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What a Girl Wants
2003 105 min United States of America, United Kingdom PG 12+
★5.6
Family, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Director: Dennie Gordon
Trailers
Description
American Daphne Reynolds heads to Europe in search of the father she's never met. But instead of finding a British version of her boho mother, she learns the love of her mom's life is an uptight politician. The only problem now is that her long-lost father is engaged to a fiercely territorial social climber with a daughter who makes Daphne's life miserable.
Budget:
$20M
US Gross:
$36.11M
Worldwide:
$50.7M
Starring
Kelly Preston
Actor
Soleil McGhee
Actor
Colin Firth
Actor
Awards
1 win total
Key opinion
What a Girl Wants is a polarizing teen rom-com that divides audiences between those who find it a heartwarming, sincere fairy tale and those who dismiss it as a cliché-ridden, superficial production. While Colin Firth's performance is widely praised for adding depth to a standard genre, opinions on Amanda Bynes's central role and the film's writing vary significantly.
| Acting | Colin Firth provides a standout, charismatic performance that elevates the material beyond the typical romantic comedy tropes. | |
| Score | The soundtrack is highly effective, featuring memorable songs that enhance the film's emotional atmosphere and provide a sense of lyricism. | |
| Screenplay | The plot is widely viewed as a predictable, Cinderella-style fairy tale, with viewers split on whether this simplicity is charming or inherently derivative. | |
| Acting | Amanda Bynes's performance is polarizing: some appreciate her spirited, energetic portrayal, while others find her mannerisms repetitive and irritating. | |
| Theme | The film's thematic depth is contested, as some find the message of self-acceptance moving, while others argue the script lacks logic and fails to define what the protagonist truly wants. |