Rating: 
Summary: A Bit Holey
Review: If nothing else this movie was cute. And that was solely due to Dakota Fanning. I think we can expect to see more from this promising young actress. Uptown Girls is a fairly decent but not creatively original story that was rushed. The main character, Molly, was highly underdeveloped, her life was confusing and lacking a certain depth and that glow that warms viewers hearts, making them feel more like a friend then an audience member. And her romance with what's-his-face-Egyptian-cotton-boy was very unrealistic and strewn about. I think this movie should have tightened itself up a bit to create a whole picture instead of a holey picture.
Rating: 
Summary: If You Like Brittany Murphy like Me ... Just Formulaic Drama
Review: Greenestreet Film receptionist Allison Jacobs thought of the original story, and developed it with other three writers to make it "Uptown Girls." Clearly the genesis of the film is appealng to her, and the Brittany Murphy/Dakota Fanning duo is helpful to make it more so. But one strange thing is the choice of the director Boaz Yakin, whose previous films are rather serious ones ("Fresh" and "A Price above Rubies").The strength and weakness of "Uptown Girls" may be accounted for with this unique origin. It features hopelessly clueless (NYC's) Uptown girl Molly, whose dad was a once popular rock singer. She lives in a comfy room with so many birthday presents that she'd rather thrown them away to some charity institute as if nothing. But her life changes entirely when her financial manager "Bob" (just Bob) takes all the money and flies to Brazil. She has to earn money, and her last resort is to be a babysittter for a rich 8 year-old girl, Dakota Fanning's Ray, whose mother is always away from the penthouse. And Ray is awfully, very awfully, precocious. Can they be friends? Can they understand each other? Of course, you know the answer for sure, but that is not a problem at all. The two leading ladies are charming enough in their own way, I thought, but some (or many) would take these ladies otherwise, thinking them too obnoxious and noisy. Frankly this is the point that divides the opinions among viewers. If you hate Ally McBeal, you should stay away from this one. Brittany Murphy's Molly may look as if following the tradition that comes from Marilyn Monroe -- good-natured blonde girl who just cannot get everything right, but still charming. Ms. Murphy is sexy and seductive enough to engage our attention, but I found Dakota Fanning lacks her usual charms. She does not smile at all, and that might explain why. Director Boaz Yakin does decent job in inducing Brittany Murphy to show her delightful side, but his handling of the supports are total failure. Molly's boyfriend by Jesse Spencer is insignificant (or I say unnecesary), and Ray's mother Heather Locklear is just reduced to a cypher. Why didn't director concentrate more on drawing the relations between these girls, which is more engaging, than on the cursory descriptions of the supports? From the first moment we see Molly tumbles into Ray's room with a little pig in tow, this is a modern-age fairy tale. You cannot take this film in any level of reality. It's a fantasy, and this is how the film wants to be taken. That's how the film was born, and how it should be taken.
Rating: 
Summary: And The Award For Worst Movie Goes To...Uptown Girls
Review: Brittany Murphy always looked like she had drunk 10,000 bottles of beer. Dakota Fanning Looked equally bad. If best actor or actress award was given to this movie it would be given to Mu the pig. It would take everyone in New York city to make sense of this movie. The was many diffrent plots in this movie, it very hard to see the real plot. Over all this movie stank. You're just wasting your money if you buy this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: A formula film that pulls together a pretty good ending
Review: In terms of the basic plot "Uptown Girls" is totally predictable. Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy) is a spoiled little rich girl who needs to grow up when she is forced to go out and get a job for the first time in her life. Ray Schleine (Dakota Fanning) is an 8-year-old even littler little rich girl who is not only a hypochondriac and wise beyond her years but who needs to learn how to be a kid. Of course circumstances throw them together when Molly becomes Ray's nanny. There is the comic period of butting heads, the tentative beginnings of friendship, the point at which things blow up big time, and the heartfelt reconciliation. But one of the reasons that formula films like this continue to be made is because more often than not they work. The result is not a great film, but an enjoyable one where the best part of the film is the finale, where between them writers Julia Dahl, Mo Ogrodnik, Lisa Davidowitz and Allison Jacobs come up with a creative way of bringing together major plot elements. The twist with Molly Gunn is that she is the daughter of a rock 'n' roll legend, guitarist Tommy Gunn. Her parents were killed in a plane crash when she was about Ray's age and she has been living off the residuals. In her apartment there is a shrine in which all of her father's guitars are displayed, including the one on which he wrote his biggest hit, "Molly Smiles," the song that Molly can no longer bear to here. Molly might be spoiled, but she has a kind heart and not a mean bone in her body. When her accountant steals all of her money and disappears she has her friends, Ingrid (Marley Shelton) and Huey (Donald Faison), who stay true and try to help her survive in the real world (I liked not having to do deal with her friends forgetting her now that she is broke). She also likes Neal Fox (Jesse Spencer), the young musician who plays at her birthday party. The only problem is that he is 274 days in his sobriety and wants to be celibate the first year. But he too is inspired by Molly to write a song that becomes a hit. Ray's mother, Roma Schleine (Heather Locklear) runs a record label, which, of course, signs Neal. This also explains why Ray needs a Nanny and we already know why the kid's attitude has a long procession of nanny's coming and going. But beyond her immaculate room and her preoccupation with germs and disease, Ray has her own father issue: he suffered a stroke and is now a vegetable set up in the library of the apartment. She seldom talks about her dad and she never visits him. To Molly, this is just wrong, but she does not give the obvious speech. Ray is smart enough to know what she would say and Molly bides her time until the time comes to say the right thing. In the counter-part to that scene that comes shortly afterwards, Molly and Ray communicate a whole range of emotions without either one of them even saying a word. Films like this rarely let silence speak so well on the behalf of the characters. Dakota Fanning was the best thing in "Taken," and after her solid performance in "I Am Sam" it is nice to see her do a more comedic role in this film. Count me in the growing list of those who think she could well be the Jodi Foster of her generation (to wit, she is better than Jodi Foster was at this age and you have the sense that she can make the transition from child star to adult star). Brittany Murphy, who was wasted in "Just Married" and was asked to do something decidedly different in "8 Mile," sinks her teeth into this role. She has the ditzy parts down pat, but it is the honest moments that she shares with both Ray and Roma that she achieves her best grace notes in the film. She should get a lot of opportunities to do more romantic comedies and as long as they have some basis in the real world and do not require her character to go over the top, she should thrive in such roles. Again, I want to applaud the creativity shown at the end of the film. Coming up with a payoff at the end of a film like this is difficult, because you need something that brings the characters together in a happy ending. What I like about this ending is that it achieves this without the characters involved ever making physical contact, by involving at least a half-dozen key plot elements, and, most importantly, by having the song we have been waiting almost the entire movie to hear be as good as it was supposed to be. When you watch the film a second time pay attention to how the music is set up during the auction scene. There might not be enough new here to make this a great film, but director Boaz Yakin has made "Uptown Girls" a nicely crafted formula film that more than meets our expectations.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than I expected...
Review: Brittany Murphy stars as Molly Gunn, a spoiled, air-headed rich 22 year old with not a care in the world... Until the man in charge of her trust fund skips town taking her millions to South America. Forced to rely only non-existent skills to get a job, Brittany takes a job as a nanny. Soon the fun job becomes a nightmare, as Brittany locks horns with her new charge- a spoiled and indulged rich girl and a new love interest a self-absorbed singer. Does Molly have what it takes to make everything work out, or is she destined to be just another has-been? I was surprised at how much I liked this movie, despite the sappy premise. Brittany was excellent as Molly....And the actress who plays her charge did a wonderful job. The actor who played her love interest was handsome and believable. I did think the 'stay in school' message at the end was a little heavy handed. With all the talent she had...Did Molly really need four more years of school? Ah well, I suppose that had to be thrown in for the kiddies. Overall, an excellent and surprising film. Five stars.
Rating:
Summary: A Sweet Fairytale
Review: The movie "Uptown Girls" is not your average teenaged film, and to speak truthfully, it shouldn't even be put into that category. While it_was_geared towards the teen audiences, it is a delightful little mixture of comedy and drama that seems to belong under the category of "chick flick". Now, I'm a woman, and I don't really like that lable, but in reality, it's the easiest way to express the genre this film falls under. People have claimed this movie attempts to be realistic, but that's not true at all. This story is about the daughter of a deceased world-famous musician whose money gets stolen by her accountant, and then is forced to find a job. How many people have you met like that? Unless you're filthy rich yourself, probably not very many. It is meant to be like a little New York fairytale, and although New York isn't very picturesque, it is certainly the best setting for it. Molly Gunn is the spoiled girl from above, who seems to have a problem with relationships. In the beginning, she starts a rocky fling with a musician and, when he moves on, she's mopin so much that she doesn't notice that her electricity and phone have been turned off. The man that usually deals with her bills has swindled away her money and run off himself, leaving Molly penniless. There is only one thing that the poor child can do: get a job. So, eventually, Molly ends up as the nanny for Ray, a young girl with an almost obsessive need for things to be clean and orderly, and who lacks any humor or childhood experience. Both become set on teaching the other their ways. As time goes on, Molly realizes that Ray is completely neglected by her mother and has emotional problems stemming from her fathers coma. While she begins to grow up and deal with her troubles, Molly becomes closer to Ray, who is slowly letting herself have fun and loosening up. Their relationship is adorable. In any case, it does get quite emotional, and I found "Uptown Girls" to be charming. The acting is done well, and the characters have the right chemistry. -Embyr Bradson (2/11/04)
Rating:
Summary: The worst movie of 2003
Review: I thought this movie would be cute, but it was the worst movie I ever have seen. There is no plot to the movie, and it conveys the stupidest message in the world. It leaves you stumped, and the ending relieves you as you can finally leave. All that I got from the movie was a snotty little kid, and a lazy Britney Murphy. The movie ended up with tears from the two girls, and grr, it was horrid. My parents saw this, and I cried when they brought the movie home. They were not fond of the movie, and my friend who I went to the movie theater with to see this movie hated it also. Please, don't rent this.
Rating:
Summary: "Close to home"
Review: This movie actually made me cry in spot's and also it had it's funny spot's. It's about a young woman, Molly,(Brittany Murphy),who has everything she could possibly have,except not knowing how to really grow up and take responsibility. As a daughter of a famous rock star father,(Tommy Gunn),who with his wife both passed away,leaving Molly enough material thing's,and plenty of money. Molly is a girl who like's to spend money on clothe's,go clubbing,staying out all night with friend's partying. One of her best friend's,played by (Marley Shelton),Sugar & Spice,Ingrid is a complete opposite, who watche's her bill's and is very conservative,try's to let Molly know it's time to take responsibility,Molly still doe's her own thing,until she lose's everything to a accountant that had been taking her money for some time. Now it's time for Molly to get a job,Ingrid help's her find one,but that dosent work out,so Molly is in need for another job. Another friend help's her out, it's (Dakota Fanning) from Iam Sam, she play's Ray,a little 8 yr old girl going on 30,whom Molly met at a club waiting on her mother played by (Heather Locklear),Roma,who is more interested in signing Rock star's for her company then being with her little daughter Ray.Molly get's the job of a nanny to Ray,who at first they don't get along. Molly is a free spirit who like's to have fun, and Ray is a little girl who has been left alone much of her life by her mother,and act's like anadult then a child. Also Molly has an on & off fling with a upcoming rock star,who decides Molly is just not grown up enough for him,so that end's.Getting back to the movie,Molly realize's after seeing Ray's action's & grown up behavior that she need's to save Ray from not learning how to be a child and growing up to fast. As this is happening Molly get's in touch with herself and learn's it's time to put away childish behavior and grow up! So in effect Ray's problem's conteract Molly's need to grow up.She start's to try & unleash the hurt Ray is going through,cause of her mother buying her off and paying no attention to her & Ray's father that is dying. Ray dosent know how to express her feeling's. Then a problem arise's that Molly is let go of being Ray's nanny,Molly has a heated talk with Roma,(mother),& let's her know that Ray has'nt had a regular childhood,& a very good mother,by saying you buy her off so you don't have to deal with her,etc,and walk's out. I can't give it away,but Molly had told Ray something that was a promise & Ray believed Molly,but it did'nt work out that way.Molly finally learn's she can't get Ray out of her mind,she really feel"s for her pain.Ray's dad dies,Roma is taking it just fine,almost emotionalist. Molly is at a good friend's house when she learn's Ray is missing by Roma. Thinking back to her own childhood,she remember's where she wen't when she lost her parent's, Coney Island,where she would get in the spinning tea cup ride & think to be alone. Molly find's Ray right there,at coney island.Ray is sitting alone in a teacup ride,Molly get's in & the ride start's,you can see in both their eye's each other's pain,& Ray really lets go at Molly,hitting her and then she finally cry's & hug's Molly,that part is so sad,I know I cry everytime I watch it. Finally Ray & Molly get their pain out,& you see a very big difference in Ray,because Molly cared enough to help this little girl who had really no one to show her to be a child or to show emotion's. Then Ray learn's from Molly how to enjoy childhood & not act like a grown up,as Ray help's Molly to learn how to grow up & show responsibility. They help each other with emotional wound's,of losing people they love. It even affect's Roma at the end,she seem's to understand what Molly was saying to her,just love your daughter,let her be a child and be there for her,don't buy he off,it got through to her.So a 8 yr old help's a young woman,then the young woman help's the 8 yr old.That is the moral of the movie. I bought this without even seeing it,my son said it was good and it reminded him of me.Iam glad I did,because it was a heartfilled/comedy,I think we need more movie's like this,to show moral's and the trouble's people have to remind them, they are not alone,and there are still people out there that do still care about human emotion's.I liked this movie,not because only it was good with a moral,but I can relate to Ray's character. At least rent it,then you decide.
Rating:
Summary: Expect Tears
Review: I could not wait to see this movie... it was well worth the wait!I went with my 14 year-old cousin and we both loved it! It was sad but showed how people in similar situations could relate. Both actresses did a wonderful job.
Rating:
Summary: Oh My God....
Review: I was actually looking forward to seeing this movie. This movie is an afront to all that is good and right about movies. The characters are unappealing and unbelievable, the plot is bad and the acting, frankly was not all that good, either. With the exception of the last scene, which had some redeeming qualities, the movie was practically unwatchable. The producers, directors, Brittany Murphy and everyone else involved with this movie should be ashamed of themselves. Even Dakota Fanning should have known better. Avoid.
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