Uptown Girls (2003) User Reviews

Surprisingly likable, if not lovable!

[ilovedolby · 7/10 · 2 September 2003]

Over the years, we've seen dozens of films labeled as chick-flicks that hold true to the same clichés, jokes and rehashed plots that have been done over and over again. After seeing a trailer for `Uptown Girls,' one would naturally think that the film would be a hopeless mesh of the same simple ideas of a lost girl or woman trying to find herself in the most unlikely of places. In all honesty, `Uptown Girls' is just that. However, it has some redeeming qualities that make it rise above its own conventional nature-it actually has an emotional depth to its characters that wouldn't occur under normal circumstances. Also, it stars Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning, two wonderful actresses that dazzle the screen with their very presence.

Molly (Murphy) is a woman in her mid-twenties who is completely detached from reality. Her deceased rock-star father has left her a wealth that affords her the finest apartment, friends and possessions that money can buy. However, life turns upside down for Molly when her broker skips town with all of her money. All of sudden Molly is faced with a world where everything she's been absorbed in has disappeared. Her only choice now is to get a job and start living life like a normal person. After several attempts at some of Manhattan's most elite shops, she accepts a position as a nanny for a friend's boss. But she has no idea what she's in for-a little girl named Ray (Fanning) who is completely obsessive and compulsive. What's more, she wants nothing to do with Molly. The two feel each other out and eventually start to discover that they have a great deal in common, as they are both suffering from the loss of the one's that they cared for most deeply. As such, they have both entered into their own delusional worlds that don't hold true to reality. It's up to the two to help each other out in finding a purpose in life and discovering the true beauty of friendship.

Fanning is truly the prize of `Uptown Girls.' She's an adorable young actress who can actually perform. She steals every scene she's in and the audience can't get enough of her. The moments in the film where she breaks down and cries, you get the impression that its real and this isn't acting-she has that the innate talent to become the characters that she portrays in the script marvelously. Look for her in the recent `I am Sam,' as well as in `The Cat in the Hat,' coming this November. Murphy proves once again that she is a gifted actress. I guess we can forgive her for this past winter's `Just Married,' as her track record generally shows her showing off real talent in films like `8 Mile,' and `Girl, Interrupted.' Her portrayal of Molly makes the audience feel sadness for her character, but at the same time, we can't help but feel that she is incredibly pathetic, and not in the comic sense. The most rewarding part of viewing `Uptown Girls' was how tender the film is. Murphy and Fanning come alive together and you feel their pain and the isolation that they have surrounded themselves in because of the lack of truly loving people in their lives. You walk out of the theater fond of the characters and rooting them on at the end, regardless of the film's parallels to so many others in the genre. `Uptown Girls' isn't a great movie, but it sure is something that is surprisingly likable, if not lovable. ***

Slow start, but definitely worth watching

[FernAshes · 7/10 · 2 February 2004]

As I say over and over again, a film doesn't have to be a work of art (that few even understand) to be a film. The keyword here is entertainment. And I thought this film was entertaining, not be confused with a work of art, or anything with a higher meaning. I could lean back and just enjoy watching the two characters change.

I thought, when I saw what a low rating it had gotten here on IMDb, that it would really stink. But the story did appeal to me. I'm glad I watched it - I give it a 7/10, just because I enjoyed watching it. So my advice: watch it, but as usual, don't expect Oscar material.

funny and affecting though manipulative and sappy

[cherold · 7/10 · 30 May 2005]

Rich girl loses all her money and has to be a nanny for an uptight brat; it certainly sounds like a bad movie in the making. But actually I quite enjoyed this one. The stars are appealing, a lot of the scenes are quite funny and even though the movie is predictable and maudlin it does have scenes with a genuine emotional impact. With a script that has some intelligence and nuance and actresses who bring sincerity and belief to rather clichéd characters (child-woman and woman-child, essentially), this movie winds up being far better than it has a right to be. I feel like I have to make excuses for liking it, because it is kind of dumb, but I really very much enjoyed it.

Very cute

[ljbad · 28 November 2004]

As other reviewers have suggested, "Uptown Girls" is a hard film to classify: it's not a "comedy," per se, because it isn't funny (and barely even seems to try), but it also isn't particularly dramatic (though there are dramatic elements). I'm reminded of a term I've heard critics use a number of times -- "charmer" -- but only now do I realize how necessary it is to their lexicon. This film's greatest ambition, it seems, is to make its audience smile - and, as far as that goes, it succeeds. I may not have laughed at all for the whole ninety minutes (though I probably did), and I wasn't very moved; but, oh boy, did I smile a lot. Very few movies accomplish even that, so I'm forced to give "Uptown Girls" a strong recommendation.

Dismiss those other comments

[mbucky · 6/10 · 2 September 2005]

I will not attempt to prove that this movie should be ranked among the great movies, but I am more than willing to defend Uptown Girls against the mostly male haters. True, this movie could be deemed a 'chick flick', but why is that so unbelievably, unforgivably horrible? If you don't like movies with mostly female characters and even some slightly feminist themes, than you will not like this movie. I, on the other hand, watched this movie for the first time expecting the worst and most guilty kind of entertainment, and was more than pleasantly surprised by the dark tones and impeccable performances. I'm a harsh critic, and if you don't trust me, check out the link to Ebert's review of this film via 'external reviews'. Murphy and Fanning are a refreshing duo in a buddy film and like many female buddy films, Uptown Girls is unfairly abused and underrated. If you are trying to sound pretentious you probably shouldn't admit to liking this film. However, if you honestly found this film entertaining, and in some small respect, refreshing, you should admit the merit of this 'chick flick'. Murphy should be commended for choosing roles like Molly and her character in Little Black Book, because in a sea of fantasy and escapism there is an aspect of actual female representation written by women and made for women. Boys, if you want to win points with the ladies, stop letting your testosterone take over your actual pleasure gauge, and attempt to see the positive attributes of films such as this one. Trust me, it will do no good in the long run to hide your opinions on the basis of reputation and ornery stoic persuasion.

Way more than a shallow "chick flick" romcom

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 15 March 2018]

RELEASED IN 2003 and directed by Boaz Yakin, "Uptown Girls" is a dramedy with a little romance about Molly (Brittany Murphy), a fun-loving 22 year-old who suddenly loses her inherited riches and is forced to become a nanny to a stoical neat-freak girl, Ray (Dakota Fanning). Heather Locklear plays Ray's distant mother who's an exec in the music biz while Jesse Spencer plays a hunky musician who gets signed. Marley Shelton and Donald Faison are on hand as friends of Molly.

The first act didn't do much for me, but at the halfway point something made me bust out laughing and I busted out four more times before it was over. More importantly, the movie is rich with quality mind/spirit food. Both Molly and Ray are broken people who handle their grief in opposite ways. And each has what the other needs to heal and escape their disorder.

"Uptown Girls" boldly reveals that "meds" (drugs) cannot heal or deliver a person; the best they can do is help a person cope. In fact, they usually have negative side-effects, mentally and physically. Sadly, six years after the release of the film Murphy ironically died of cardiac arrest due to inadvertent overdoses of a mixture of over-the-counter & prescription drugs taken (they presume) for a respiratory infection. She was only 32.

The flick encourages growing up and achieving true success through (1.) recognizing "golden connections" and taking advantage of them (after all, no one makes it alone, no one; they had help); and (2.) discerning and cultivating one's special talent(s). I'd say more, but it's better to see the movie, enjoy it, and quarry the gems for oneself.

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 32 minutes and was shot in New York City (Manhattan & Brooklyn with studio work done in Queens). WRITERS: Julia Dahl, Mo Ogrodnik & Lisa Davidowitz wrote the script based on Allison Jacobs' story.

GRADE: B+

Sue me, I fell for it (***)

[Ronin47 · 6/10 · 19 October 2003]

This just goes to show you that you shouldn't go into movies with preconceptions, because I went in expecting (hoping, even) to hate this movie, and did for a while, but somewhere along the way it started working on me, and by the end I was practically eating out of its hand.

Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy) is the rich, immature, hard-partying daughter of a deceased rock star, but when she loses all her money and belongings, she has to take a job as the nanny to a rich little girl named Ray (Dakota Fanning). Ray is very young, but acts like an uptight 45 year-old woman, because she's been ignored by her cold, socialite mother (a "Melrose Place"-ish Heather Locklear).

Both of these characters, but especially little Ray, are entirely fantasy creations. I don't care how self-sufficient she's had to be, no single-digit kid is going to act like this all the time and speak this kind of dialogue.

What makes the movie work is the actors. Murphy is a very likeable actress and with her mixture of raspy sexuality and innocent flakiness, I can't think of anyone who would have been better playing this spoiled rock princess.

And as Ray, Dakota Fanning once again shows that she is one of the absolute best child actors out there. This is the third time in a row she's been the best part of the movie she's in (the other two being the irritating "I Am Sam" and the downright hideous "Trapped"). Once her character begins to lighten up in the second half of the film, her performance really takes off.

So the story is very predictable, the dialogue often weak, and I hated the character of Molly's on-again, off-again "rock star" boyfriend (who inexplicably makes it big with a horrifyingly bad song about Egyptian cotton), but the characters played by Murphy and Fanning are a pleasure to spend time with, and that's what sold it to me.

Mediocre...

[edcarpediem · 2/10 · 6 February 2004]

Some SPOILERS possible.

Uptown Girls... kind of excited to start watching this since I liked Britanny very much on Just Married and absolutely loved Dakota Fanning in Trapped and I Am Sam. Well, was I dissapointed...

Let's go one thing at a time. The story is just a big mess and has no recognizable point. Is it about struggling for independence? Is it about the "gray bossy girl" turning into the "pink fun girl"? Is it about romance and love? Or tragic loss of parents and coping with it? Or was it all just an excuse for some gags and jokes? My guess it that it was all of this and much more mixed into what turned out to be a huge mess. It touched all these subjects so superficially it hurt, and really got into my nerves. It failed in every possible way. Come on, any B-movies writer could do a lot better. The links between scenes made no sense most of the time. They had no real connection. The ending was a nice little surprise, I admit, but couldn't save the film. It was like a good end to a mediocre beginning and middle part, and that just doesn't work, because what we had before was too bad. Had they worked more on the heart of the film, the ending could have been ten times as great. Maybe if they grabbed onto the finish and tried to write the script backwards...

The characters were so badly developed I couldn't believe it. You feel like you don't know anybody and obviously don't know what to expect from each one (which is a big deal if you want to surprise the audience). What's the matter with that singer guy? Who is he? What goes on in his head? What the hell is he doing in the film? And Ingrid... what is her part in all this? Just a pretty face? The way relationships were resolved was too awful.

I guess my expectations were too high. Or maybe the movie actually failed to achieve any of its purposes. Speaking of them, what were they anyway? What is this film supposed to be? Should it be a comedy? A drama? A mix of both? Well, maybe I smiled three times during the movie. That doesn't make it a comedy (and I have a wide sense of humor). I never felt sad for the characters or situations. I was never thrilled to see "what will happen next". I felt nothing. Sincerely, I was just waiting for the movie to end since the first 10 minutes... hoping and trying to enjoy what I could during that hour.

I'm not saying it was a painful experience, since it is always nice to look at Britanny, and I really enjoyed the chemistry between her and Dakota. Also, that pig just rules! Every time that animal appeared on screen, it lifted my hopes up again, like some sort of fuel you need to endure the journey. Huey, now that's a character (could be a lot better though) and I liked to see some guitars around too, but that's just about it concerning the strong features.

Overall, if I tell you that I've probably gave more thought into writing this than the authors did while imagining the film, do I need to say more?

Rating: 2 / 10

"Uptown Girls" – 9/10. Murphy makes it work and gives this movie its charm.

[dee.reid · 9/10 · 12 January 2004]

The plot to "Uptown Girls" is that it centers on Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy), who is the spoiled, 22-year old daughter of a deceased rock legend. When the manager steals her money, she's left broke and for the first time in her life, has to actually work. So she gets a job being a nanny to Ray (Dakota Fanning), the neglected daughter of an overworked music executive. She doesn't really have much of a choice, since she has no "real" working skills or experience being employed. The two bond and become best friends and so on.

True this film's plot slightly resembles Adam Sandler's 1999 comedy "Big Daddy," another film where an irresponsible adult is given the daunting task of playing parent to a neglected child. Where the more serious moments of the story to "Big Daddy" took a back seat to silly toilet humor, "Uptown Girls" is able to soar high above the required material and become something truly unique. "Big Daddy" was great, too and got its message (if you can call it that) across without much trouble, and "Uptown Girls" does the same, and then something greater.

Part of the fun of watching "Uptown Girls" is simply Murphy's presence on screen. Watching this, I had to sometimes remember why she is one of today's youngest and most talented actresses. Another reason would be her relationship with Dakota Fanning in the movie. The two naturally start off not liking each other but as the film continues, they grow closer and closer together.

I'm a guy and I don't normally like these kinds of movies (girlie-girl films), but "Uptown Girls" seems to be an exception, largely because of star Brittany Murphy. She just has a kind of appeal that draws you in, whether you want to or not. I guess that's why when I first saw a poster for this film at the movie theater a few months ago, I was drawn in to it, despite any misgivings I already had.

Murphy has a magnetic charm, a kind of screen presence that's normally lacking with a lot of young actresses working in today's Hollywood. Roger Ebert stated in his review of the film that Murphy displays a kind of ineptitude that's reminiscent of the late Lucille Ball and plays it perfectly. In this film, she is kind of a ditz, but it's all part of her emotional complexity.

Another reason I wanted to see "Uptown Girls" is because Boaz Yakin, who helmed 1994's "Fresh" and 2000's "Remember the Titans," is behind the camera. He has a real eye for the characters in his films, in that he makes them do a lot more than what is expected of them. This is why his two earlier films were so successful in that they went above and beyond the material to become something really special.

I already know that a lot of people are not going to like this movie, but I think that we should at least give it a chance. It's not going to do well at the box office, but I think bad scheduling (the much-anticipated "Freddy vs. Jason" reigned supreme at the box office when "Girls" was released) may have had a serious effect on its overall performance.

It's been a long time

[amsmall27 · 7/10 · 2 February 2021]

Just rewatched this classic. Brittany Murphy was so pretty. I miss her so much.

Kind of boring, but it's fair

[meloda · 4/10 · 16 February 2017]

I guess this is worth watching if you have nothing better to do. There are many other "chick- flicks" that are far better than this movie, though. I am usually a nut for such movies that are harmless and non-violent, but this one is just a little too slow for entertainment. If you are into chick-flicks and you bored with nothing else to do with bad weather outside--watch it once just to see it (but only if it comes on TV; wouldn't recommend paying to rent.)

It has a good ending, a beautiful song at the end, and an overall good plot; but really has its slow and boring parts. 4/10

A movie that makes you feel better and better....and better

[laura-madalina · 10/10 · 6 May 2006]

I actually saw this film by mistake, and couldn't help posting a comment here (which I actually think it's my first, but hey, it deserves it). I think it's a very thoughtful and sensitive movie, with plenty of funny but also moving scenes. Despite my better judgement, Brittany Murphy does a good job at playing the "confused" grown-up, while Dakota is a charming, if not absolutely fantastic grown-up "in the making". I think this movie is worth watching, at least, if not exclusively, for the terrific relationship between Ray and Molly. I had never expected to grow such fond of these "Uptown Girls"....

Watch it! It's worth your bucks!

Poor little rich girls

[jotix100 · 7/10 · 2 May 2005]

Boaz Yakin's "Uptown Girls" doesn't have anything new to say, but it offers us the perfect excuse to spend a mindless hour and a half in the company of Dakota Fanning, one of the best child actresses to come out of Hollywood in quite a while. If the viewer is looking for a light comedy, this film will do the trick.

Molly Gunn, a spoiled young woman, finds out in the worst way she has been rendered destitute because of the man in charge of her trust fund has swindled it and ran away with all her money. She must face reality, so she takes the easy way out in trying for the job of being the little girl Ray's nanny. She is in for a rude awakening!

Molly finds out that Ray is a grown woman trapped in a little girl's body. Ray is wise beyond belief. She makes Molly's life a living hell until Molly realizes that the little girl is to be pitied because she hasn't known any happiness in her short little life.

The combination of Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning is what makes this film work. Both are fun to watch together. Both actresses show they have a strange chemistry that works on the screen. The supporting cast does its part, but of course, we can't take our eyes from Dakota Fanning.

Complete and utter rubbish

[maxsuncle · 2/10 · 13 March 2004]

This appalling movie has to be the one of the worst films I have ever seen. Brittany Murphy comes out of this with no credit whatsover, and Dakota Fanning is capable of so much better, as shown by her excellent performances in I Am Sam and Taken.

The story is contrived and shamelessly manipulative. I found myself feeling totally unsympathetic towards either of the two main characters, both of whom were as irritating as each other. Although this was supposed to be a comedy, only people who find the sight of people falling over will find the film amusing. There was also a major continuity error, when Molly is watching television in her flat, AFTER HAVING HER ELECTRICITY CUT OFF!

In short, a total waste of time. Avoid at all costs.

Above par

[Gordon-11 · 30 May 2006]

This film is about an uptight child who wants to play everything by the rules, and her interaction with her young caretaker who is playfully childish.

Dakota Fanning is an amazing child actress. The arrogant and cocky faces she managed to pull was in itself an achievement! No wonder she subsequently got so many major roles.

The backing music was good, I liked the songs a lot. The plot itself is quite predictable, but it is still fun to watch. It did bring a smile on my face and kept me interested in the film. This is a good brain-off film for the evening.

Predictable Screenplay, Supported by Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 28 June 2005]

In New York City, Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy) is a spoiled wealthy immature young woman, living as if she were a princess in a fairy tale. Her father was a popular rock-and-roll guitar player, who died in a plane crash with Molly's mother when she was a little girl. On her birthday party in a nightclub, she meets Lorraine "Ray" Schleine (Dakota Fanning), a nasty young girl with attitudes of adult , living with her careless mother and a terminal father in a fancy uptown apartment. When the accountant of Molly vanishes with her US$ 100,000,000.00 inheritance, Molly is left with nothing but debts, and she needs to work to survive without having previous experience or any skills. She is hired to be Ray's babysitter, and their close contact makes Molly reach the maturity and Ray act like as a child of her age.

"Uptown Girls" has just a reasonable and predictable screenplay, being corny and boring sometimes, but supported by two of my favorite actresses: Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning. For me, they are the greatest attraction of this common flick and the reason why I bought the VHS. There are a few worthwhile moments along the story, the script has many flaws and this movie is only recommended to fans like me of these two great actresses. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Grande Menina, Pequena Mulher" ("Big Girl, Small Woman")

It's cute, nothing more and nothing less

[Darkest_Rose · 6/10 · 24 August 2003]

Everybody that knows Molly Gunn(Brittany Murphy) knows that she doesn't exactly act her age. She has never had a job, hardly cleans her apartment and sees the world through children's eyes(not to mention that she has a pig for a pet). But when her manager runs away and nobody is able to pay her bills, Molly is forced to get a job which turns out to be a babysitter to the very mature and jaded Ray(Dakota Fanning). Though at first, Molly and Ray don't get along, they slowly become good friends and teach each other how to act their age. This was a cute movie, nothing more and nothing less. The main reason that I enjoyed this movie was because of the incredibly adorable Ms.Fanning who is also an amazing actress. Brittany Murphy is a also a great actress but I think she should stop making sugary sweet comedies, they aren't really her thing. She is much better as the troubled mental patient. Anyways, even though this movie is sometimes misguided, it is still enjoyable and sweet. I would give Uptown Girls 6.5/10.

Oh, you chick flicks!

[Smells_Like_Cheese · 7/10 · 19 March 2005]

Ah, chick flicks. How I hate thee. But surprisingly enough, I actually kind of enjoyed "Uptown Girls". It is such a girly girl movie, but it kind of wilts it's way into your heart. I had major doubts about watching this movie. I'm not really into Britney Murphy or Dakota Fanning, but this film is actually worth a watch. It's nothing I wouldn't buy, but something I wouldn't mind watching again. It reminds you of what is important in life and how scary it is to grow up. Cheesy, I know and very predictable. But you get into it and just let yourself go with it. After all, I did pay $3.00 to watch it. :D So, I would suggest a watch, it's a cute movie. Maybe I was just in a very good mood. I… I… what's happening? I never get into chick flicks! 7/10

I want my brain cells back.

[the-organizm · 1/10 · 21 August 2007]

This movie is, without a doubt, the worst thing I've ever seen, and I've seen some MAJOR pieces of crap. But this movie really stands out for me, because it's the only time I've switched off before a movie ended. You want to know what I did then? I watched my toenails grow. It was a lot more interesting and, funnily enough, less predictable than Uptown Girls. I could feel myself get stupider and stupider as the movie went on, until I became afraid that I was going to end up in a vegetative state.

Everything about this movie stunk, and the writers should be forced to watch Cradle Of Fear over and over again for the rest of time. Don't get me wrong, I think Dakota Fanning is a nifty little actress, and was creepy as anything in Taken. If they do an all female midget version of Silence Of The Lambs, I'm nominating her for the part of Hannibal. But I digress...

The problem isn't the actors, it's just that this movie bit the big one. The characters are annoying as Hell, the acting is deplorable, the soundtrack is your run-of-the-mill girlie attempt at punk rock which just sounds completely poo and may make you psychotic, and the plot is, at beast, mind numbingly predictable. Seeing Brittany Murphy trying to act all loved up (I THINK that's what she was trying to act...) was pretty scary. It looked like the director had doped her up on who knows what and let her off in front of the camera. I threw up a little bit in my mouth during the "Pez" bit. I was a little worried they might have given Murphy brain damage before the scene, and that's why she was acting like a bit of a partard.

Long story short, this movie is utter crud, and really, you should be buying me awesome presents for letting you know and saving you the torture of sitting through it.

Oh yeah, and don't even get me STARTED on that damn song that Jesse Spencer sings...

Brilliant

[oxmilliexo · 10/10 · 27 May 2007]

Molly Gunn: That's your dad? Ray: Was. Now he's a vegetable. And soon he'll be nothing. Molly Gun: Thats a little harsh. Ray: Its a harsh world.

In my humble opinion the only reason that this film didn't get the acclaim it deserved was because adults wrote it off as a 'kids' movie and the kids didn't understand the emotional plot line.

Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy) is a woman who's rock and roll parents died when she was very young, leaving her with enough money so that she would never have to mature past the age she was when her parents left her.

Ray Schlein (Dakota Fanning) is a spoilt brat who's mother ignores her and who's father is comatose. Consequently she has evolved prematurely into an uptight, adult-like child who fears germs, mess and most importantly, fun.

So when Molly and Rays worlds collide, they accidentally begin teaching each other how to act their ages. But when Rays life begins to take the same tragic turn as Mollys did, Mollys forced to act like a 'grown up' for the fist time in her life.

This movie is a real tear jerker. I dare anyone not to watch it and feel they haven't gained something from it. Don't believe the people who hate it, its a fantastic movie and yes; its a chick-flick but that Doesn't make it terrible!

The ending is just...beautiful.

Not a bad rental

[MovieLuvaMatt · 6/10 · 14 January 2004]

Altogether, it's an amusing film, but its overbearing sentimentality prevents it from really taking off. Basically, if you've seen previews, you can pretty much predict the whole plot of the film. Brittany Murphy is an irresponsible girl who suddenly has to face up to reality when she's evicted from her home, has to get a job babysitting a pampered rich girl (Dakota Fanning) who also has to face up to reality, and by the end Murphy becomes a responsible, mature person and Fanning loosens up and acts more like her age. Blah, blah, blah. There are moments of truth that work, despite spawning from cinematic contrivances. There are in fact a lot of spoiled girls like Fanning's character, who get whatever they want simply because the mothers or fathers don't want to deal with them. That's also why I wish the film could've developed Heather Locklear's character more thoroughly, since she's the reason why her daughter acts the way she does. But the film does have a lot of contrivances that are corny and predictable, which is why I give it merely an above-average rating. Plus, Fanning's snooty sarcasm gets terribly annoying at times. I always hated watching that moment in all the previews where she'd say "News-fe-lash!" All in all, "Uptown Girls" is a fluffy, superficial feel-good comedy that doesn't fail to entertain, and I will recommend it for a rental.

My score: 6 (out of 10)

Awful - plain and simple

[jstamos99 · 1/10 · 14 January 2004]

I don't have time to critique this pile of manure - but the one stand alone problem I have with this movie is character development. You are thrown into a romantic setting which they try to dramatacize as if you even care about these 2 people that you haven't technically "met" yet. Its like watching 2 strangers in a restaurant - you don't know them, therefore you can't care.

anyone who wants to pick apart my grammar, go ahead, its not going to make this movie any better.

Highly Recommended-Surprisingly Good

[aimless-46 · 8/10 · 9 August 2005]

Twenty-five years after the film "Times Square" we get an updated version of that New Wave classic. And like its predecessor, "Uptown Girls" is destined to be more appreciated twenty-five years later than it was by contemporary critics and audiences. Both films include terrific music that had people stopping at a store on the way home from the film to pick up the soundtrack album/CD (with "soundtrack" defined as songs by a collection of artists as compared to a more traditional musical score), both feature two scared girls-polar opposites who bond and help each other, both have Altman's cool "Kansas City" twist where the seemingly weaker girl becomes protective of the tough girl, both have absolutely perfect endings, and both take place in NYC.

One major difference was that while "Times Square" had a clear target audience, "Uptown Girls" was never able to quite figure that out. While in almost every way superior to its sister film "Raising Helen", "Uptown Girls" lacks that films consistent family focus. Instead it is a fairy tale story marketed as a comedy, a generational bonding picture with just enough unnecessary adult material (a word here-an obscene gesture there) that it has a PG-13 rating; all of which means that adults think of it as a kid film and young viewers find only intermittent sequences to which they can relate.

At least the film is consistent in its inconsistency, as Boaz Yakin's inspired and imaginative direction and many incongruously subtle script elements are paired with a contrived and predictable basic story. There is originality packaged inside unoriginality-Ray is not mad at Molly because she was not there when Ray's father died or because Molly was wrong about him living longer if Ray talked to him, she is mad because Molly convinced her to lower her defenses so his death her hurts more.

All this disparity should work in "Uptown Girls" favor in a few years when the dust clears and the film finds its proper audience, one that appreciates its complex dichotomy and subtle nuances. Until then it is worth noting that this will be an important film historically. Film historians will look back on "Uptown Girls" as the feature where Brittany Murphy (Molly Gunn) really began to define the perceptive airhead persona she first developed in "Drop Dead Gorgeous". Roger Ebert sees a lot of the divine ineptitude of Lucille Ball in Murphy with both being magnets for "Whoops! moments. I don't see her going quite that far, more like Zasu Pitts or Katherine Hepburn. Hollywood has gone two generations without an actress with this kind of natural comic talent. She and Dakota Fanning (Ray) play off each other very well.

Music is central to the story since Molly's father was a rock legend who died in a plane crash when she was a young girl and Ray's mom runs a record label. Little Molly inspired her father to write a song about her before he died called "Molly Smiles". She inspires her boyfriend to write the song "Sheets of Egyptian Cotton", but does not want to hear her father's song. This sets up a somewhat predictable but otherwise perfect ending as you finally get to get to hear "Molly Smiles" at Ray's dance recital; the film is worth watching just for this scene (as good an ending as "School of Rock's"). As someone commented earlier, the song works perfectly in the finale as all the plot threads are pulled together: " (1) we get to hear "Molly Smiles," (2) Neal makes up with Molly, (3) we find out what happened to Tommy Gunn's guitars, (4) Ray thanks Molly, (5) Ray finally dances free style, (6) Ray uses some moves she learned from Molly, and (7) Ray wears Molly's designer tutu. Appropriately, the soundtrack has a lot of the songs by female artists and makes for a pleasant enough album when you finally decide to play something else besides track 12. But you will probably pick this one up for the song about daddy's little girl because "Nothing's wrong when Molly smiles."

Bottom line don't listen to the negative reviews-see this for yourself. If you can suspend belief and just accept the contrived basic story, then it won't be hard to really enjoy Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning as two broken kids who help each other learn how to live, 25 years after "Times Square".

Boaz Yakin is my cup of tea

[Rogue-32 · 6/10 · 12 March 2005]

Boaz Yakin is someone I've been following since he wrote and directed 1994's FRESH, which is one of the best films I've ever seen. None of his subsequent projects have had the power of that movie but I'm an unbelievably loyal Leo, and I will keep seeing anything the man writes and/or directs.

This one, Uptown Girls, is directed by Yakin, and it does display his knack for getting decent interaction from his performers; there are some extremely believable scenes between Murphy and Fanning, in particular, who both manage, under his direction and thanks to their innate talent (especially the soon-to-be-legendary Fanning's), to breathe genuine life into their potentially one-dimensional characters.

I hadn't read anything about the movie beforehand, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it play out not as a farce but rather as a skewed and quirky buddy movie, with both characters learning from each other what it means to be human, at any age. Good use of subordinate characters as well, and although the film is hardly a masterpiece by any stretch, it most definitely has its heart in the right place.

Brittany was great, the movie wasn't all that

[matt10 · 5/10 · 23 August 2003]

I think Brittany was too good for this movie. The plot was so simple and obvious. I was bored when brit was not on screen but overall i was bored the whole time. The acting in this movie was not very good especially that little girl ray.

I think brittanys character at the start was horrible, not on her part but on the movies part. I would not watch this movie again purposely, because I know exactly what happens and it's boring, it has no replay. But maybe since i'm a guy, i could be wrong