'GIRL' NEEDS AN ORIGINAL IDEA.Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic THE WATERY Cinderella tale ``What a Girl Wants'' never fails to live down to your expectations. When someone stands up in a rowboat, you know they're going to fall in the drink. When it is mentioned that a pretentious snob loves his chandelier more than life itself, you know it's going to come crashing down. When someone needs a new dress, you know there's going to be one of those let's-go-shopping montages, a scene that has become such a cinematic cliche that it ought to be outlawed. What you don't expect to see is Colin Firth wearing leather pants and a muscle shirt. Then again, you don't expect to see the reliably charming Firth slumming in a ``Princess Diaries'' knockoff knock·off n. Informal An unauthorized copy or imitation, as of designer clothing: "the place to go for quality knockoffs" Women's Wear Daily. Noun 1. like this. Firth is essentially doing what Julie Andrews Dame Julie Elizabeth Andrews, DBE (born Julia Elizabeth Wells[1] on 1 October 1935[2]) is an award-winning English actress, singer, author and cultural icon. did in Disney's ``Diaries,'' lending the enterprise a whiff of class and providing the film's younger castmates with an acting lesson or two. ``Diaries'' was agreeable entertainment, reaping the benefits of having pro's pro Garry Marshall behind the camera. Say what you will about Marshall's slick entertainments (``Pretty Woman,'' ``Beaches,'' ``Runaway Bride This article is about meanings of Runaway bride. For other uses of the word Runaway, see Runaway. A runaway bride is a bride who runs away from the wedding chapel, usually shortly before the ceremony, often due to so-called cold feet. ,'' etc.), the man can at least wring laughs from a broad comedy scene with a sitcom director's precision. The same cannot be said here for Dennie Gordon, who fails again and again to transcend his own television background, settling for the painfully obvious at every turn. Nickelodeon poster girl Amanda Bynes is Daphne, the girl in the title, a sassy sas·sy 1 adj. sas·si·er, sas·si·est 1. Rude and disrespectful; impudent. 2. Lively and spirited; jaunty. 3. Stylish; chic: a sassy little hat. 16-year-old who misses the father (Firth) she has never known. The fact that he's an English lord isn't the attraction. Daphne has simply always wanted to participate in the father-daughter dance at weddings. And she goes to a lot of weddings since her hippie chick mom (Kelly Preston, who croons a mean ``Heaven Is a Place on Earth'') is a singer. So, without mom's blessing, Daphne lights out for England to bond with her father. Dad has trouble keeping a stiff upper lip stiff upper lip n. An attitude of determined endurance or restraint in the face of adversity. Noun 1. stiff upper lip as his wacky American daughter pratfalls her way around London (see the aforementioned crashing chandelier) and mucks up his political ambitions. Not that dad really minds. See, he's a nice guy. Who Daphne has to watch is the good lord's evil fiancee (Anna Chancellor, Duckface from ``Four Weddings and a Funeral'') and her prissy daughter (Christina Cole). Add a cute British musician suitor SUITOR. One who is a party to a suit or action in court. One who is a party to an action. In its ancient sense, suitor meant one Who was bound to attend the county court, also, one who formed part of the secta. (q.v.) for Daphne (Oliver James) and an overwrought o·ver·wrought adj. 1. Excessively nervous or excited; agitated. 2. Extremely elaborate or ornate; overdone: overwrought prose style. ``ya gotta be yourself'' message, and you've got a button-pushing, empty-headed fairy tale that will have even its preadolescent pre·ad·o·les·cence n. The period of childhood just before the onset of puberty, often designated as between the ages of 10 and 12 in girls and 11 and 13 in boys. pre target audience squirming. Bynes is the least of the movie's problems. But sweet as she is, she's not nearly as irresistible as the movie thinks, which makes you wonder why everyone in London falls in love with her. Americans have enough image problems around the world without foisting this mugging cutie cut·ie also cut·ey n. pl. cut·ies also cut·eys Informal A cute person. pie on the unsuspecting. WHAT A GIRL WANTS - Two stars (PG: mild language) Starring: Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth, Kelly Preston. Director: Dennie Gordon. Running time: 1 hr. 44 min. Playing: In wide release. In a nutshell: The shoe doesn't fit for this charm-free Cinderella tale. |
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