With all of the celebrity “news” these days talking about Britney’s parenting, alcohol and drug problems, Lindsey’s second (or was that third?) DUI and Nicole’s day in jail, it’s nothing less than refreshing to see a young Hollywood starlet who brings talent, humor and (what’s that?) straight-laced living to the table. Unfortunately that category of actress seems to be facing a current deficit, but one name inevitably comes to mind and that is Amanda Bynes.

Bynes’ quirky characters and comic timing have been on display for audiences since she was just 10 years old when she landed a recurring role on the TV show “All That.” She had her very own variety show at age 13, “The Amanda Show,” in which she starred in all of the skits except one, and hasn’t slowed down since.

Most recently she has starred in this summer’s film “Hairspray” and in the uproarious comedy “She’s The Man,” a modernized version of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” Now she’s starring in another modern take on a classic, “Sydney White.”

Based on the Disney classic, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Sydney White” tells the story of its title character heading off to her first year of college. After her mom died while she was still a little girl, Sydney dreamed of attending her mother’s alma mater and joining her mother’s much respected sorority in the hopes of feeling closer to her. Once Sydney joins the rushing process, she discovers, much to her dismay, that the sisterhood isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days of true loyalty and support, and in its place is a fiercely competitive, and even vindictive, group of girls led by the queen bee Rachel.

After being humiliated and dismissed from the sorority on pledge night, Sydney finds herself rooming with seven social outcasts in a decrepit house on campus. Sydney takes it upon herself, with the help of her new friends, to challenge the school’s current social system.

While “Sydney White” isn’t quite as funny as “She’s the Man” (one of my favorite comedies in recent memory), it still ranks high on my list of fun films to watch. Bynes is completely comfortable in the beautiful but silly girl-next-door role, and is the reason this film works so well.

Going into it, I expected Bynes to be funny as usual, but I was surprised to find the writing and other characters quite funny as well. I wasn’t the only one in the theater who had a good experience with this film, either. A mixed group of ages, races and styles filled the theater’s seats, and nearly everyone leaving the theater had positive things to say upon exiting.

“Sydney White” won’t be winning any Oscars this year, but given the slew of low-brow comedies currently finding their way to the big screen, it’s definitely among the best. Fun, funky and thoroughly worth a trip to the theater, “Sydney White” is another bright spot on Bynes’ resume.

login to post comments