What a Girl Wants

What a Girl Wants

2003 "Trying to fit in. Born to stand out."
What a Girl Wants
What a Girl Wants

What a Girl Wants

5.8 | 1h45m | PG | en | Drama

An American girl, Daphne, heads to Europe in search of the father she's never met. But instead of finding a British version of her bohemian mother, she learns the love of her mom's life is an uptight politician. The only problem now is that her long-lost dad is engaged to a fiercely territorial social climber with a daughter who makes Daphne's life miserable.

View More
Rent / Buy
amazon
Buy from $9.99 Rent from $3.99
AD

WATCH FREEFOR 30 DAYS

All Prime Video
Cancel anytime

Watch Now
5.8 | 1h45m | PG | en | Drama , Comedy , Romance | More Info
Released: March. 27,2003 | Released Producted By: Warner Bros. Pictures , Di Novi Pictures Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

An American girl, Daphne, heads to Europe in search of the father she's never met. But instead of finding a British version of her bohemian mother, she learns the love of her mom's life is an uptight politician. The only problem now is that her long-lost dad is engaged to a fiercely territorial social climber with a daughter who makes Daphne's life miserable.

...... View More
Stream Online

The movie is currently not available onine

Cast

Amanda Bynes , Colin Firth , Kelly Preston

Director

Michael Carlin

Producted By

Warner Bros. Pictures , Di Novi Pictures

AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime.

Watch Now

Trailers & Images

Reviews

Python Hyena What a Girl Wants (2003): Dir: Dennie Gordon / Cast: Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth, Kelly Preston, Jonathan Pryce, Oliver James: Recycled teen family film about the importance of good adult role models. Amanda Bynes stars as a girl who longs to see her father who has been absent for seventeen years. She works as a caterer at a banquet her mother sings at. She tells of how her father got into British politics and how she was secretly sent away by his officials. What follows is pure formula as Bynes shows up to meet her father. He is bewildered and overwhelmed while his current fiancé and stepdaughter would prefer that she left. The main joke is that her lifestyle clashes with their culture. An improvement for director Dennie Gordon after making the pathetic The Adventures of Joe Dirt but it is not much of one. Bynes is an absolute delight and holds strong despite predictable developments. Colin Firth as her father is given a good back story before being subdued with standard material that concludes with him learning the truth. Flat supporting roles by Kelly Preston as Bynes's mother, and Jonathan Pryce as one of the corrupt officials. Oliver James plays her romantic interest and he has less personality than a plastic Ken doll. What a girls wants is what everyone needs, and in this case it would be to star in a film of much higher potential than this paper thin charade. Score: 3 ½ / 10
lunalover15 Film Review: What a Girl Wants In 2003 Amanda Bynes played one of her most infamous roles in What a Girl Want directed by Dennie Gordon. The film is filled with lively and emotional music that enhances the film storyline. While also filled with a rambunctious cast of all ages which brings a great sense of character to the movie. What a Girl Wants redefines the classic teenage romantic comedy putting a new reliability to the audience. Bynes character is an outgoing American teenager who is in search for her long lost father who is a wealthy British politician that is running for office. The movie shows the up and downs of Daphne's characters journey to build a relationship with her father and how she may have to change her wild ways to be accepted by her father and his lifestyle. Gordon does a great job of integrating upbeat music to the light heart scene and uses it as the glue that binds the movie together. What a Girl Wants is a light hearted film that shows the journeys both parents and teens take as they begin to mature. The film's soundtrack enhances the scenes in the movie and helps set the mood for the audience. From start to end the music creates the ambiance in each scene. The film's opening is an emotional father daughter dance scene which Daphne observes as she waitresses the wedding, the song played in the background foreshadows the upcoming story plot to the film. Music transitions the film very well by being intertwined to keep it up beat. Though some may say the songs can be corny and very teen oriented, the lyrics and beat can be masked, by the charm of their singer Ian Wallace (Oliver James), Daphne's love interest in the film. In addition, to that Gordon adds in classic songs such as 'What a Wonderful World', and 'Have I told you lately.' Making this film appealing to all ages and not just teens since Gordon mixes classics and modern day songs throughout the film which make this film the perfect family night movie. Amanda Bynes, Oliver James, Colin Firth, Kelly Preston, and Eileen Atkins this film is filled with a variety of talent characters of all ages. Each bringing a different personality to the screen and making the movie humorous, sentimental, and emotional. Bynes character brings a youthful feel to the movie and keeps it upbeat from her crazy dancing scenes, her messy love triangle, to bickering with her soon to be stepsister, she brings the light heartiness to a film that everyone enjoys watching. James plays Daphne's bad boy love interest who character is essential to any good teen film because teens need something to admire, and his charming personality defiantly wraps in the ladies. Firth's and Preston's characters relates to many parents as the film shows their struggle through parenting a teen and the wild emotions that go through them every time they walk out the door. While Atkins character bring wisdom and humor to the film with her witty British comments while being a source of reason to both Daphne and her son. Her character is truly the Virgil of the film. The plethora of characters is what makes this film appealing to all viewers and makes it a film that enjoyable to many. What a Girl Wants is a film that may be underestimated and looked at as another teen romantic comedy but with Gordon's directing, soundtrack, and cast this film is a top notch romantic comedy. Where the viewer's goes through a roller coaster of emotions and are constantly moving to the beat of the catchy soundtrack. The plot of the movie also has endless turn with character of Pryce (Firth's adviser who wants to get rid of Daphne), and Cole (who is Bynes soon to be step sister and is constantly trying to sabotage her); their characters keep the film interesting. What a Girl wants is a warm hearted film just about girl trying to finally have a father in her life. Though both go through their struggles of trying to adapt to their new lifestyle the core of the movie is the bond a parent and child have. This is why this movie is perfect for the family to gather around with a bowl of popcorn on weekend night and watch together because it truly shows the bond of family.
Tina Shelley Watching father/daughter dances is just another day in the life for Daphnie Reynolds. She works as a server at weddings, while her mother Libby is a wedding singer. With each blessed event in which another couple says "I do," there is another father/daughter dance, and Daphnie's heart breaks a little more, because she has never met her own dad. She knows that he is a famous public figure in England...but that's about all.The curious teenager decides to do something about this. She saves her money and when she has enough to make the trip... Well, let's just say that Lord Henry Dashwood, diplomat, running for Prime Minister, is in for a real shock. The thing is, so is Daphnie's mom Libby..."Henry, is she there??"A very sweet family comedy with a little something for everyone. Some of the comedy and storyline is a bit candy coated and far fetched...but this is easily forgiven because of Colin Firth being in the leading role, and Amanda Bynes heartwarming performance as Daphnie. We appreciate her uniqueness, and are able to root for her from beginning to end. I personally loved this film because little Amanda Bynes ("Ask Ashley" from "All That") proves that she's all grown up now, and does an amazing job! She holds her own with Colin Firth, and keeps viewer interested in her character from start to finish. A bonus for me was all the sights of England in the film...Westminster Bridge, The London Eye, the buildings of Parliament, red double decker buses. I almost felt like I was there myself.
manjodude I thought this would be a boring teens comedy but it took me by mighty surprise. I'd wet eyes by the end, I think that explains it all! On the outset, it's a story about a daughter who grew up without her dad's presence in her life, and how she leaves her home looking for him and the trials & adventures she face on making contact with him again. Although it does sound nothing out of the ordinary, the way the story came live on screen deserves to be appreciated. The movie has one too many touching, emotional moments that makes one feel the strong bond between every father & daughter, the love that never fades despite the decades of separation.Surprisingly the best performances are not from the main cast but the supporting actors like Eileen Atkins(as Colin Firth's mother), Anna Chancellor(hilarious as Colin's power hungry fiancée) and Jonathan Pryce(superb as Colin's politically ambitious aide). Colin Firth, to me, was quite wooden in many scenes and it's not necessarily because he's playing a stiff upper-lip royal character. Amanda Bynes as Colin's daughter is fun & vivacious.I really liked the movie despite feeling that the acting could have been more convincing among the lead cast.Verdict: A must watch father-daughter movie!