Jonathan-Pryce Movie Reviews

I've never been to Disneyland, so I knew nothing about this previously. Never even knew it was a Disney movie, so with that in mind it may not be what you expect. Surprisingly good acting, great action, sets, effects, but the end gets cheesy, Disneylike. If it wasn't for that, it could have been a box-office smash. "No, he's a pirate"...line really made me cringe. Cheesy, but very entertaining. Debateable if it's something for the kids though. Some disturbing scenes for the young tots.

I was amazed at this movie when it first came out. And i asked my self, how could disney make a truely amazing movie? I was stunned. What else amazed me was that they actually stayed on task and made it like the ride was at Disneyland. I only have three dvd's and they are the best of the best. I have decided to quikly go out and by this and i advise you the same.

I have never ridden the Disney ride and I don't think I need to. All I need is this DVD and someplace to watch it. I saw this in theaters 6 times because it was so good and I have been anxiously awaiting the DVD. People say women like this movie because of Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, and I say true, but I love their performance, not their looks (Although they are both attractive gentlemen). Johnny is at his comedic finest and you will not stop laughing and Orlando makes you root for the good guy even harder then normal and laugh at his comments that compliment Johnny's "uniqueness". Geoffery Rush is phenomenal and so is the actor (I am blanking on his name, sorry sir, you were still awesome) who plays Commodore Norrington (he needs way more publicity, he was phenomenal as well)...

This is by far the best movie of the year and without a doubt deserves awards for both content and actor performance. Knowing the Oscars, it will get overlooked, not enough "big names" in some over the top boring movie, so my vote goes to them by buying the DVD and encouraging others to buy it as well. Nothing says "In your face" to those who keep getting reconized for less then deserving work then getting surpassed in sales by "box office poison" Johnny Depp and his 'mates.

I've never been to Disneyland, so I knew nothing about this previously. Never even knew it was a Disney movie, so with that in mind it may not be what you expect. Surprisingly good acting, great action, sets, effects, but the end gets cheesy, Disneylike. If it wasn't for that, it could have been a box-office smash. "No, he's a pirate"...line really made me cringe. Cheesy, but very entertaining. Debateable if it's something for the kids though. Some disturbing scenes for the young tots.

I was amazed at this movie when it first came out. And i asked my self, how could disney make a truely amazing movie? I was stunned. What else amazed me was that they actually stayed on task and made it like the ride was at Disneyland. I only have three dvd's and they are the best of the best. I have decided to quikly go out and by this and i advise you the same.

I have never ridden the Disney ride and I don't think I need to. All I need is this DVD and someplace to watch it. I saw this in theaters 6 times because it was so good and I have been anxiously awaiting the DVD. People say women like this movie because of Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, and I say true, but I love their performance, not their looks (Although they are both attractive gentlemen). Johnny is at his comedic finest and you will not stop laughing and Orlando makes you root for the good guy even harder then normal and laugh at his comments that compliment Johnny's "uniqueness". Geoffery Rush is phenomenal and so is the actor (I am blanking on his name, sorry sir, you were still awesome) who plays Commodore Norrington (he needs way more publicity, he was phenomenal as well)...

This is by far the best movie of the year and without a doubt deserves awards for both content and actor performance. Knowing the Oscars, it will get overlooked, not enough "big names" in some over the top boring movie, so my vote goes to them by buying the DVD and encouraging others to buy it as well. Nothing says "In your face" to those who keep getting reconized for less then deserving work then getting surpassed in sales by "box office poison" Johnny Depp and his 'mates.

Jumping Jack Flash must be my all-time favourite film - it is the only one I can watch over and over again without getting bored. Whoopi Goldberg was hilarious in this film (but then she is a wonderful, natural comedian who can also bring tears to the eyes when needed). Whatever she does, she does well and puts so much feeling into her work. Needless to say she is also my favourite actress. Keep up the good work, Cheers, Blue Wren.

Critics really loved to trash this movie... Well they're all wrong. Jumpin Jack Flash was Whoopi Goldberg's frist comedy film and I think to this day it is one of the best films she has made. I guarentee you will love this one! With Penny Marshall as director, you can't Miss!

Whoopi Goldberg shined in this film. The plot, characters and laughs all worked together to create a truly remarkable and fun movie. Lots of very hilarious scenes and sticky situations. The perfect balance of comedy, action, drama, supsense and romance. Recommended for late nights and rainy afternoons.

I have been waiting for Glengarry Glen Ross since I first purchased my DVD player several years ago. This film is easily in my all time top 10. When I heard it was going to be a 2 disc special edition, I figured it would be worth the wait. I managed to get my hands on a copy early and to be honest it is a let down. The widescreen transfer is beautiful but this has to be one of the most empty 2-disc SE's around. The most disappointing missing feature is the commentary that Jack Lemmon did for the SE laserdisc. What better way to preserve his legacy than to include his comments about arguably his finest film performance? Instead, you get a Jack Lemmon "tribute" feature with interviews from his son, Peter Gallagher, and other folks who are mildly ammusing. Another feature is "New Cast Interviews" which is simply Alan Arkin and Alec Baldwin (separately) doing commentary over scenes from the movie. No Pacino, no Ed Harris, no Spacey. They have included a nice Charlie Rose show clip with Lemmon and a very short Spacey clip from "Inside the Actor's Studio". Then you get a non-Glengarry related feature on salesman. Why? You do get a new commentary from the director which is nice, but this was an actor's movie first and foremost. Why Artisan took several years to finally release this on DVD is quite frankly hard to understand with what has been delivered. Mitch and Murray would be very upset with Aristan's effort here. Long live the Machine!

If there was ever a film that deserved an Academy Award for best ensemble cast then this is it. Glengarry GlenRoss features a dream cast of thespian heavyweights: Lemmon, Pacino, Spacey, Harris, and Arkin. Alec Baldwin delivers an absolutely blistering performance as Blake. His character was not in the original stage play, Mamet wrote him specifically for the movie. Baldwin delivers a devastating monologue with ferocious intensity. Baldwin makes the most of his limited screen time as he dominates this scene with an astonishing performance. It is, hands down, one of the best monologues ever put on film. His performance is so good that the rest of movie is almost anti-climatic in comparison.

Director James Foley successfully transfers Mamet's play to the big screen by creating atmospheric visuals. There is a somber mood that permeates almost every scene. The movie takes place mostly at night during an oppressive rainstorm. Juan Ruiz Anchia's rich, textured cinematography is the key ingredient in giving Mamet's play a cinematic look. All the locations are given their own distinctive colour scheme, in particular, the hellish red/navy blue of the Chinese restaurant that the salesmen frequent. The overall atmosphere is dark, like a film noir.

Disc One features a 30-minute featurette entitled, "Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon." It is a touching tribute to the great thespian from the likes of actor Peter Gallagher, director James Foley and his son, Chris.

Director James Foley provides an entertaining and engaging audio commentary. The folks at Artisan have wisely edited out all of the stretches of silence and only show the portions of the film that Foley actually talks over.

Disc Two contains the bulk of the supplemental material. "ABC 'Always Be Closing'" is a 30-minute featurette on the real world of sales. The first half examines the various techniques that salespeople employ while the second half focuses on Glengarry GlenRoss.

"J. Roy: New and Used Furniture," is a ten-minute featurette on a salesman named J. Roy and adds further insight into the world of salespeople but nothing to the movie itself.

The highlight of this disc are the audio commentaries by cinematographer Juan Ruiz Anchia, actors Alec Baldwin and Alan Arkin and production designer Jane Musky. Baldwin's commentary is the most interesting. He talks about how he got involved with Glengarry GlenRoss and how the actors did not like him because they had already bonded by the time he joined production. The most fascinating part of his audio track is when he talks at length and quite knowledgeably about the craft of acting. After hearing this commentary it is a shame that Baldwin does not do more of these-he is a natural.

Also included is a ten-minute segment from The Charlie Rose Show that features Jack Lemmon talking about working on Glengarry GlenRoss and what attracted him to Mamet's work.

On the lighter side, there is a funny clip from Inside the Actors Studio featuring Kevin Spacey and a student re-enacting the "Will You Go to Lunch?" scene from the movie.

The folks at Artisan have assembled an impressive two-DVD set that is an excellent tribute to Mamet's signature masterpiece.

Ever wonder what really goes on at the office of whom you bought your last piece of real-estate from? Well, maybe this movie doesn't describe exactly what goes on in every office, but it's very entertaining, never the less! With a star-studded, Oscar winning cast including Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey and Alec Baldwin (In a role created specifically for him), this film delivers top-notch performances that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who watches this movie. I would pay 5 times the price I paid for this film strictly for the masterful scene in which Alec Baldwin "motivates" his sales force to close questionable real-estate deals in a poor, early 90's economy.

This is not one of those action-packed, blockbuster movies that get lots of attention, but if it's pure genious in dialogue executed by some of the best filmmakers in Hollywood you want, this is truly the movie you want to see! Do likewise, and watch this film!

I have been waiting for Glengarry Glen Ross since I first purchased my DVD player several years ago. This film is easily in my all time top 10. When I heard it was going to be a 2 disc special edition, I figured it would be worth the wait. I managed to get my hands on a copy early and to be honest it is a let down. The widescreen transfer is beautiful but this has to be one of the most empty 2-disc SE's around. The most disappointing missing feature is the commentary that Jack Lemmon did for the SE laserdisc. What better way to preserve his legacy than to include his comments about arguably his finest film performance? Instead, you get a Jack Lemmon "tribute" feature with interviews from his son, Peter Gallagher, and other folks who are mildly ammusing. Another feature is "New Cast Interviews" which is simply Alan Arkin and Alec Baldwin (separately) doing commentary over scenes from the movie. No Pacino, no Ed Harris, no Spacey. They have included a nice Charlie Rose show clip with Lemmon and a very short Spacey clip from "Inside the Actor's Studio". Then you get a non-Glengarry related feature on salesman. Why? You do get a new commentary from the director which is nice, but this was an actor's movie first and foremost. Why Artisan took several years to finally release this on DVD is quite frankly hard to understand with what has been delivered. Mitch and Murray would be very upset with Aristan's effort here. Long live the Machine!

If there was ever a film that deserved an Academy Award for best ensemble cast then this is it. Glengarry GlenRoss features a dream cast of thespian heavyweights: Lemmon, Pacino, Spacey, Harris, and Arkin. Alec Baldwin delivers an absolutely blistering performance as Blake. His character was not in the original stage play, Mamet wrote him specifically for the movie. Baldwin delivers a devastating monologue with ferocious intensity. Baldwin makes the most of his limited screen time as he dominates this scene with an astonishing performance. It is, hands down, one of the best monologues ever put on film. His performance is so good that the rest of movie is almost anti-climatic in comparison.

Director James Foley successfully transfers Mamet's play to the big screen by creating atmospheric visuals. There is a somber mood that permeates almost every scene. The movie takes place mostly at night during an oppressive rainstorm. Juan Ruiz Anchia's rich, textured cinematography is the key ingredient in giving Mamet's play a cinematic look. All the locations are given their own distinctive colour scheme, in particular, the hellish red/navy blue of the Chinese restaurant that the salesmen frequent. The overall atmosphere is dark, like a film noir.

Disc One features a 30-minute featurette entitled, "Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon." It is a touching tribute to the great thespian from the likes of actor Peter Gallagher, director James Foley and his son, Chris.

Director James Foley provides an entertaining and engaging audio commentary. The folks at Artisan have wisely edited out all of the stretches of silence and only show the portions of the film that Foley actually talks over.

Disc Two contains the bulk of the supplemental material. "ABC 'Always Be Closing'" is a 30-minute featurette on the real world of sales. The first half examines the various techniques that salespeople employ while the second half focuses on Glengarry GlenRoss.

"J. Roy: New and Used Furniture," is a ten-minute featurette on a salesman named J. Roy and adds further insight into the world of salespeople but nothing to the movie itself.

The highlight of this disc are the audio commentaries by cinematographer Juan Ruiz Anchia, actors Alec Baldwin and Alan Arkin and production designer Jane Musky. Baldwin's commentary is the most interesting. He talks about how he got involved with Glengarry GlenRoss and how the actors did not like him because they had already bonded by the time he joined production. The most fascinating part of his audio track is when he talks at length and quite knowledgeably about the craft of acting. After hearing this commentary it is a shame that Baldwin does not do more of these-he is a natural.

Also included is a ten-minute segment from The Charlie Rose Show that features Jack Lemmon talking about working on Glengarry GlenRoss and what attracted him to Mamet's work.

On the lighter side, there is a funny clip from Inside the Actors Studio featuring Kevin Spacey and a student re-enacting the "Will You Go to Lunch?" scene from the movie.

The folks at Artisan have assembled an impressive two-DVD set that is an excellent tribute to Mamet's signature masterpiece.

Ever wonder what really goes on at the office of whom you bought your last piece of real-estate from? Well, maybe this movie doesn't describe exactly what goes on in every office, but it's very entertaining, never the less! With a star-studded, Oscar winning cast including Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey and Alec Baldwin (In a role created specifically for him), this film delivers top-notch performances that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who watches this movie. I would pay 5 times the price I paid for this film strictly for the masterful scene in which Alec Baldwin "motivates" his sales force to close questionable real-estate deals in a poor, early 90's economy.

This is not one of those action-packed, blockbuster movies that get lots of attention, but if it's pure genious in dialogue executed by some of the best filmmakers in Hollywood you want, this is truly the movie you want to see! Do likewise, and watch this film!

The Age of Reason. A time when men are ruled by logic and emotions have no place. Fantasy is dead. Where does such frivolous things belong in the world today?

But their is always a place for war. And a city is besieged by the Turks, heroism met with death instead of cheers. Why? It's not rational. Even though the government frowns on it, the common people turn to fantasy to forget their woes. The theater is putting on a production of 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen', much to the Baron's chagrin. And so begins an adventure where the aged baron, longing to die then live in a world that has no use for him, goes to end the war because a little girl believes in him.

Along the way he'll find old friends, travel to the moon, inside a volcano, the belly of a giant fish and occasionally delight us with a tale of adventures past.

This delightful film is a marvelous treat for both young and old. The cast is delightfully filled with John Neville as Baron Munchausen, the wonderful Eric Idle as one of his servants, Oliver Reed as Vulcan, Uma Thurman as his bride Venus, and Robin Williams as the King of the Moon whose head is constantly at war with his body.

The story is rich and whimiscal, serious where it needs to be. The special effects are top notch, making you believe the fantastic is real.

This is one of Terry Gilliam's finer films. And is highly recommended for the young or the young at heart.

Terry Gilliam's mostly-ignored fantasy-adventure is without a doubt my favorite film to watch. The highly imaginative production (infamous for blasting past its budget limit, and for being underdistributed by Columbia) is an incredible film, a treat to watch again and again. A host of major British actors (including John Neville) team up with a menagerie of character players (Eric Idle, Jonathan Pryce) to create the exaggerated, fantastic adventures of the 18th-century cavalry officer Karl Heironymous Friedrich Baron von Munchausen as he flies to the moon in a hot air balloon, falls back to earth into an active volcano, and then gets swallowed by a giant sea monster, all in an attempt to defeat The Sultan. Families: some immoral innuendos, brief female nudity, and a frightening incarnation of Death may make this one unsuitable for some.

For those who can watch the film in the spirit in which it was
made, the experience is WONDERFUL. If you cannot or will not enter into the spirit of the (now dying) "TALL TALE", then the film must be an utter bore. I found it WONDERFUL. Like any work
of art, one can only get from it what one already brings.

The Age of Reason. A time when men are ruled by logic and emotions have no place. Fantasy is dead. Where does such frivolous things belong in the world today?

But their is always a place for war. And a city is besieged by the Turks, heroism met with death instead of cheers. Why? It's not rational. Even though the government frowns on it, the common people turn to fantasy to forget their woes. The theater is putting on a production of 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen', much to the Baron's chagrin. And so begins an adventure where the aged baron, longing to die then live in a world that has no use for him, goes to end the war because a little girl believes in him.

Along the way he'll find old friends, travel to the moon, inside a volcano, the belly of a giant fish and occasionally delight us with a tale of adventures past.

This delightful film is a marvelous treat for both young and old. The cast is delightfully filled with John Neville as Baron Munchausen, the wonderful Eric Idle as one of his servants, Oliver Reed as Vulcan, Uma Thurman as his bride Venus, and Robin Williams as the King of the Moon whose head is constantly at war with his body.

The story is rich and whimiscal, serious where it needs to be. The special effects are top notch, making you believe the fantastic is real.

This is one of Terry Gilliam's finer films. And is highly recommended for the young or the young at heart.

Terry Gilliam's mostly-ignored fantasy-adventure is without a doubt my favorite film to watch. The highly imaginative production (infamous for blasting past its budget limit, and for being underdistributed by Columbia) is an incredible film, a treat to watch again and again. A host of major British actors (including John Neville) team up with a menagerie of character players (Eric Idle, Jonathan Pryce) to create the exaggerated, fantastic adventures of the 18th-century cavalry officer Karl Heironymous Friedrich Baron von Munchausen as he flies to the moon in a hot air balloon, falls back to earth into an active volcano, and then gets swallowed by a giant sea monster, all in an attempt to defeat The Sultan. Families: some immoral innuendos, brief female nudity, and a frightening incarnation of Death may make this one unsuitable for some.

For those who can watch the film in the spirit in which it was
made, the experience is WONDERFUL. If you cannot or will not enter into the spirit of the (now dying) "TALL TALE", then the film must be an utter bore. I found it WONDERFUL. Like any work
of art, one can only get from it what one already brings.

If you liked Twelve Monkeys, you must see this film.
I was jaw-dropped and confused at the end of this... and it takes a lot to do that. Involves Government, the future, and perception. If you're a Matrix fan shame on you if you haven't seen this. And prepare...it's twisted and surreal.

Filled with deep symbolism and dark humor, "Brazil" is a dynamic movie that, in Terry Gilliam's words, is not about the future, "but the present." There are some moments of sheer genius in this film. One is the restaurant scene in which a terrorist bomb explodes on the other side of where some characters are eating. The unharmed patrons pause for a moment, then, unblinking and without turning, go back to their meals and conversation. The musicians, some slightly charred, resume playing. And, capping it off, Sam's youth-obsessed mother, Ida (the divine Katherine Helmond) says to her friend, "What were we saying?" as workers scramble to set up a screen so that the dying and burning cannot distort the lovely view. This is Grade-A commentary on the way civilians ignore horrible crimes because of their commonplace occurrances. It often takes a presidential assassination, a bombed federal building with millions trapped inside, a downed airplane lost at sea, a Columbine High School, a Titanic, or a towering inferno to make everyone look up for two seconds before you hear them say "Oh, God, is that STILL in the papers?" Another shining moment is actually several moments. Ida's gruesome but intriguing plastic surgery, along with her increasing youth throughout the picture, goes up alongside her friend. This friend, visiting an "acid man," rapidly deteriorates throughout the film until she is a nasty, gelatinous mess, tipping its hat (so to speak) to the Beverly Hills facelift crowd. The other great achievement is the repeated appearance of forms. Forms, forms, you can't repair a wire, or even get another form, without one. Beauracracy is another great target of "Brazil." This is one film not to be missed, but will only be understood even slightly, unfortunately, by painfully few (not even Roger Ebert got it. Ha! Imagine that!). Still, it deserves to be noticed as one of the greatest films of modern years.

Brazil, despite the science fiction, social commentary and surrealism, is at it's core a film about a man who trapped by the mundanity of life, imagines himself in a more fantastic world.

Jonathan Pryce stars as a tiny unimportant member of a vast hyper-capitalistic society. Life is cold and dreary for everyone. All his spare time is spent dreaming of magical romantic worlds and the beautiful woman who lives there. One day, a simple beaucratic mistake causes a monumental disaster. Not that anyone cares... they just don't want to be blamed. Sent to solve the problem, or maybe to be a scapegoat, Pryce accidentally meets the literal woman of his dreams. As he pursues her, he brings suspicion on himself of being a terrorist (the scourge of the government), and his dreams begin to invade his waking thoughts.

A suprising list of talent lend themselves to the film and is written, minus Kafka and Orwell themes, by Monty Python's Terry Gilliam so expect some obvious humor and much biting satire throughout. Depressing and magical without losing it's hope, any person who can identify with the main character should find themselves entranced.

Despite being made in 1985 the special effects prove to be suprisingly effective (although easily noticed). I personally think this movie is the second best Science Fiction film, 2001 being first, and the best 1984 type movie ever made.

"What A Girl Wants" is a delightful, fairy tale romp of a film. If you are a fan of Colin Firth's and don't mind very lite-entertainment, this is a must-see.

Once upon a time in Morocco, circa 1970-something, a young British Lord, Henry Dashwood, (Colin Firth), met American beauty, Libby Reynolds, (Kelly Preston), a young rock singer, and the two fell madly in love. A Bedouin tribal chief married them by the light of an African moon. Blessed with thoughts of 'happily ever after' they returned to London, the noble Dashwood family manse, and the real world of the British upper-classes. Dashwood retainers and advisors encouraged Libby, a commoner, to leave her husband for his own good, his future career, etc. After all, she was terribly unsuitable. And so Libby left England, with no explanation and returned to New York City, a walk-up apartment in Chinatown, and a career as a singer.

Fast-forward 17 years. Apparently Libby left London with more than her luggage. She is the mother of a lovely and spirited teenager, Daphne, (Amanda Byrnes). Daphne Reynolds has almost everthing a girl could want. She's smart, caring, beautiful and possesses great flair. She has completed high school and has college and a lifetime of possibilities ahead of her. Her relationship with her Mom is open and loving, if somewhat unconventional. But she feels incomplete. Daphne knows all about her father, whom she has never met but has always longed for. Dashwood is totally unaware of his offspring's existance. Daphne always believed that someday her father would discover he had a daughter and come for her. After all these years of no-show Dad, she finally decides to take-off for London and make herself known to him. And the fun begins.

Dashwood is engaged to a snobby, aristocratic bore, whose baggage includes a teenage daughter, even more boring than her mother - if that is possible. He has also resigned from the House of Lords and is beginning his political career running for office in the House of Commons. Enter Daphne. Surprise!

The interaction and chemistry between Amanda Byrnes and Colin Firth make the film fun. The wicked stepmother and step-sister-to-be are terrific villains. You'll want to hiss and boo everytime they appear on screen. And Eileen Atkins, as Lady Dashwood, Henry's Mum, is wonderful. As her new found granddaughter hugs her, Atkins says, "No hugs, dear. I'm British. We only show affection to dogs and horses." Oliver James, who plays Ian Wallace, Daphne's love interest, is charming and has a great voice. He's in a British rock band...what else?? The sound track is also quite good.

"What A Girl Wants" will never receive an Oscar nomination. If you miss this film it is no big loss, unless you're a Colin Firth fan. This is an unusual role for him and he pulls it off really well. Great eye-candy! I enjoyed it and would recommend it for a few hours of fun entertainment.
JANA

I'm a fan of Colin Firth but have only seen him in characters that are on a more serious side. Colin & Amanda Bynes had me laughing, they worked so well with each other. I bought the movie before seeing it because of Colin Firth. I really thought it would be some teen movie but was completely surprised how much I loved the movie. I bought the movie 4 days ago & I've watched it everyday, sometimes more. I love it when Colin tries on his leather pants & rocks out in front of a mirror. My son's girlfriend wants to borrow it, I just don't want to let it go. I also bought Bridget Jones Diary the same day, which I had on VHS. Colin Firth needs more comedy roles, he played this one so well. Kelly Preston was so beautiful & I was surprised of what a beautiful singing voice she has, she was excellent as she is in any movie she's in. The entire movie had so many great funny characters. Excellent movie, that's my opinion anyway.

Yes this is a predictable, happily ever after film. It is nothing like the awful Princess Diaries (which this film has been compared). Because of this comnparison I didn't bother seeing "What a girl Wants" in the theater. I am pleased to say that this is one of those films which is just fun to watch. It wasn't meant to change the world but is entertainment that the entire family can see together. Amanda Byrnes and Colin Firth are wonderful together as father and daughter. Kelly Preston is beautiful in the part of Daphne's mother. In my opinion this film is more like a cross between: Cinderella (because of the future evil step-sister), Snow White (because Amanda finds her prince), and Parent Trap (because....can't say because that would be giving the end away).

"What A Girl Wants" is a delightful, fairy tale romp of a film. If you are a fan of Colin Firth's and don't mind very lite-entertainment, this is a must-see.

Once upon a time in Morocco, circa 1970-something, a young British Lord, Henry Dashwood, (Colin Firth), met American beauty, Libby Reynolds, (Kelly Preston), a young rock singer, and the two fell madly in love. A Bedouin tribal chief married them by the light of an African moon. Blessed with thoughts of 'happily ever after' they returned to London, the noble Dashwood family manse, and the real world of the British upper-classes. Dashwood retainers and advisors encouraged Libby, a commoner, to leave her husband for his own good, his future career, etc. After all, she was terribly unsuitable. And so Libby left England, with no explanation and returned to New York City, a walk-up apartment in Chinatown, and a career as a singer.

Fast-forward 17 years. Apparently Libby left London with more than her luggage. She is the mother of a lovely and spirited teenager, Daphne, (Amanda Byrnes). Daphne Reynolds has almost everthing a girl could want. She's smart, caring, beautiful and possesses great flair. She has completed high school and has college and a lifetime of possibilities ahead of her. Her relationship with her Mom is open and loving, if somewhat unconventional. But she feels incomplete. Daphne knows all about her father, whom she has never met but has always longed for. Dashwood is totally unaware of his offspring's existance. Daphne always believed that someday her father would discover he had a daughter and come for her. After all these years of no-show Dad, she finally decides to take-off for London and make herself known to him. And the fun begins.

Dashwood is engaged to a snobby, aristocratic bore, whose baggage includes a teenage daughter, even more boring than her mother - if that is possible. He has also resigned from the House of Lords and is beginning his political career running for office in the House of Commons. Enter Daphne. Surprise!

The interaction and chemistry between Amanda Byrnes and Colin Firth make the film fun. The wicked stepmother and step-sister-to-be are terrific villains. You'll want to hiss and boo everytime they appear on screen. And Eileen Atkins, as Lady Dashwood, Henry's Mum, is wonderful. As her new found granddaughter hugs her, Atkins says, "No hugs, dear. I'm British. We only show affection to dogs and horses." Oliver James, who plays Ian Wallace, Daphne's love interest, is charming and has a great voice. He's in a British rock band...what else?? The sound track is also quite good.

"What A Girl Wants" will never receive an Oscar nomination. If you miss this film it is no big loss, unless you're a Colin Firth fan. This is an unusual role for him and he pulls it off really well. Great eye-candy! I enjoyed it and would recommend it for a few hours of fun entertainment.
JANA

I'm a fan of Colin Firth but have only seen him in characters that are on a more serious side. Colin & Amanda Bynes had me laughing, they worked so well with each other. I bought the movie before seeing it because of Colin Firth. I really thought it would be some teen movie but was completely surprised how much I loved the movie. I bought the movie 4 days ago & I've watched it everyday, sometimes more. I love it when Colin tries on his leather pants & rocks out in front of a mirror. My son's girlfriend wants to borrow it, I just don't want to let it go. I also bought Bridget Jones Diary the same day, which I had on VHS. Colin Firth needs more comedy roles, he played this one so well. Kelly Preston was so beautiful & I was surprised of what a beautiful singing voice she has, she was excellent as she is in any movie she's in. The entire movie had so many great funny characters. Excellent movie, that's my opinion anyway.

Yes this is a predictable, happily ever after film. It is nothing like the awful Princess Diaries (which this film has been compared). Because of this comnparison I didn't bother seeing "What a girl Wants" in the theater. I am pleased to say that this is one of those films which is just fun to watch. It wasn't meant to change the world but is entertainment that the entire family can see together. Amanda Byrnes and Colin Firth are wonderful together as father and daughter. Kelly Preston is beautiful in the part of Daphne's mother. In my opinion this film is more like a cross between: Cinderella (because of the future evil step-sister), Snow White (because Amanda finds her prince), and Parent Trap (because....can't say because that would be giving the end away).