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What a Girl Wants

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What a Girl Wants (2003)

34%
23%
46%
N/A
N/A
N/A
34 %
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.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

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 bohemian mother Libby (KELLY PRESTON) and a future full of possibilities – but despite her remarkable... 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]

Genre: Comedies

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

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

DVD Info

Release:

Aug 5, 2003

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Snap Case
  • Full Frame - 1.33
  • Single Side - Dual Layer

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - French

Additional Release Material:

  • Deleted Scenes
  • Audio Commentary - 1. Jenny Bicks - Screenwriter, Elizabeth Chandler - Screenwriter
  • Hidden Features - 1. Easter Eggs (Auditions & On-Set Gags)
  • Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
  • Featurettes - 1. WHAT'S A GIRL TO WEAR
  • 2. FASHION ETIQUETTE 101

Buy It On DVD

Reviews

 
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Ratings Image
2/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Ratings Image
1/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
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N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out
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Ratings Image
3/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
2/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
05/12/04
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com
Ratings Image
2/4

The capable cast is wasted in this fluff piece.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/30/03
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs
Ratings Image
B-

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

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

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Full Review | comment Comment
08/19/03
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
2/5

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 | comment Comment
08/15/03
Annette Dasey
Teletext
Ratings Image
1/5

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 | comment Comment
08/10/03
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
Ratings Image
3/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
07/30/03
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
Ratings Image
2/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
07/22/03
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
1.5/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
06/15/03
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Ratings Image
3/4

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

Full Review | comment Comment
05/20/03
Tyler Hanley
Palo Alto Weekly
Ratings Image
C-

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

Full Review | comment Comment
05/07/03
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)
Ratings Image
2/4

A pleasant diversion, but not much more than that.

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

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Full Review | comment Comment
04/27/03
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
04/24/03
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Ratings Image
1.5/5

Gordon and Co. slobber all over themselves at how quaint and wonderful the British are, producing an effect that is strongly, cheesily American.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/20/03
Catharine Tunnacliffe
eye WEEKLY
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
04/20/03
Christy Lemire
San Francisco Examiner
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