What a Girl Wants

PG

Released Apr 4, 2003

1 hr. 35 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

36%

109 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

On a whim, American teenager Daphne (Amanda Bynes) boards a plane to England to find the father she never met. Upon arriving there, though, she makes a startling discovery: The man she's looking for is Lord Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth), a member of the British upper class, who is running for political office. Lord Henry didn't know Daphne existed, but he welcomes her into his life. However, she isn't so sure -- and his family and his current betrothed look on her disapprovingly.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Apr 30

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent What a Girl Wants on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Little girls will definitely enjoy it, but it's too syrupy and predictable for adults.

Read Critics Reviews

Jace E

This movie is a feel-good time capsule straight from 2003. Amanda Bynes is incredibly likable, Colin Firth embraces the caged British dad, and Oliver James' voice is melodic. The plot is straightforward with cliches throughout, but that's what makes it so fun to watch. The multiple shopping spree montages with weird angles are a bit much, and the choreographed number is slightly painful to endure, but the rest of the movie is actually strong. There are surprising tender moments, "Long Time Coming" is a banger and Glynnis is the worst. Put that all together, and you have a movie that is charming, rewatchable and easygoing. Best Character: Daphne Best Quote: "Anyone seen my pruning shears? The *old bat* seems to have forgotten where she put them." - Jocelyn Best Scene: Seeing Ian at the Party Best Song: "Long Time Coming" (Honorable mention to "Half Life") Note: Shoutout to the scene where we see a picture of Amanda Bynes as a child and then we see a completely different girl blow out her birthday candles. Note 2: When Oliver James hits the high note. Chills.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/02/23

Full Review

Jellytoy P

Amanda Bynes at Her Best. Great Movie from her.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/22

Full Review

Jeremy C

"| Ratings Categories | {Characters (5/10) ; Cinematography (2/10) ; Plot (4/10) ; Acting (3/10) ; Pacing (5/10) = 38%}"

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/17/22

Full Review

lanfranco c

Exaggerating the differences between US and UK

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Based on the play "The Reluctant Debutante", the story starts with the young son of a British noble family meeting a young American woman, on vacation in Morocco, and they have a marriage neither are sure is valid, but the British man's retinue locate them and make the woman leave, and she travels back to New York City, and gives birth to a daughter. 17 years later, the daughter learns of her heritage and impulsively flies to London and meets her father, now a member of Parliament, who had never known about his daughter until that moment. Then the real story begins. The father and the people with him are unsure what to do with the daughter, especially with the father running for reelection, he contacts her mother, who is angry with him because she was sent home and he never contacted her, and the daughter is confused about what she has done, and what she should do now, especially when she meets and falls in love with a young local man. The story might best be described as wish-fulfillment fantasy, but is pleasant enough without being too soppy or unrealistic. Good performances by the cast and good pacing help the movie, and while it has no deep meaning it is still good entertainment.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

lynell d

The fact that the writers thought a teenage girl would hate and reject wearing fancy dress and being a debutante is ludacris. It's one of the many things they did wrong but probably the one that irked me the most. The movie stinks.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Dennie Gordon

Director

Amanda Bynes

Daphne Reynolds

Colin Firth

Lord Henry Dashwood

Kelly Preston

Libby Reynolds

Eileen Atkins

Lady Jocelyn

Anna Chancellor

Glynnis Payne

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

57%

72%

The Importance of Being Earnest

60%

84%

Secondhand Lions

94%

51%

Widows' Peak

88%

53%

Gumshoe

65%

68%

Wondrous Oblivion

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Wahlberg back for SAW 3

Director Snagged for Amanda Bynes’ Shakespeare Modernization

View more photos

Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

What a Girl Wants plays like a TV cartoon, not even a sitcom, and makes little sense on its own terms.

Apr 4, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Too-cute with a few iffy moments, but tweens will eat it up.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 29, 2010

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 1/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

What a Girl Wants may be predictable but this comedy will never not be enjoyable.

Dec 28, 2021

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

a gawp-fest for those interested in slumming acting talent and off-kilter observations about Britishness...

Rated: 3/5

Mar 10, 2021

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Dennie Gordon does an admirable of directing this little romp across the pond keeping things light and even-tempered... Predictable? Yes. Sentimental? Yes. Charming? Yes. Enjoyable? Without a doubt.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 3, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

On a whim, American teenager Daphne (Amanda Bynes) boards a plane to England to find the father she never met. Upon arriving there, though, she makes a startling discovery: The man she's looking for is Lord Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth), a member of the British upper class, who is running for political office. Lord Henry didn't know Daphne existed, but he welcomes her into his life. However, she isn't so sure -- and his family and his current betrothed look on her disapprovingly.

Director: Dennie Gordon
Executive Producer: E.K. Gaylord II, Alison Greenspan, Casey La Scala
Screenwriter: Jenny Hicks, Elizabeth Chandler
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Gaylord Films
Rating: PG (Mild Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 4, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 28, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.0M
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now