WHAT A GIRL WANTS
US, 2003, 100 minutes, Colour.
Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth, Kelly Preston, Eileen Atkins, Jonathan Price, Anna Chancellor, Christina Cole, Oliver James.
Directed by Dennie Gordon.
The title might sound a bit suggestive, but, in reality, in this nice film, what a girl wants is her father.
This modern fairytale is predicated on the American fascination with all things British, especially royalty and the trappings of the class system (the glamorous upper-class trappings with a mere nod to pub life and the world of those not born into privilege). It is in the vein of the amusing King Ralph and of The Princess Diaries.
What would happen when the daughter of an English lord (who was persuaded to send away his wife by deceiving advisers) and an American wedding singer (who was persuaded to leave by the same advisers thinking that her husband did not want her) decided at age 17 that she wanted to meet her father? Well, all the touristy things for a start with a young girl overawed by the sights of London town. Then there would be all the disruptive things as Lord Henry, having resigned his seat in the House of Lords to stand for the House of Commons, discovers his daughter, realises his own uptight primness as well as the schemes of his gold-digging fiancee and her prissy daughter and her adviser father, and has the chance to fall in love all over again. Everything is signalled well in advance, especially the young girl's extraverted American accident-prone behaviour, her falling in love with a poor musician (who actually was educated at all the best schools), the Cinderella triumph over nasty tricks played by wicked stepmother and jealous step-sister. That seems to be the point, the eager anticipation of how what we know must happen will happen.
Amanda Bynes, star of Nickelodeon Television is a lively Daphne. Colin Firth is still stuck in Mr Darcy and Bridget Jones' mode but makes some startling efforts to break the mould. Kelly Preston is the nice mother while a theatrical British supporting cast give the proceedings more effort than they perhaps deserve: Jonathan Pryce as the adviser, Anna Chancellor as the worst of British snobbery and Eileen Atkins as the nice grandmother.
Adults might fight it a little trying, too chocolate box and sentimental - but there is a valid niche market with fifteen year old girls who want to look at romance, shopping, dresses and music and fairytale endings, American style.
1. The target audience for this film? Mid-teenage girls? The nature of the appeal, character, situations, parental relationships, liveliness, music, clothes, an American mixing with the upper classes in Britain?
2. The title - and its reference to a teenage girl wanting to know and meet her father?
3. The American locations, the weddings, the apartment in Chinatown? The contrast with Britain - and the travelogue style of the glimpses of the sights of London? Central London, the hotel, the contrast with Dashwood Manor? The locations for the political functions, for the royal functions? Costumes and décor, affluence and middle-class style? The songs, the musical score?
4. The focus on Libby and Henry, in the Moroccan desert, their relationship, the ceremony, the return to England, the aristocratic antipathy towards Libby, deceiving her, deceiving Henry, her going back to America and giving birth to the daughter? Henry never knowing?
5. Daphne, her being with her mother, her mother as a wedding singer, her wanting to dance with her father when she saw the bride and the others dancing with their fathers? Her birthday, the photo album, her mother telling her the same romantic story year by year? Age 17, the children to go to England, buying her ticket and packing, going, her mother allowing her to make her own decisions?
6. The arrival in England, the touristic touch, her excitement? The England as viewed by American tourist brochures and Americans' awe of class systems in England? Her going to the pub, her meeting with Ian, chatty, friendly, his helping her out? Her seeing her father on the television (after searching for him on the internet)?
7. Her going to Dashwood Manor, the policeman not letting her in, climbing over the wall, being seen by Clarissa at the breakfast table? Glynis?
8. The background of the Dashwood family, at the time of Libby's arrival, Alistair Payne and his influence on the Dashwoods? His role in getting rid of Libby? Jocelyn and her going along with things - but not agreeing? The present, Payne and his place in Henry's campaign for a seat in the House of Commons? Controlling him, putting the spin on policy? The engagement to Glynis - Alistair's daughter? Clarissa, her daughter, and her ambitions? Their leading Henry on, wanting money and position?
9. Daphne's arrival, her declaration of the truth, some thinking it a conspiracy, Henry and his being taken aback, seeing her eyes? Jocelyn coming to the rescue, deciding that it was safer to keep Daphne at the manor? Away from the media?
10. Daphne and her experience, the intercutting of Henry talking about his daughter and her maturity with the extroverted reaction and behaviour of Daphne? Her being loud, the servants, Glynis and Clarissa and their reactions? Clarissa misleading her as to what she should wear?
11. The Cinderella background, Glynis as the evil stepmother, Clarissa as the stepsister - and Daphne pointing out that ultimately, Cinderella won? Her going out, dressing for the fashion show, coming on stage, photos, the boys liking her, falling off the rostrum into Prince Charles' lap, his seeming to like the situation? The press reaction? Henry and the spin on his long-lost daughter? His taking her to the regatta and her pushing the obnoxious Amistead into the water? Escaping on the back of Ian's bike? The ball and her trying to liven things up for the dowdy twins, their father and his story about the chandelier, the vibrations of the music and the chandelier falling? The coming-out ball, her glamour, her resolving not to make any more mistakes and the newspapers showing how she was doing everything with poise? Glynis locking her in the room, her eventually getting out, seeing her father dancing with Clarissa and her reaction? Her mother coming from America, the meeting again with Henry?
12. Ian, his band, playing, the friendship with Daphne, their going out on the town, buying things, riding the motorbike? Henry and his concern and ringing Libby? Their employing Ian for the music? His worry about Daphne and wanting the real Daphne to come back?
13. Libby, her concern, her coming to England, her glamour, Glynis's jealousy? The issue of the truth, Daphne overhearing what Alistair said? Their return to America, Henry and his going to the constituency, resigning, telling the truth, punching out Alistair? Telling Glynis that she would survive?
14. Henry going to America, the wedding party, dancing with his daughter, bringing Ian? The happy ever after?
15. The minor characters and the British cast giving them more strength than the average film - perhaps more than the film deserved - Eileen Atkins as Jocelyn and her talk about the traditions, losing one's heart? Jonathan Price and his manipulations? Anna Chancellor as the venal Glynis? Christina Cole as Clarissa and her continual prissiness? The privileged young men boasting of their breeding? Oliver James as Ian and bringing the British genial touch?
16. A popular story - with every expected turn signalled well in advance, the glamour and the focus for the audience of young girls to enjoy and identify with?
