What a Girl Wants (2003)

Director:

Dennie Gordon

Writers (WGA):

William Douglas-Home (play)
William Douglas-Home (1958 screenplay)

Release Date:

4 April 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Trying to fit in. Born to stand out.

Plot:

An American teenager learns that her father is a wealthy British politician running for office. Although she is eager to find him, she realizes it could cause a scandal and cost him the election.

Plot Keywords:

American | England | Scandal | Teenager | Morocco

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Amanda Bynes	...	Daphne Reynolds
Colin Firth	...	Henry Dashwood
Kelly Preston	...	Libby Reynolds
Eileen Atkins	...	Jocelyn Dashwood
Anna Chancellor	...	Glynnis Payne
Jonathan Pryce	...	Alistair Payne
Oliver James	...	Ian Wallace
Christina Cole	...	Clarissa Payne
Sylvia Syms	...	Princess Charlotte
Soleil McGhee	...	Young Daphne
Peter Reeves	...	Sir John Dashwood
James Greene	...	Percy
Steven Osborne	...	Staff Member
Mike Toller	...	Libby's Band Member
Tom Penn	...	Libby's Band Member

Also Known As:

American Girl (USA) (working title)
London Calling (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Ireland:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G | Germany:o.Al. | New Zealand:G | Norway:A | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Battersea Park, Battersea, London, England, UK

Company:

DiNovi Pictures

Trivia:

When Henry calls Libby to tell her Daphne has been out all day with a boy in a band (Ian), Libby says, Lemme guess, he's a drummer? In reality, 'Oliver James', who plays Ian, is a drummer.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The registration number of the taxi the young Libby leaves in is, at first, CYP 44V - when her bags are thrown in. This is recycled footage from shots of the same vehicle (CYP 44V) which we see the older Libby and daughter Daphne leave in towards the end of the film. Additionally, as the younger Libby leaves, after her bags are thrown in, the registration number changes to MMX 902L (a vehicle seven or eight years older).

Quotes:

Daphne Reynolds: I had you down as an all bran man.

Movie Connections:

References The Omen (1976)

Soundtrack:

You Get Me

Wow, like lighten up

The folks banging this movie have to get real. It's about an average girl (Bynes) who gets to meet her dad, who's in the process of running for major political office in England. It's not about Yankee superiority over the Brits (sheesh!), it's a simple fantasy about the effect a teenage girl has on her once-stuffy dad in stuffy society. If you're politically offended by this movie, imagine Amanda as a carefree Portugese girl visiting her long-lost dad, a member of U.S. Congress from Massachusetts, and chill out. That being said, Amanda Bynes is a cool and attractive leading lady/girl and plays very well with the other characters in this film. It's all been done millions of times before, and it's not Oscar material, but it was a pleasant diversion for me.