Taglines: Trying to fit in. Born to stand out.
Daphne Reynolds (Amanda Bynes) has what every girl wants – or so it seems. This spirited young American girl has a unique style all her own, an unconventional but loving relationship with her bohemian mother Libby (Kelly Preston) and a future full of possibilities – but despite her remarkable promise, Daphne feels incomplete. She dreams of one day meeting the father she’s never known, the man Libby shared a whirlwind romance with seventeen years ago, but ultimately left behind because his aristocratic family found her unsuitable.
Determined to live out her fantasy of forging a storybook relationship with her long-absent dad, Daphne impulsively hops a flight to London, where she quickly discovers that her father is high profile politician Lord Henry Dashwood. When Henry opens his life and his social calendar to the daughter he never knew existed, Daphne’s appearance in high society creates an uproar that threatens to undermine his political career.
Not wanting to jeopardize his campaign for an upcoming election, Daphne stifles her naturally vibrant personality, refashions herself as a debutante and plunges into a whirlwind of stuffy British social events. But even with Henry’s support, she’s not getting any help from his conniving fiancée (Anna Chancellor) or her jealous daughter (Christina Cole), who are bent on ruining Daphne at every turn.
With the aid of Ian, a charming and society-savvy local musician (Oliver James), Daphne attempts to prove that love – and proper etiquette – can conquer all. But Daphne soon realizes she doesn’t like the person she’s becoming in the process. As much as she wants to be her father’s daughter, it’s not worth it if she can’t be herself. After all, as Ian asks her, Why fit in when you were born to stand out?
What a Girl Wants is a 2003 American teen comedy film directed by Dennie Gordon and written by Jenny Bicks and Elizabeth Chandler, based on the 1955 play The Reluctant Debutante by William Douglas-Home, the second adaptation for the screen of this work. It stars Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth, Kelly Preston, and Oliver James. The film was released on April 4, 2003, received mixed reviews and grossed $50 million worldwide.
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $11.4 million in 2,964 theaters in the [United States and Canada, ranking #2 at the box office behind fellow newcomer Phone Booth ($15 million). By the end of its run, the film grossed $36.1 million domestically and $14.6 million internationally, totaling $50.7 million worldwide.
What A Girl Wants (2003)
Directed by: Dennie Gordon
Starring: Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth, Kelly Preston, Jonathan Pryce, Eileen Atkins, Anna Chancellor, Christina Cole, Oliver James, Chris Mulkey, Sylvia Syms, Steven Osborne
Screenplay by: Jessica Bendinger
Production Design by: Michael Carlin
Cinematography by: Andrew Dunn
Film Editing by: Charles McClelland
Costume Design by: Shay Cunliffe
Set Decoration by: Rebecca Alleway
Music by: Rupert Gregson-Williams
MPAA Rating: PG for mild language.
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: April 4, 2003
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