We meet Daphne Reynolds - a girl what every girl wants as she was born into a life full of possibilities.But what's surprising is that she still finds herself incomplete as she want to meet her real father with whom her mother shared a whirlwind romance many years ago.But there are many surprises that came along with this goal as she's gone to London and realize that he happens a high profile politician - Lord Henry Dashwood.Upon meeting the daughter he never knew existed,many things happen and the story begins.What A Girl Wants is a movie for teen-agers.A sanitized version of a typical Olsen twins film obviously but it never surpasses the bar of being an average movie as there is nothing surprising and it is just too predictable for adults watching. Too bad that it is too clichéd that Amanda Bynes' charm and performance as Daphne aren't enough because of it.

What a Girl Wants (2003): Dir: Dennie Gordon / Cast: Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth, Kelly Preston, Jonathan Pryce, Oliver James: Recycled teen family film about the importance of good adult role models. Amanda Bynes stars as a girl who longs to see her father who has been absent for seventeen years. She works as a caterer at a banquet her mother sings at. She tells of how her father got into British politics and how she was secretly sent away by his officials. What follows is pure formula as Bynes shows up to meet her father. He is bewildered and overwhelmed while his current fiancé and stepdaughter would prefer that she left. The main joke is that her lifestyle clashes with their culture. An improvement for director Dennie Gordon after making the pathetic The Adventures of Joe Dirt but it is not much of one. Bynes is an absolute delight and holds strong despite predictable developments. Colin Firth as her father is given a good back story before being subdued with standard material that concludes with him learning the truth. Flat supporting roles by Kelly Preston as Bynes's mother, and Jonathan Pryce as one of the corrupt officials. Oliver James plays her romantic interest and he has less personality than a plastic Ken doll. What a girls wants is what everyone needs, and in this case it would be to star in a film of much higher potential than this paper thin charade. Score: 3 ½ / 10

What does a girl want? You might recall some things like fame and fortune, but according to this movie it's a father. A simple, yet fun, chick-flick directed by Dennie Gordon stars Amanda Bynes as Daphne Reynolds, a wild funny girl next-door trying to find her missing father. And Primetime Emmy Nominee, Colin Firth as Henry Dashwood, a well educated wealthy British politician.The movie starts out a scene with Daphne as a child, asking her mother the story on how she and her father met. The film then forwards to a 17 year old Daphne being a waitress at a wedding, feeling sad as she could not attend another father-daughter. She then decided to find her father in England. The fun starts then as she is unable to cope with her surroundings.Amanda Bynes plays another funny-fun teenager, in a comedy movie. It is not very likely to see her in a serious movie and that makes me wonder, is she not confident enough in her acting skills to take up another challenge? Or is she just smart enough to keep focusing on her current fan-base? Colin Firth on the other hand is definitely one of the up points of the movie. You might recall some of his amazing movies, "Love actually", "Nanny McPhee", "Bridgette Jones' Diary" and of course "Mamma Mia". And he has also shown another great performance on this movie.This movie is definitely worth watching. And even though it might be classified as a family movie, I don't think that even my little brother would be caught alive watching this movie.

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!