Review of What a Girl Wants (2003) by Bill C — 25 Sep 2008

Ok, people have been sending me messages regarding my review towards, the latest Dane Cook vehicle, "My Best Friend's Girl". They say, "well what kind of movie do you like that doesen't try very hard?". Look no further...

Normally when I give a movie 3 stars it's a reccomenation, an normally, I would never go out of my way to see it. "What a Girl Wants", is a guilty pleasure, but it's predictable, contrived, but both Amanda Bynes & Colin Firth are great together in this film, and the moments between the two, plus the fact Bynes just has a natural energy for these type of movies, made this experience enjoyable.

The fact is, this movie does go through all the motions, but the main performers carry the story well enough to make it enjoyable. Normally a move like this, I'd watch, I'd enjoy, but never lose sleep if I never saw it again. But this movie is irresistable to me.

There's nothing original here. Daphne is a 17 year old girl, who's known about her father her whole life, but he doesen't even know she exists. Hr mom, played by Kelly Preston, tels her that she doesen't want her to get hurt.

So of course, feeling a part of her is missing, she goes to England. Her father is a member of The House of Lords, and is now running for Prime Minister.

And of course, we get the musician love interest, played by Oliver James, who just comes off as a complete phoney. At least he was a lot more likable than Chad Michael Murray in "A Cinderella Story".

So Daphne meets her Dad, basically it's cross culture adventure yet again, the everyday fun teenage American girl, in the regalness of England. She of course encounters the usual suspects of evil people, the future fiancee (Anna Chancellor), he jealous future step daughter (Christina Cole), and of course the evil advisor (Jonathan Pryce).

Again, nothing original here.

But the charm of Firth & Bynes are enough to carry this movie through, and despite the predictablity and knowing what was coming, I was able to suspend disbelief for an hour and a half, and in a movie like this I can't do very often.

There was just an element here that all those movies didn't have. I probably would've given "A Cinderella Story" a reccomendation had I thought the characters had charm and likabliity. Duff was likable enough, but not believable.

While Duff may have more acting talent than Bynes, I believe Amanda Bynes has this sincerity and sweetness about her, where she doesen't try to hard to be the girl next door, but yet she's not looking trashy either.

I don't believe Amanda Bynes is phony in any way shape or form. I believe she's a lot more believable as a person, and in a down to earth role than most young actresses her age.

Colin Firth is one of the most underrated actors today, he has that natueral Brit-savvy, that makes his a good actor. While his expressions don't range very far, he still does what''s needed in every scene for any character he plays in any movie. Including this one.

"What a Girl Wants", is a fine and fun movie, and despite not bringing anyting new to the table, its likable, and sweet, and that's all I ask.