Sydney White (2007)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Joe Nussbaum

Writer (WGA):

Chad Gomez Creasey (written by)

Release Date:

21 September 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Freshman year is no fairy tale.

Plot:

A modern retelling of Snow White set against students in their freshman year of college in the greek system.

Plot Keywords:

Based On Fairy Tale | Fraternity House | Leg Shaving | College Freshman | Female Bully

Cast

Amanda Bynes	...	Sydney White
Sara Paxton	...	Rachel
Matt Long	...	Tyler
Jack Carpenter	...	Lenny
Jeremy Howard	...	Terrence
Crystal Hunt	...	Dinky
Adam Hendershott	...	Jeremy
Danny Strong	...	Gurkin
Samm Levine	...	Spanky
Libby Mintz	...	Christy
John Schneider	...	Paul White
Arnie Pantoja	...	George
Donté Bonner	...	Embele
Brian Patrick Clarke	...	Professor Carleton
Lauren Leech	...	Katy

Also Known As:

Sydney White and the Seven Dorks (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language, sexual humor and partying.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43712) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Church Street Station - 129 W. Church Street, Orlando, Florida, USA

Company:

Morgan Creek Productions

Trivia:

When Tyler sings to Sydney in the Library, he sings the same song that played while they danced at the Pledge Coronation.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: The first time Dr. Carlton gives his lecture, if you look on the chalkboard behind him his name reads "DR CARLTON", but in the credits and subtitles they have his name spelled CARLETON.

Quotes:

Demetria Rosemead 'Dinky' Hotchkiss: I wish we had the same size feet.
Sydney White: It is fine. Isn't it part of this whole sisterhood thing that they like you for who you are?
Demetria Rosemead 'Dinky' Hotchkiss: Sure.

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

Soundtrack:

Oh Boy

Amanda Bynes is a ray of sunshine!

I'd like to say how disappointed with how this film lost a lot of comedy viewers to a shallow, heartless unfunny Dane Cook movie released the same weekend. Yes, I am talking about "Good Luck Chuck" and let me say that despite the fact Sydney White does have its cheesy moments and the plot isn't too fresh, its a fun-filled, college comedy with enough laughs to leave me satisfied.

First off, Amanda Bynes is the anti-Mandy Moore. Unlike her, Amanda's characters are always likable, honest and her movies are good too. If you're somebody who watches the TV show "My Boys" than this movie is definitely for you! But if you're somebody who doesn't (or maybe even hates it) than you still may like it. One negative of Sydney White is that the film tries way too hard to resemble the same fairy tale moments and cartoon quotes from the original story. For goodness sakes, even the names are referenced too close (Tyler Prince, Witchburn, Dinky, etc.) For me it wasn't that big of a distraction. As a matter of fact you may just roll you eyes and forget about it.

Sydney is a tomboy who's mother was popular in a big sorority at Sothern Atlantic University. So big that Sydney nearly becomes the Harry Potter of college. Unfortunately, her mother dies at Sydney's young age and she is raised by her father, a plumber, and his fellow workers and this causes her to be a football playing, comic loving tomboy with the heart of a princess. At Sydney's freshman year she is an outsider from the girlie-girl, perky snobs of CAPA. The leader of the sorority (witchburn) takes immediate dislike of Sydney and makes up some of the poorest excuses and schemes against her, worried that Sydney, daughter of the former CAPA legacy, will take her place. So she is kicked out of it and turns to the strange, yet concerned freaks (Greeks) who live in the house only doors down. Events lead on and make Sydney most popular of the school and out of jealously Witchburn tries to make her life a living hell. From then on Sydney tries to win a debate against Witchburn to help the Greeks keep their house and prevent the higher bar of picking on the little guys any longer

This movie is just an easy-going chick flick with a nice message and decent humor. It got 5-6 hearty laughs out of me. There's a fun concept going on here. Its short and sweet. Oh, did I mention the likable characters? If you're a nervous parent with a kid (especially a daughter) begging to see a movie before the next family, friendly film comes out than I suggest to send them off to Sydney White. Its the closest you'll get to "wholesome" this September. Its not a kids movie though so for you teens biting your nails over this, can just sit back and enjoy. It deserves a chance. Go in with an open mind. So if you walk out disappointed, odds are you hate 90% of all good chick flicks or you tried to hate it. And if you're somebody who's still got the bitter taste in your mouth from the crude, rude and dumb comedies such as Mr. Woodcock and Good Luck Chuck than Sydney White will be a predictable, yet harmless good time at the movies to make it better.