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Movies / On DVD / What a Girl Wants
What a Girl Wants

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What a Girl Wants (2003)

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34 %
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Reviews Counted: 102

Fresh: 35

Rotten:67

Average Rating: 4.7/10

Consensus: Little girls will definitely enjoy it, but it's too syrupy and predictable for adults.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for mild language

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Apr 4, 2003 Wide

Box Office: $35,990,505

Synopsis: Daphne Reynolds (AMANDA BYNES) has what every girl wants – or so it seems. This spirited young American girl has a unique style all her own, an unconventional but loving relationship with her... Daphne Reynolds (AMANDA BYNES) has what every girl wants – or so it seems. This spirited young American girl has a unique style all her own, an unconventional but loving relationship with her bohemian mother Libby (KELLY PRESTON) and a future full of possibilities – but despite her remarkable promise, Daphne feels incomplete. She dreams of one day meeting the father she’s never known, the man Libby shared a whirlwind romance with seventeen years ago, but ultimately left behind because his aristocratic family found her unsuitable.

Determined to live out her fantasy of forging a storybook relationship with her long-absent dad, Daphne impulsively hops a flight to London, where she quickly discovers that her father is high profile politician Lord Henry Dashwood (COLIN FIRTH).

When Henry opens his life and his social calendar to the daughter he never knew existed, Daphne’s appearance in high society creates an uproar that threatens to undermine his political career. Not wanting to jeopardize his campaign for an upcoming election, Daphne stifles her naturally vibrant personality, refashions herself as a proper debutante and plunges into a whirlwind of stuffy British social events. But even with Henry’s support, she’s not getting any help from his conniving fiancée (ANNA CHANCELLOR) or her jealous daughter (CHRISTINA COLE), who are bent on ruining Daphne at every turn.

With the aid of Ian, a charming and society-savvy local musician (OLIVER JAMES), Daphne attempts to prove that love – and proper etiquette – can conquer all. But Daphne soon realizes she doesn’t like the person she’s becoming in the process. As much as she wants to be her father’s daughter, it’s not worth it if she can’t be herself.

After all, as Ian asks her, Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in Association with Gaylord Films, a Di Novi Pictures/Gerber Pictures Production, What A Girl Wants, starring AMANDA BYNES, COLIN FIRTH, KELLY PRESTON, EILEEN ATKINS, ANNA CHANCELLOR and JONATHAN PRYCE. Directed by DENNIE GORDON, the producers are DENISE DI NOVI, BILL GERBER and HUNT LOWRY. The screenplay is by JENNY BICKS and ELIZABETH CHANDLER. E.K. GAYLORD II, ALISON GREENSPAN and CASEY LA SCALA are the executive producers. ANDREW DUNN, B.S.C. is the director of photography; MICHAEL CARLIN is the production designer; CHARLES McCLELLAND is the editor; music is by RUPERT GREGSON-WILLIAMS.

What A Girl Wants will be released on April 4, 2003 by Warner Bros. Pictures, an AOL Time Warner Company.

What A Girl Wants has been rated PG by the MPAA for “mild language.” [More]

Starring: Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth, Kelly Preston, Jonathan Pryce

Starring: Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth, Kelly Preston, Jonathan Pryce, Eileen Atkins, Anna Chancellor, Christina Cole, Oliver James

Director: Dennie Gordon

Director: Dennie Gordon
Screenwriter: Elizabeth Chandler, Jenny Bicks
Producer: Denise Di Novi, Bill Gerber, Hunt Lowry
Composer: Rupert Gregson-Williams
Studio: Warner Bros.

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Release:

Aug 5, 2003

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Coming-of-Age Comedy. Daphne (Amanda Bynes), a spirited young American girl, travels to London in search of her long-lost father (Colin Firth), an influential aristocratic politician. As Daphne attempts to prove that love can conquer all, her impulsive behavior creates an uproar in high society, where her unique style threatens to undermine the relationship she has waited her whole life to experience.
  • Source: Warner Home Video
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    Reviews for What a Girl Wants

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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
    04/29/09
    Felix Vasquez Jr.
    Cinema Crazed
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
    10/18/08
    Urban Cinefile Critics
    Urban Cinefile

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    Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
    08/07/08
    Mark Halverson
    Sacramento News & Review

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
    12/30/06
    Empire Magazine
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    01/26/06
    Time Out
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    12/06/05
    Film Threat
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Another piece of teen-girl wish-fulfillment fluff of the most forgettable sort.

    Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
    05/12/04
    Scott Weinberg
    eFilmCritic.com

    The capable cast is wasted in this fluff piece.

    Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment Comment
    12/30/03
    Scott Nash
    Three Movie Buffs

    Despite her obnoxious Nickelodeon pedigree, Bynes proves that, given the right project, she isn't half bad.

    Full Review Source: Kansas City Star | comment Comment
    08/29/03
    Shawn Bowers
    Kansas City Star
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
    08/19/03
    Guardian [UK]
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The mum, played by Kelly Preston, tells Daphne, “Getting to know yourself is the answer." And we thought this was supposed to be good family fun.

    Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
    08/15/03
    Annette Dasey
    Teletext

    There's very little about it that isn't utterly predictable, and naturally all major setbacks are quickly and easily overcome after a minute and a half music montage, before the final happy ending pancake platter is doused in syrupy overkill

    Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
    08/10/03
    Brian Mckay
    eFilmCritic.com

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
    07/30/03
    Matthew Turner
    ViewLondon

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
    07/22/03
    BBC
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
    06/15/03
    Garth Franklin
    Dark Horizons

    Amanda Bynes lights up the screen with innocent charm and a sweet-girl smile.

    Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
    05/20/03
    Tyler Hanley
    Palo Alto Weekly

    A complete rip-off without one original twist of any kind—a film devoid of any unique concept.

    Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
    05/07/03
    Bruce Bennett
    Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

    A pleasant diversion, but not much more than that.

    Full Review Source: Movie Boeuf | comment Comment
    04/29/03
    David N. Butterworth
    Movie Boeuf
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
    04/27/03
    Atlanta Journal-Constitution
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
    04/24/03
    Rich Cline
    Shadows on the Wall
     
     
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