What a Girl Wants (2003)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Dennie Gordon

Writers (WGA):

William Douglas-Home (play)
William Douglas-Home (1958 screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

4 April 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Trying to fit in. Born to stand out.

Plot:

An American teenager learns that her father is a wealthy British politician running for office. Although she is eager to find him, she realizes it could cause a scandal and cost him the election.

Plot Keywords:

Father | American | England | Girl | Teenager

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Amanda Bynes	...	Daphne Reynolds
Colin Firth	...	Henry Dashwood
Kelly Preston	...	Libby Reynolds
Eileen Atkins	...	Jocelyn Dashwood
Anna Chancellor	...	Glynnis Payne
Jonathan Pryce	...	Alistair Payne
Oliver James	...	Ian Wallace
Christina Cole	...	Clarissa Payne
Sylvia Syms	...	Princess Charlotte
Soleil McGhee	...	Young Daphne
Peter Reeves	...	Sir John Dashwood
James Greene	...	Percy
Steven Osborne	...	Staff Member
Mike Toller	...	Libby's Band Member
Tom Penn	...	Libby's Band Member
Tom Goodfellow	...	Libby's Band Member
James Bell	...	Libby's Band Member
Mindy Lee Raskin	...	Bride
Stanley Townsend	...	Bride's Father
Raffaello Degruttola	...	Groom
Tara Summers	...	Noelle
Newton Boothe	...	Taxi Driver
Pieter Vodden	...	Sven
Nita Mistry	...	Girl in Hostel
Steven Anderson	...	Television Reporter
James Woolley	...	Political Advisor One
James Linton	...	Political Advisor Two
Jonah Russell	...	Policeman
Ella Desmond Oakley	...	Baby Daphne
Peter Hugo	...	Prince Charles
Matthew Turpin	...	Prince William
Chris Castle	...	Prince Harry
Ben Scholfield	...	Armistead Stuart
Charlie Beall	...	Rufus
Tom Harper	...	Edward
Natalie Bromley	...	Jane
Stephanie Lane	...	Fiona
Bruno Tonioli	...	Fashion Emcee
Antony Carrick	...	Prince Michael
Neville Phillips	...	Butler
Roger Ashton-Griffiths	...	Lord Orwood
Cassie Powney	...	Peach Orwood
Connie Powney	...	Pear Orwood
Luke Fredericks	...	Ian's Band Member
Tim Fornara	...	Ian's Band Member
David Gyasi	...	Ian's Band Member
Tom Hanna	...	Ian's Band Member
David Temple	...	Ian's Band Member
David Whitmey	...	Ian's Band Member
Andrew Clarke	...	Male Twin 1
Peter Clarke	...	Male Twin 2
Daniel Tuite	...	Newspaper Reporter #1
Sarah Mark	...	Newspaper Reporter #2
Victoria Wicks	...	Henry's Secretary
Vernon Preston	...	Duke of Edinburgh
Elizabeth Richard	...	Queen
Flaminia Cinque	...	Caterer
Matt Acheson	...	Country Club Wedding Singer
Judy Collins	...	Dancer
Ethel Crichlow	...	Dancer
Ash Croney	...	Dancer
Malcolm Davey	...	Dancer
Layla Ellison	...	Dancer
Peter Jessup	...	Dancer
Jafri Jobaid	...	Dancer
Tony Kemp	...	Dancer
Allan Laza	...	Dancer
Annie Lucas	...	Dancer
Count Prince Miller	...	Dancer
George Miller	...	Dancer
Susan Mills	...	Dancer
Bharti Patel	...	Dancer
Basil Patton	...	Dancer
Barrington Shaw	...	Dancer
Louis Saint-Juste	...	Dancer
Jane Victory	...	Dancer
Sian Todd	...	Dancer
June Walker	...	Dancer
Thomas Michael Voss	...	Dancer
Maureen Waters	...	Dancer

Directed by
Dennie Gordon

Writing credits (WGA)
William Douglas-Home		(play "The Reluctant Debutante")
William Douglas-Home		(1958 screenplay)
Jenny Bicks		(screenplay) and
Elizabeth Chandler		(screenplay)

Produced by
Denise Di Novi	....	producer
E.K. Gaylord II	....	executive producer
Bill Gerber	....	producer
Alison Greenspan	....	executive producer
Steve Harding	....	co-producer
Casey La Scala	....	executive producer
Hunt Lowry	....	producer

Original Music by
Rupert Gregson-Williams

Cinematography by
Andrew Dunn

Film Editing by
Charles McClelland

Casting by
Gilly Poole
Suzanne Smith		(as Suzanne Crowley)

Production Design by
Michael Carlin

Art Direction by
Karen Wakefield

Set Decoration by
Rebecca Alleway

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Francesca Crowder	....	hair stylist
Karen Dawson	....	key makeup artist
Karen Dawson	....	makeup designer
Annabel Jardella	....	makeup artist
Ailbhe Lemass	....	makeup artist
Ameneh Mahloudji	....	makeup artist: Ms. Chancellor
Veronica McAleer	....	hair stylist: Mr. Firth (as Veronica Brebner)
Veronica McAleer	....	makeup artist: Mr. Firth (as Veronica Brebner)
Martin Samuel	....	chief hair stylist

Production Management
Zakaria Alaoui	....	production manager
Steve Harding	....	unit production manager
Marianne Jenkins	....	post-production supervisor
Marianne Jenkins	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Noureddine Aberdine	....	second assistant director
William Dodds	....	third assistant director
Simon Downes	....	second assistant director
Carlos Fidel	....	third assistant director
Candida Marlowe	....	second assistant director
Michael Michael	....	third assistant director
Michael Murray	....	first assistant director
Mohamed Nesrate	....	first assistant director
Ed Raymond	....	second assistant director (as Eddie Raymond)
Michael Stevenson	....	assistant director
Richard Styles	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Richard Field	....	stand-by art director
Gary Gleeson	....	head of department painter
Kathy Heaser	....	art department assistant
Stuart Kearns	....	assistant art director
Anthony Szuch	....	drapesman
Debbie Wilson	....	production buyer

Sound Department
Gareth Bull	....	foley recordist
Jose R. Castellon	....	re-recording engineer: Spanish and Brazilian
Colin Charles	....	sound mixer
Gary Dodkin	....	boom operator
Mike Dowson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Matt Grimes	....	supervising sound editor
Tim Hands	....	adr editor
Alistair Hawkins	....	assistant sound editor
Michael Redfern	....	foley editor
Bjorn Ole Schroeder	....	adr supervisor
Brian Simmons	....	production sound mixer
Mark Taylor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jack Whittaker	....	additional dialogue editor
Michele Woods	....	adr recordist
James Boyle	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tony Auger	....	special effects supervisor
Graham Hills	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Debra Coleman	....	digital compositor
Aimee Dadswell-Davies	....	visual effects production assistant: Cinesite
Dan Harrod	....	digital artist
George Plakides	....	digital artist
Gillian Roberts	....	production development
Sue Rowe	....	visual effects supervisor
Angie Wills	....	visual effects producer
Paula Pope	....	digital systems manager (uncredited)

Stunts
Richard Bradshaw	....	stunt double: Colin Firth
Kelly Dent	....	stunt double: Kelly Preston
Bradley Farmer	....	stunt double: Oliver James
Paul Herbert	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Emma Mac	....	stunt double
Greg Powell	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Mik Allen	....	focus puller: "a" camera
Marc Atherfold	....	camera loader: "b" camera
Victoria Bradshaw	....	video playback assistant
Chris Clarke	....	camera trainee
Frank Connor	....	still photographer
David Cozens	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Adam Dale	....	aerial director of photography
Kate Filby	....	clapper loader: "c" camera
Simon Harding	....	Steadicam operator
Alex Howe	....	first assistant camera: UK
Martin Hume	....	camera operator
Malcolm Huse	....	grip
Tony Jackson	....	Steadicam operator
Tony Jackson	....	additional camera operator
Andy Long	....	gaffer
Jamie Mills	....	electrician
Paul Molloy	....	practical electrician
Miles Proudfoot	....	camera loader: "a" camera
Gary Smith	....	grip
Alan Stewart	....	additional cinematographer: second unit
William Tracey	....	best boy
Peter Hodgson	....	video assist operator: dailies (uncredited)

Casting Department
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charlotte Child	....	costume assistant
Annie Crawford	....	costume supervisor
Dulcie Scott	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Jo Dale	....	assistant editor
Catriona Richardson	....	assistant editor
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Music Department
Lorne Balfe	....	music arranger
Debra Baum	....	music supervisor
James Bellamy	....	assistant music editor
Alastair King	....	conductor
Alastair King	....	orchestrator
Tony Lewis	....	music editor
Nick Wollage	....	score recordist

Other crew
Keziah Barton-White	....	assistant script supervisor
Matt Curtis	....	title designer
Nick Daubeny	....	location manager
Genevieve Faria	....	assistant location manager
Maureen Poon Fear	....	assistant: Denise Di Novi
Jen Gasson	....	assistant: Denise Di Novi
Lara Golder	....	assistant: Dennie Gordon
Steve Hart	....	location manager
Steve Harvey	....	assistant location manager
Carey-Leah Havrilko	....	assistant: Alison Greenspan
Robin Higgs	....	location manager
Phil Hounam	....	location manager
Nikki Inwood	....	stand-in: Kelly Preston
Jennifer Kelly	....	assistant: Bill Gerber
Aileen Kiernan	....	assistant: Hunt Lowry
Lisa-Kim Ling Kuan	....	assistant accountant
Boo Motjuoadi	....	assistant production coordinator
David O'Reilly	....	assistant location manager
Paula Price	....	adr loop group leader
Angela Pyle	....	production assistant
Peter Rawlinson	....	assistant: Casey La Scala
Chris Warren	....	video coordinator
Deborah Willey	....	production assistant
Beverly Winston	....	script supervisor
Erin Lacey	....	production executive (uncredited)
Toby White	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• DiNovi Pictures
• Gaylord Films
• HSI Tomorrow Film
• Sloane Square Films
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
• Fox-Warner (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Warner Bros. (Argentina)
• Warner Bros.
• Warner Bros.
• Warner Bros. (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (200?) (Netherlands) (video)

Special Effects

• Cinesite

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• Anvil Post Production  foley recording
• Atlantic Records  soundtrack
• Casting Collective  extras casting
• Cine Image Film Opticals  titles and opticals
• Cutting Edge  negative cutting
• Flying Pictures  aerial filming services provided by
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Lee Lighting  lighting
• Panavision UK  cameras equipment provided by
• Vehicles in Vision  action vehicles supplier

Also Known As:

American Girl (USA) (working title)
London Calling (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Ireland:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G | Germany:o.Al. | New Zealand:G | Norway:A | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Battersea Park, Battersea, London, England, UK

Company:

DiNovi Pictures

Trivia:

When Henry Dashwood is looking through the photo album of Daphne's childhood, there are actual pictures of Amanda Bynes when she was younger.

Goofs:

Continuity: At breakfast, Daphne's hands repeatedly change position between shots.

Quotes:

Henry Dashwood: So are you and Daphne...
Ian: Yeah, we're eloping. I know it's rather sudden but after last night, there was no going back.
Henry Dashwood: You are joking aren't you?
Ian: Yes, of course.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Happy Birthday to You

Trailers stank, Movie shines

I went into the theater today expecting a good movie. I was wrong. Why was I wrong? Because this was a GREAT movie!!!

The trailers made this film look INSANELY cheesy. Since I know from experience that trailers are highly inaccurate, I was expecting a PARTIALLY cheesy flick. But what I saw had almost no cheese to it at all. What A Girl Wants, despite its unfortunate title, is what a LOT of people want, combining drama, comedy, romance, and self-discovery in an hour and 45 minutes of enjoyment.

I didn't say insight, mind you, I said self-discovery. This is purely a narrative, not a deep thought movie, and it wouldn't have worked any other way. Kudos to Dennie Gordon for not trying to accent a theme that we're already familiar with, rather, she just throws it into the story, almost casually, so that we see the message of individuality but aren't repulsed by an overly blatant moral.

Many of this film's detractors say that it's a rip of The Princess Diaries. Not true. Yes, it's an adaptation, but it's based on "The Reluctant Debutante", which was around for DECADES before Diaries was even conceived. Besides, while it is a little formulaic, there are a few twists.

Many say it portrays inaccurate American/British stereotypes. Not true. Daphne and her mother are CLEARLY presented to be NOTHING like the average American, and Lord Dashwood only behaves so properly because of his political position.

Amanda Bynes as Daphne Reynolds finally gets a chance to show of her incredible dramatic skills. (Moody's Point had too much of a satirical tone to properly show this.) Bynes has her glory moments of comedy alongside her touching moments as the girl who wants to understand who she is.

Colin Firth as Henry Dashwood. Come on, who didn't already know Firth kicks butt? He is the center of every scene Bynes isn't in, and he carries that weight well.

Eileen Atkins as Lady Dashwood does a tremendous job with her supporting role, who is far more crucial to the plot than anyone expected.

Oliver James handles his theatrical debut well, showing much more emotion than the previews indicated. Libby Reynolds isn't a fully round character, but that's the script's fault, not Kelly Preston's. Both are capable singers, and considering that Bynes's one major performance flaw is lack of musical ability, I'm glad these two sang instead of her.

In fact, basically the entire cast here was superb.

See it, you'll be glad you did. Fine entertainment for almost everybody.