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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Sydney White

EMAILPRINTUniversal Pictures

Sydney White reviews
45
7.8 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 21 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 7 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Comedy

Written by: Chad Creasey

Directed by: Joe Nussbaum

Release Date:
Theatrical: September 21, 2007
DVD: January 22, 2008

Running Time: 90 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: PG-13 for some language, sexual humor and partying

Starring Amanda Bynes, Matt Long, Sara Paxton, John Schneider, and Jack Carpenter

In a college comedy that puts a modern-day twist on an age-old story, Sydney White tells the tale of a tomboy freshman who ditches her conniving sorority sisters and finds a new home with a group of very dorky outcasts. Fed up with the way they've been treated, she's off to war against the reigning campus royalty. (Universal Pictures)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

75

TV Guide Adam Schubak

I like Amanda Bynes movies…and I’m a dork!

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67

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

The result is a charmer that boldly marches where lesser movies - at least since the heyday of John Hughes - fear to tread.

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67

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

"Revenge of the Nerds" is way cooler in its proud defense of geekosity, no question. But anti-ditz role model Amanda Bynes just happens to be cute.

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63

Miami Herald Connie Ogle

Its silly Snow White allusions aside, Sydney White is a simple but amiable modern fairy tale.

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63

New York Post Kyle Smith

Destined to enchant the slumber parties.

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60

The New York Times Laura Kern

Ms. Bynes, with her cherubic face, expressive eyes and comic timing, helps create a positive, pleasing diversion that caters to the geek in all of us.

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58

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Andy Spletzer

Although Bynes exudes a devil-may-care attitude that is fun to watch, the formulaic movie ultimately falls apart around her.

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58

Portland Oregonian M. E. Russell

14-year-old girls will dig its amiable energy.

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50

Chicago Reader Joshua Katzman

While the film's premise is shamelessly hokey and Joe Nussbaum's direction is at best pedestrian, props are due the young cast, especially Bynes, whose can-do optimism seems genuine if ultimately overdone.

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50

Variety Lael Loewenstein

Result should satisfy Bynes fans looking for a pleasant, innocuous follow-up to her last vehicle.

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50

Chicago Tribune Maureen M. Hart

Director Joe Nussbaum (“Sleepover”) doesn’t do much with his cast; there’s a lot of standing around as he indulges Bynes’ tendency to mug.

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50

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Unfortunately, though, Bynes' persistent mugging only emphasizes Nussbaum's relentlessly cartoonish direction.

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50

The Hollywood Reporter Sheri Linden

Cute and cartoonish rule the day, and teens and tweens will be the film's chief audience.

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50

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

For all these references to the fairytale, Sydney White soon takes an easier path, recycling familiar "Mean Girls" and "Revenge of the Nerds" scenarios.

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50

USA Today Claudia Puig

Each twist and turn is so telegraphed and expected that the story feels wan and the comedy feeble.

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50

San Francisco Chronicle Walter Addiego

A mediocre college comedy that blends bits of "Revenge of the Nerds," "Mean Girls" and "Legally Blonde" and doesn't have much to show for it.

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40

Los Angeles Times Jan Stuart

Sydney White is a carnival of ethnic and social stereotypes that are rising up against the lily-white status quo. In Hollywood, blond princesses and fairy tales die hard.

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40

LA Weekly Luke Y. Thompson

Unfortunately, this film doesn’t have the cojones to take the fairy tale all the way and have Rachel marry Sydney’s dad (or cast actual dwarfs). But director Joe Nussbaum knows his dorkdom, and nails it.

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38

Boston Globe Ty Burr

Sydney White makes "Mean Girls" look like Shakespeare.

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30

Austin Chronicle Toddy Burton

It’s cheesy and contrived, but even the most watered-down stories retain elements of the original masterpieces.

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0

The Onion (A.V. Club) Tasha Robinson

What's the excuse for dumbing down Snow White to moron level? Are there really people out there who thought the original version just didn't have enough toilet jokes?

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Marcus A. gave it a0:
I couldn't stand seeing this movie with 3 good reviews, so I brought it down a peg.

George O. gave it a10:
Fun movie with a great message!

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