Wild Child (2008)

A rebellious Malibu princess is shipped off to a strict English boarding school by her father.

Director:

Nick Moore

Writer:

Lucy Dahl

Stars:

Emma Roberts, Aidan Quinn, Natasha Richardson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emma Roberts	...	Poppy
Lexi Ainsworth	...	Molly
Shelby Young	...	Ruby
Johnny Pacar	...	Roddy
Aidan Quinn	...	Gerry Moore
Natasha Richardson	...	Mrs. Kingsley
Georgia King	...	Harriet
Ruby Thomas	...	Jane
Eleanor Turner-Moss	...	Charlotte
Kimberley Nixon	...	Kate
Maisie Preston	...	'Wow' Girl
Juno Temple	...	Drippy
Sophie Wu	...	Kiki
Linzey Cocker	...	Josie
Shirley Henderson	...	Matron

Storyline

Since Malibu brat Poppy Moore's mom passed away, she has pushed her rich, usually absent dad Gerry shamelessly. When his patience wears out, she's shipped off to her mother's former English boarding school for girls, Abbey Mount. On her first day she makes enemies of most dorm mates, especially dominant lacrosse school captain Harriet, and of staff disciplinarian Mrs. Kingsley. Unwilling to accept the strict regime, she decides to misbehave and take the blame for everyone until she's dismissed. The school only appealing feature for her is Kingsley's dashing son Freddie. When the dream prince transfers his favor from ambitious, uptight Harriet to unruly Poppy, that changes everything.

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Plot Keywords:

school | boarding school | female friendship | new school | new girl | 

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Taglines:

New Girl. New School. New Rules.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some coarse and suggestive content, sex references and language - all involving teens

Details

Official Sites:

Universal Studios [United States]

Country:

USA UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 2008 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Wild Child: Erstklassig zickig

Filming Locations:

Balls Park, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,177,472 (UK) (15 August 2008)

Gross:

$19,780 (USA) (5 December 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Relativity Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kimberley Nixon and Sophie Wu would end up playing friends and then love rivals in the Channel 4 TV series Fresh Meat (2011).

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Goofs

On the website of Abbey Mount school it says it admits boarders from the ages of 11-17. During the credits, the first thing that comes up is a workbook belonging to Poppy and you see that she is supposed to be in Lower Sixth. Since, if they have Lower Sixth they must have an Upper Sixth then Abbey Mount would admit girls from 11-18.

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Quotes

Poppy: It's nice to see you when I'm not half-naked or delirious!
Freddie: I wouldn't speak to soon... is it wrong of me to say that?

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Crazy Credits

The end credits begin with scrapbook cutouts of Poppy and her new life at Abbey Mount, later showing a clip of her and her new friends at Poppy's beach house in Malibu.

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Connections

References Alice in Wonderland (2010)

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Soundtracks

Mrs. Darcy
Written by Dario Marianelli
Performed by Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Courtesy of Universal Studios

User Reviews

Good Fun

OK, so this film isn't going to win any Oscars but it does deliver.

I saw this film this evening with friends (we're 18) and we had a good laugh and a good time watching it. Some of it#s content makes it quite a predictable teen movie but despite this the film is good fun and has some surprise moments.

For those expecting a tween film like What A Girl Wants this is not it! There's a lot of swearing, sexual reference and drinking which is more like the kind of things normal 16 year olds do. This film has more of an edge than your usual teen flick and will definitely appeal to a wider range of ages. So give it a chance, it might surprise you.