What a Girl Wants

2003

What a Girl Wants (2003)

TOMATOMETER

35%
23%

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

AUDIENCE SCORE

62%

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Movie Info

Daphne Reynolds 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 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. 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 or her jealous daughter, who are bent on ruining Daphne at every turn. With the aid of Ian, a charming and society-savvy local musician, 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.

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Cast

Amanda Bynes
as Daphne Reynolds
Colin Firth
as Henry Dashwood
Kelly Preston
as Libby Reynolds
Eileen Atkins
as Jocelyn Dashwood
Anna Chancellor
as Glynnis Payne
Jonathan Pryce
as Alistair Payne
Tom Harper
as Edward
Roger Ashton-Griffiths
as Lord Orwood
Steven Anderson
as Television Reporter
Charlie Beall
as Rufus
Newton Boothe
as Taxi Driver
Chris Castle
as Prince Harry
Soleil McGhee
as Young Daphne
Peter Reeves
as Sur John Dashwood
James Greene
as Percy
Steven Osborne
as Staff Member
Mike Toller
as Libby's Band Member
Tom Penn
as Libby's Band Member
Tom Goodfellow
as Libby's Band Member
James Bell
as Libby's Band Member
Mindy Lee Raskin
as Bride
Stanley Townsend
as Bride's Father
Raffaello Dagruttola
as Groom
Tara Summers
as Noelle
Oliver James
as Ian Wallace
Pieter Vodden
as Sven
Nita Mistry
as Girl in Hostel
Christina Cole
as Clarissa Payne
James Woolley
as Political Advisor One
James Linton
as Political Advisor Two
Jonah Russell
as Policeman
Ella Desmond Oakley
as Baby Daphne
Peter Hugo
as Prince Charles
Matthew Turpin
as Prince William
Ben Scholfield
as Armistead Stuart
Natalie Bromley
as Jane
Stephanie Lane
as Fiona
Bruno Tonioli
as Fashion Emcee
Sylvia Syms
as Princess Charlotte
Antony Carrick
as Prince Michael
Neville Phillips
as Butler
Cassie Powney
as Peach Orwood
Connie Powney
as Pear Orwood
Luke Fredericks
as Ian's Band Members
Tim Fornara
as Ian's Band Members
David Gyasi
as Ian's Band Members
David Temple
as Ian's Band Members
David Whitmey
as Ian's Band Members
Andrew Clarke
as Male Twin 1
Peter Clarke
as Male Twin 2
Daniel Tuite
as Newspaper Reporter No. 1
Sarah Mark
as Newspaper Reporter No. 2
Victoria Wicks
as Henry's Secretary
Vernon Preston
as Duke of Edinburgh
Elizabeth Richard
as Queen
Flaminia Cinque
as Caterer
Matt Acheson
as Country Club Wedding Singer
Judy Collins
as Dancer
Ethel Chichlow
as Dancer
Ash Croney
as Dancer
Malcolm Davey
as Dancer
Layla Ellison
as Dancer
Peter Jessup
as Dancer
Jafri Jobaid
as Dancer
Tony Kemp
as Dancer
Allan Laza
as Dancer
Anne Lucas
as Dancer
Count Prince Miller
as Dancer
George Miller (III)
as Dancer
Susan Mills
as Dancer
Bharti Patel
as Dancer
Basil Patton
as Dancer
Barrington Shaw
as Dancer
Louis Saint-Juste
as Dancer
Jane Victory
as Dancer
Sian Todd
as Dancer
June Walker
as Dancer
Thomas Michael Voss
as Dancer
Maureen Waters
as Dancer
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Critic Reviews for What a Girl Wants

All Critics (107) | Top Critics (31)

What a Girl Wants plays like a TV cartoon, not even a sitcom, and makes little sense on its own terms.

Apr 4, 2018 | Full Review…
Wall Street Journal
Top Critic

A sanitized adventure for the Mary Kate-and-Ashley set.

Apr 8, 2003 | Full Review…
Village Voice
Top Critic

There's nothing wrong with this movie, it just kind of moves along at this little pace, no surprises.

Apr 7, 2003
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic

Uninspired and insipid all the way.

Apr 4, 2003
Washington Post
Top Critic

Girls undoubtedly will want to see it, but What a Girl Wants feels a bit like a reheated version of The Princess Diaries.

Apr 4, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4
USA Today
Top Critic

What A Girl Wants doesn't satisfy.

Apr 4, 2003 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
Toronto Star
Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (107)

Audience Reviews for What a Girl Wants

½

If you are feeling a little down and want to watch a happily-ever-after fairy tale, this is the movie for you!

Red Lats
Red Lats

Super Reviewer

½

Ordinary fish out of water rom/com is set a step above the rest of its ilk by beautiful location filming in London and Colin Firth and Eileen Atkins in the cast.

jay nixon
jay nixon

Super Reviewer

Daphne is an American teenager out to find her father, Lord Henry Dashwood. She's up to the challenge as she encounters snooty rich people & falls in love with a British boy. This is one of my favorite Amanda Bynes movies!!! :) I love it so much! (:

Cassie Hill
Cassie Hill

Super Reviewer

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 Murphy
Bethany Murphy

Super Reviewer

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