Watch Raising the Bar

Raising the Bar, released in 2016, is a heart-warming and inspiring story about a young gymnast named Kelly Johnson who dreams of going to the Olympics. Directed by Clay Glen, the movie stars Kelli Berglund as Kelly, Lili Karamalikis as her best friend and fellow gymnast, and Tess Fowler as the strict and demanding coach. The movie begins with Kelly and her best friend Pia attending a gymnastics competition where they see their idol, Jenny Thomas, perform an incredible routine. Kelly is inspired by Jenny's performance and dreams of following in her footsteps. However, Kelly's dreams are threatened when her mother decides to move to Australia for a job opportunity, leaving Kelly behind in the United States.

Kelly's life takes a turn for the better when she meets the strict and demanding coach, Burt Vickerman. Vickerman is known for his unorthodox coaching methods, which involve pushing his gymnasts to their limits physically and mentally. Despite the tough training, Kelly is determined to succeed and prove herself to Vickerman.

As Kelly trains under Vickerman's guidance, she realizes that she needs to improve her skills if she wants to have a chance at the Olympics. She befriends a group of gymnasts who train at the same gym and they all work together to help each other improve their skills.

The movie explores the relationships between the characters, especially the bond between Kelly and her best friend Pia. Pia is initially jealous of Kelly's close relationship with Vickerman, but eventually comes to understand the importance of Kelly's dreams and supports her in achieving them.

The film also delves into the pressures faced by young athletes, particularly the pressure to succeed and the fear of failure. Kelly struggles with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, but with the help of her friends and Vickerman, she learns to overcome these fears and believes in herself.

The gymnastics routines in the film are stunning, with the actors performing impressive flips and stunts. The film was shot on location in Australia, adding to the authenticity of the gymnastics scenes.

Overall, Raising the Bar is an uplifting and inspiring movie that will leave you feeling motivated and inspired. The dynamic between the characters is engaging and the gymnastics scenes are impressive. It's a perfect movie for anyone who loves sports movies or wants to be inspired to pursue their dreams.

Raising the Bar is a 2016 kids & family movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5.