Too much of everything

Memorable, crazy movie

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Based on the play "The Reluctant Debutante", the story starts with the young son of a British noble family meeting a young American woman, on vacation in Morocco, and they have a marriage neither are sure is valid, but the British man's retinue locate them and make the woman leave, and she travels back to New York City, and gives birth to a daughter. 17 years later, the daughter learns of her heritage and impulsively flies to London and meets her father, now a member of Parliament, who had never known about his daughter until that moment.Then the real story begins. The father and the people with him are unsure what to do with the daughter, especially with the father running for reelection, he contacts her mother, who is angry with him because she was sent home and he never contacted her, and the daughter is confused about what she has done, and what she should do now, especially when she meets and falls in love with a young local man.The story might best be described as wish-fulfillment fantasy, but is pleasant enough without being too soppy or unrealistic. Good performances by the cast and good pacing help the movie, and while it has no deep meaning it is still good entertainment.

I have noticed a genre that might be termed 'late-ish teens princess story' and until now I could not really like the ones that I have on disk. So, if the genre was widened a bit to include Trachtenberg's Ice Princess then yes, and there will be many okay stories in such a wider genre. I consider the wider genre to be too relevant, best not maimed in this way. The traditional princess story is a very ancient genre and I prefer to link this sub genre to that. * Then I obtained the two disk set of Mandy Moore's Chasing Liberty (2004) and Amanda Bynes' What A Girl Wants (2003) and this genre was suddenly different. Both of these stories stand tall. True, technically the word Princess does not fit here, but it is close enough, even though Amanda's character is only 39th in line to the throne and Mandy is only a USA style temporary princess? That is all that I need to know about either story. These are stuff that I can really like. More. What A Girl Wants breaks with tradition. Amanda is 16 playing a 17. Not a 20 playing an 18 or 15. Not an 18 playing a 15. So unusual. Director commentary: Real princesses were used as extras at the Henley scene. Detail to hope to ignore: The last of the scenes set in London. What sort of UK political party would display the flag in this way at a political meeting? This is made for an audience with USA type understandings, not UK? Unless this is a comment re UK politics? In England this is equivalent to Amanda's dad, Lord Dashwood, having been working to be elected to parliament as a member for a UK type K.K.K.? I personally consider UK politics to be askew but that does not feel like the right parallel, though it does hint at too far to the right. With the possible exception of Hairspray, all the Amanda that I have, so far, end in disaster if I interpret them literally from the cues that I notice. That is likely just me, a private language sort of thing. For me, the most subtle is the ending of She's The Man and that is only a box of Gouda that has me wondering if that magnificent story really ends in disaster. I get that by considering a 1980's horror story called ET. For me, the ultimate Amanda scary ending is Love Wrecked.

...I still enjoyed it. Call it a guilty pleasure if you will, or merely evidence of my incipient senility. This isn't a movie for middle aged men. (Who am I kidding? I could only be considered middle aged if I expected to live to be several decades past the century mark!) Still, it was sweet and charming with a disarming innocence that was totally refreshing.The plot has been more than adequately synopsized. And yes, it is formulaic in its way. Still the performances are excellent all around. You pretty much know what will happen - or at least you know what you'd like to see happen, and the script doesn't disappoint. Everyone is excellent. Amanda Bynes (who I'd never heard of before this film) more than carries the production on her amazingly mature shoulders. Others have noted that Colin Firth as her dad is "wooden", but that's part of the point of the film. Even the minor characters are all pitch perfect. The actors inhabiting even the smallest parts make their screen time memorable.If you're not too cynical, this is an enjoyable, charming film.

I have to say from all the movies that I have watched in the last few weeks with Colin Firth since I recently became enamored of his talent in the A&E production of "Pride and Prejudice," this movie is perhaps the best one that I have seen.It has all the elements of a good movie and Firth at his best. I love the characters and relationships and how they interact with each other. Daphne (Amanda Bynes) is perfect as the teenage daughter searching for the other half of her being and life and finding her father. Her cute little smile and perky American approach no matter what is happening to her portrays her "can do" attitude and determination in being herself.And I just have to say that this is Colin Firth in his element! He is fantastic as the Henry Dashwood character (hmmm . . . name seems Austen-ly familiar, don't it?) who suddenly finds out he is a father after 17 years. He is tender and sweet and unsure. Probably one of the best scenes ever in the film is during the "midnight snack" of Coco Pops in the kitchen where he learns that his wife didn't leave him for another man and had always been his even after all the years between. The emotions and thoughts rush over his face as if he is speaking them out loud and the viewer can see his internal struggle to remain calm with the overwhelming feeling of the bitterness he had experienced for all those years.There are so many perfect and good scenes in this movie with very little bloopers that it really can touch a viewer's heart. The areas especially with Henry and his daughter are extremely special.The last part of the film is symbolic when Henry Dashwood has a heart-to-heart with his mother, withdraws his candidacy, hits the man who had affected his life so extremely, and then walks into the bright sunlight with a deep breath. The viewer realizes that it is more than just being outside in the sunlight but that he finally came out of the dark after so many long years. He has finally found who he is and what he wants to do.Firth basically took my breath away. With the subsequent scene of him winning back his daughter and then his wife, the viewer has realized that this is one of those pictures that are forthrightly, just a deliciously good picture. This is one that makes you believe in old-fashioned love and fairy tales which seems to be so non-existent in today's film making industry.Firth has tremendous talent in saying something extremely vital by NOT saying something. Each scene where he was having discussions with Libby (Kelly Preston) either on the phone or in person, the viewer could read both characters thoughts and feelings and the amazing chemistry that existed after all that time apart.It was also better for the plot to have this international relationship struggle. If it had been in America – especially these days – the press would have made a big deal out of the girl's "native" upbringing but it probably would not have affected the father's political life.Everyone excelled in this movie and kudos to the director and screen writer for bringing such a sweet story to light.One last word is that no review of this movie can be complete without discussing the amazingly hilarious scene of Firth squeezing into his "old" black leather pants and t-shirt – and earring? – and dancing in front of a mirror. Each time that particular part plays, everyone bursts out laughing! He was just perfect! And lastly, Darcy was a gooder but Dashwood beat 'im hands down! Maybe it was because Dashwood can laugh at himself, sees the funny side of things, and chose to come into his own self-discovery of who and what he was and wanted to be.I still love Darcy but in this case, I'll take Dashwood!