I remember when Joseph Nussbaum was white-hot for a moment because of GEORGE LUCAS IN LOVE. What’s impressive is figuring out a way to keep working after that momentary heat passes, and this frat-house update of SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARVES with Amanda Bynes seems to have kept him busy recently. Is it even worth a look? I’ve got a pass sitting on the breakfast bar now... should I take Mrs. Moriarty?
Hey I've reviewed a few films here in the past Man of the year and that giant crocodile movie Rogue. This time there was no giant crocidile just a whole lot of Amanda Bynes. Thats right I just saw Sydney White. You can call me Angelus104
As I prepared myself for the start of the new Amanda Bynes film I found myself why I had wandered this far uptown to watch what would be described as a modern retelling of the Snow White fairytale. I also wondered how many more times Hollywood would continue to go to the well and corrupt all those stories that are so near and dear to us.
So, you can imagine as the lights went down I was prepared for a fun filled, scathing, and negative review to come spilling out on these pages. But what I got was something that was just almost worth my time.
The story is basically that of a tom boyish girl named Sydney White (Bynes) going off to college. The same college her now deceased mother attended. She hopes to follow in her mom’s footsteps by pledging at the same sorority that is of course filled with blonde, skinny, arrogant and mean girls who all want to be hottest on campus. Sydney does not quite fit in so she ends up moving in with the seven dorks and leads them to prosperity in the school.
Lets start off with the good.
Amanda Bynes, I can honestly say I’ve never seen another movie she is in but this girl is funny. She has a classic comic timing and manages to play off her looks to be funny while still keeping her self cute as a button. She pulls off some moments that are so genuinely charming and witty they feel like they don’t belong in the movie. I actually believe she collects the comics she has in her suitcase. Also Johnathan Schneider as her widower father has the same tender realness that he has on Smallville and it plays very well in his small role here.
But it is the dorks that steal the show here. While they are obviously caricatures of people we probably all know or even caricatures of ourselves for that matter they are the heart and soul of the film. And how could they not be led by Danny Strong (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Samm Levine (Freaks and Geeks) they give a nice fresh of breath air to the film.
The sorority is led by the queen meanie with the last name Witchburn (wink). There is also the head of the brother fraternity with the last name “Prince” (yuk yuk yuk). The story is full of those kinds of little callbacks to the classic tale. And to be honest this is the weakest point of the film. Its attempt to be some kind of feeble retelling prevents it from being a more charming film. It also sinks into stereotypes a little too frequently. Whether it’s the seven dorks reenacting fantasy video games in full costume or the generality of all people of cultures. It feels out of place in a movie that generally tries to be sweet and send a positive message of individuality and hope to all those who have ever felt an outsider.
The film is underwritten and looks for very generic so I can give it no props there. But it does have some very entertaining performances and a generally fun feel. However I can’t help but feel like it is sloppily written because the powers that be feel like there is no need to take the time with teenage girls. But I feel like for a movie targeted at people in the years that form their lives we should see people trying to challenge them not dumb them down. Movies seem to be the benchmark of American culture so can’t we tr to raise the bar a little. Deliver this message in a smart and witty way and it could make a difference/ Despite all that if you secretly like Bring it On, Legally Blonde and John Tucker Must Die then you way secretly like this.
