Rating: 
Summary: Colin in leather pants -- need I say more?
Review: Moms, this is one teenie flick you may want to sit through with your daughters. Yes, the story is silly, contrived and deserving of every critical barb it's received. But you will get to enjoy the luscious Colin Firth in various attire, including a scene in which he dons a t-shirt and black leather pants and plays an air guitar. You will want to watch that one over, and over, and over ... so go ahead, buy the DVD. If you order it from amazon, it will arrive discretely in the mail and your grown-up friends need never know.
Rating:
Summary: Completely dumb. Completely Fun
Review: My friends saw the coming attractions for this movie a number of months ago. When they saw that it starred Colin Firth, they all shouted at the screen, "What Peggy Wants." I'm a confirmed firth-a-holic. But, I thought this movie might be another "Thousand Acres" and so waited til it came out on DVD to see it.This is not great art or even great cinema. But, hell, it's a lot of fun! And many times that's what I crave from a movie. The true acting comes from Mr. Firth who is perfectly cast as the English gentleman who would be PM -- and looks a bit like Tony Blair to boot. His wild past with an American rock singer comes to an end that is full of deception. And 17 years later his daughter from that past comes to find her dad. Amanda Bynes is cute. She doesn't really need to act. Still, the on screen chemistry between she and Firth brings out some potentially amazing talent in this adorable young lady. There's a lot of good humor and the music ain't bad either. The scene where Firth dons leather pants and dances in front of the mirror is imspired. For trivia buffs -- Anna Chancelor plays Mr. Firth's fiancee who is in it for the political prestige. Some may recognize her as the unmarried Miss Bingley from the A&E/BBC Pride and Prejudice. She's a great character actress. She doesn't get him in this story, either. And -- was it my imagination that her stuck up daughter (Clarissa) bears such a striking resemblance to Reese Witherspoon? Reese played Firth's ward in The Importance of Being Earnest. Ok. Final thoughts. It's a fun movie. As with Bridget Jones's Diary -- it's also a feel good movie -- and those are the ones I tend to watch again and again. Granted: Bridget Jones is an example of great film as well as a fun movie. Still, with Colin Firth in What a Girl Wants -- so much the better.
Rating:
Summary: Amanda Shines
Review: What can I say! Amanda Bynes Shines! She's a breath of fresh air in a world where many of the teenagers portrayed on TV and in films seem totally fake, but Amanda glows with originality and a "I'm Not Trying To Be Britney" attitude. Refreshing indeed. The movie is about a girl named Daphne (Bynes) who knows that she's missing out on an important aspect of her life-- a relationship with the father she's never met. Her offbeat, rocker mother (played by Kelly Preston) isn't sure about letting Daphne go off into the "real world" to find her dad, considering that she was burned a long time ago by him (Well, according to her). But Daphne goes to England anyway, finds him, and tries to be the kind of daughter she thinks he wants, sacrificing her originality. Colin Firth is really funny and cute in this movie. He always impresses me, especially with his expressionate eyes, which reveal a million different emotions. Awesome supporting cast as well, plus a cutie newcomer named Oliver James, who even sings in the film (and yes, that's really him singing). Bottom line- Great movie for teen girls and I believe there is room for this movie to stretch to a wider audience besides just teen girls. Definitely check this one out, you won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Cute, but...
Review: This movie was so cute! I liked it a lot, except for one huge problem. Amanda Bynes, Daphne Reynolds in the movie, can't act to save her life. With the huge launching of all these new teen actresses that are all the rage now, it makes sense that there's going to one in the bunch that sucks. Well, Amanda Bynes is that one. She was really awful in the movie, and it would have been much better if someone else had stepped in. She was trying to act all cute, but ended up just looking fake. All in all, it was a sweet movie though, and I like the fact that she didn't have to change who she was just to please her father. The plot was a little silly though; some aspects of it just couldn't have happened.Oh, and by the way, Oliver James, who plays Ian Wallace, so incredibly good-looking.
Rating: 
Summary: What Everyone Wants
Review: This is one of the best Cinderella-based stories I have ever seen! Amanda Bynes portrays a 17-year-old American girl who has lived her entire life without a father, or even a fatherly figure. When she turns 17, she realizes that she is missing half of her, and decides to give in to what she really wants: a father. Daphne Reynolds (Amanda Bynes) crosses the Atlantic to see Daddy Dearest. She finds out that her father is Lord Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth), high in political power and also engaged. Daphne quickly discovers that this is almost no different from her own Cinderella story. There's the evil step-mother [almost, since she's not married to Henry yet], Glynnis who only wants to be married to Henry for political power. Her daughter, Clarissa is the evil step-sister who only wants a title and recognition. Clarissa and Glynnis both try to stand in the way of Daphne getting her father to go with his conscience, instead of the politics. This is a really sweet movie, I'd say for all ages. If you enjoy this movie, then I would highly recommend the following: The Parent Trap (G), any Cinderella movie, or Cinderella-based synopsis, The Princess Diaries (G), Big Fat Liar (PG), and Agent Cody Banks (PG).
Rating:
Summary: Went because of Colin Firth & pleasantly surprised
Review: I'm a Colin Firth fan. I liked him in "Fever Pitch" and - most notably on this side of the pond - "Bridget Jones' Diary." He's legendary in the UK for his stirring portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the multi-part BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." Which is all a very long way of saying, well, I went figuring how bad could 'Girl' be if it had Colin Firth? Answer: surprisingly good. Firth is the only one actually *acting* in the film...it's a contrived plot with holes you could drive a truck through...it draws broad (and, at times, unflattering) characterizations of the British...but through all that, it's really a likable, winning movie. Amanda Bynes is adorable and the chemistry between she and 'Dad' Firth seems natural and unforced. As a viewer, you are asked to make a couple of illogical leaps. Like just-turned-17 Daphne sneaking out of the house...for an unannounced transcontinental trip, which 'Mom' Kelly Preston - established at that point as a caring, protective sort - seems to take with a grain of salt. We're also asked to believe that Kelly Preston - luminous, radiant Kelly Preston - has been left 'lonely' and without companionship (while working as the lead signer in a rock band, no less) for 17 years. I think not.
Rating:
Summary: I love it! 3rd may 2004.
Review: A teen girl who lives with her mom wants to find her dad, so she sets off one morning on her own to find and get to know her father. It becomes a massive shock to him and starts to wonder if she is telling the truth. Great, quite unusual and one of my favorites.
Rating:
Summary: Completely dumb. Completely Fun
Review: My friends saw the coming attractions for this movie a number of months ago. When they saw that it starred Colin Firth, they all shouted at the screen, "What Peggy Wants." I'm a confirmed firth-a-holic. But, I thought this movie might be another "Thousand Acres" and so waited til it came out on DVD to see it. This is not great art or even great cinema. But, hell, it's a lot of fun! And many times that's what I crave from a movie. The true acting comes from Mr. Firth who is perfectly cast as the English gentleman who would be PM -- and looks a bit like Tony Blair to boot. His wild past with an American rock singer comes to an end that is full of deception. And 17 years later his daughter from that past comes to find her dad. Amanda Bynes is cute. She doesn't really need to act. Still, the on screen chemistry between she and Firth brings out some potentially amazing talent in this adorable young lady. There's a lot of good humor and the music ain't bad either. The scene where Firth dons leather pants and dances in front of the mirror is imspired. For trivia buffs -- Anna Chancelor plays Mr. Firth's fiancee who is in it for the political prestige. Some may recognize her as the unmarried Miss Bingley from the A&E/BBC Pride and Prejudice. She's a great character actress. She doesn't get him in this story, either. And -- was it my imagination that her stuck up daughter (Clarissa) bears such a striking resemblance to Reese Witherspoon? Reese played Firth's ward in The Importance of Being Earnest. Ok. Final thoughts. It's a fun movie. As with Bridget Jones's Diary -- it's also a feel good movie -- and those are the ones I tend to watch again and again. Granted: Bridget Jones is an example of great film as well as a fun movie. Still, with Colin Firth in What a Girl Wants -- so much the better.
Rating: 
Summary: Dumb, and Sugary, But Amanda Bynes' Charm Is Undeniable
Review: "What a Girl Wants" is exactly the film for the teens who love Amanda Bynes, or "what a girl wants." It is unashamedly sweet and predictable, but to say so and blame the film for it is pointless, because the film knows the fact. Interestingly, the film is based on one Rex Harrison film "The Reluctant Debutante" (1958), which follows the story of an American girl in English high society. Like that oldie, "What a Girl Wants" is avout a girl Daphne played by Bynes, whose "single" mother (Kelly Preston) is a wedding singer. One day, when Daphne is 17 years-old, she suddely wants to see her real father Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth), who is going to be a MP, and marry a lady (Anna Chancellor, "Duckface" in "Four Weddings and a Funeral"). No surprise that Daphne causes a havoc in the aristocratic society in UK; and no surprise that she wins the heart of some people there, especially that of Colin Firth and Eileen Atkins. Well, the director Dennie Gordon's CV includes "Ally McBeal," and the gags are often preposterous, and dialogues impossible, though in a delightful way ... if you're in a good mood. But the natural charms of Ms. Bynes goes unscathed among the hit-and-miss shots, and certainly the chemistry between Bynes and Firth is undeniable, and compensates the wasted Jonathan Pryce and the ill-used leather jacket and turban Colin Firth had to wear. I do understand the British people's dismay when watching the film -- it is often gratingly silly, but the Dashwood family (oh, they are really living in the house the film depicted) actually agreed to use the name, so stop complaining, please. And to American audiences, true, the film is sugar-coated, but when you know it is, you cannot complain that it is too sweet.
Rating:
Summary: widescreen, ooh better to see amanda's veluptious figure
Review: amada is very advanced physically for her age, making thi film fu nfor Dad's as well as the kids!!! Woo hoo, she's a hottie, the cutest thing on screen today(aside from Hilary Duff). These youngins are just bustin' out all over da place. a great heart warming film too ,about a long lost dad, daughter reunion with a fairytale princess story. Amanda is lovely in the film and brings a classy sophisticated and saucy presence to the screen, and she is always an eyeful of candy
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