I really loved the idea of the bratty teen from Malibu getting her comeuppance from the down-to-earth girls' school students in Britain. While the writing was a bit off, everyone gives their roles a fun turn, but Roberts seems lifeless and just going through the motions. She has a few good moments where she actually engaged, but all around just so miscast. This could have been so much better. Just compare her performance to Aidan Quinn, who plays her father, and gives the role even more than called for. Kimberly Nixon as Kate and Alex Pettyfer as Freddie outshone her so much it was like a different movie when they were on screen. And I found it so sad that this was Natasha Richardson's last role before her untimely death. She is lovely here and very missed.
So I would recommend this film for all the others in it. I have not followed Emma Roberts career in the last 13 years but I will give her the benefit of the doubt that she has improved since Wild Child.
