What a Girl Wants 2003

What a Girl Wants

Critics Consensus

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

35%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 108

62%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 453,651

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What a Girl Wants Photos

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Movie Info

On a whim, American teenager Daphne (Amanda Bynes) boards a plane to England to find the father she never met. Upon arriving there, though, she makes a startling discovery: The man she's looking for is Lord Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth), a member of the British upper class, who is running for political office. Lord Henry didn't know Daphne existed, but he welcomes her into his life. However, she isn't so sure -- and his family and his current betrothed look on her disapprovingly.
  • Rating:
    PG (Mild Language)
  • Genre:
    drama, comedy
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Dennie Gordon
  • Producer:
    Denise Di Novi, Bill Gerber, Hunt Lowry
  • Writer:
    Jenny Hicks, Elizabeth Chandler
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $36.0M
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Gaylord Films
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Amanda Bynes
Daphne Reynolds
Colin Firth
Lord Henry Dashwood
Kelly Preston
Libby Reynolds
Eileen Atkins
Lady Jocelyn
Anna Chancellor
GLynnis
Jonathan Pryce
Alastair Payne
Oliver James
Ian Wallace
Christina Cole
Clarissa Payne
Sylvia Syms
Princess Charlotte
Ben Scholfield
Armistead Stuart
Dennie Gordon
Director
Denise Di Novi
Producer
Bill Gerber
Producer
Hunt Lowry
Producer
Jenny Hicks
Screenwriter
Elizabeth Chandler
Screenwriter
E.K. Gaylord II
Executive Producer
Alison Greenspan
Executive Producer
Casey La Scala
Executive Producer
Andrew Dunn
Director of Photography
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News & Interviews for What a Girl Wants

Wahlberg back for SAW 3
Director Snagged for Amanda Bynes’ Shakespeare Modernization
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Critic Reviews for What a Girl Wants

All Critics (108) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (70)

View All Critic Reviews (108)

Audience Reviews for What a Girl Wants

  • Aug 18, 2012
    If you are feeling a little down and want to watch a happily-ever-after fairy tale, this is the movie for you!
    Red L Super Reviewer
  • Jul 11, 2011
    I thought this was a really cute movie. Although it's defiantly predictable, the cast of well known actors and actresses makes this a great feel good film. The story line follows a young American girl named Daphne Reynolds (played by Amanda Bynes) whose mother Libby (Kelly Preston) fell in love with an aristocratic young Englishman, Lord Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth) in her youth but who was separated from him by family and social pressures. Daphne has dreamed of being reunited with her father, and so she sets off for London in search of him. That's not difficult, as he is running for Parliament and campaigning everywhere. Daphne discovers that he is soon to be married to a snobby young Englishwoman (Anna Chancellor) with an equally ambitious and even more conceited daughter (Christina Cole). Neither of them can stomach Daphne's surprise arrival and will do everything they can to undermine Daphne's relationship with her new found dad. Apart from that this high-spirited young American is not well-suited to life among the prim and proper expectations of the British upper class and lots of mini-disasters occur as her father tries to introduce her to English society. On the whole, I did enjoy this film very much, because Amanda Bynes is adorable and the chemistry between she and 'Dad' Firth seems natural and unforced. I was especially delighted to see the usually staid Colin Firth with new moves - the dance-in-the-mirror scene, for one in which he dons a t-shirt and tight black leather pants while playing an air guitar. Then there is a cutie musician named Oliver James as Ian Wallace who sang the songs Long Time Coming and Greatest Story Ever Told, which were on the film's soundtrack.
    Deb S Super Reviewer
  • Jul 03, 2011
    Charming, a little silly, good father-daughter bonding, not half bad, a party fun girl movie, and it was somehow emotional for me. It would be worst, but exceptional.
    Angel G Super Reviewer
  • Jun 23, 2011
    Oliver James and Amanda Bynes are a really good couple in this film and I really enjoyed it. It's a great chick flick and it's quite funny at times. It's a must see!
    Bethany M Super Reviewer
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