durakovic says, “The allure of ‘set-jetting’ is a testament to the powerful pull of visual storytelling.” She notes the company has seen an uptick in ‘set-jetting’ destinations influenced by pop culture and called it a 2024 trend. Set-jetting has also led walking tour companies like GuruWalks to offer guided excursions for Emily in Paris, Game of Thrones and Harry Potter, to name a few.
A relatable metamorphosis
Beyond travel, it was a story about teenage metamorphosis. “It wasn’t just about the travel itself, but about the endless possibilities that came with it, discovering unexpected parts of yourself in new surroundings…For a lot of us it marked the transition from childhood to adolescence.” Smyth continues.
Lizzie’s teenage life was relatable to the mass audience – sorry The O.C. and Gossip Girl. Like her, many were awkward and struggled with self-esteem issues, crushes and drama with family, friends or rivals. Her inner voice was direct and impulsive, representing something we wanted to be, but weren’t brave enough to be. Duff told the Zach Sang Show, “That character was me. I wasn’t acting like that. The writers would be like ‘what’s happening with you and your friends…’”
While being mistaken for an Italian popstar and performing at an award show in the Colosseum is not likely to happen, the premise is still relatable. At its heart, this trip was about Lizzie entering her next chapter. In the process, she found magical, unexpected and new experiences that led to her self-discovery and independence. It showed, as Smyth said, “the endless possibilities.” She showed us the world was a place where dreams were made and dreams, in whatever form, are ultimately magical moments. “There is a sense of hope and empowerment in her story, and the film’s message of being true to yourself, even if you’re not perfect, is something that stays with you,” Smyth ended.
Today, the film is fondly thought about by cast members like Alex Borstein (Ms. Ungermeyer), who told The Hollywood Reporter, “When I’m in the airport, I see people walking towards me and I’ll know in 30 seconds what show they’re going to say. The Lizzie girls, predominantly girls, I can see them a mile away and it’s sheer joy, it’s so fun to have a part of someone’s childhood like that.”
So, while you may think many go to Rome and recreate the movie as a pure nostalgia play, I believe we do it as an ode to Lizzie. An ode to her self-discovery, wanderlust and bravery that helped empower many of us struggling to find ourselves to learn and grow. A thank you for opening our eyes and showing us what dreams are made of.
You can watch The Lizzie McGuire Movie on Disney+, but true fans will have the DVD – but maybe not a DVD player.
