Sydney White (also known by the working title Sydney White and the Seven Dorks) is a 2007 film starring Amanda Bynes, Sara Paxton, and Matt Long, and based on the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

After the success of Warner Bros.' 2004 hit A Cinderella Story, Universal Studios picked up this project. Bynes was excited about the project, proclaiming, "We're having the best time, hoping for the best. I think people will connect with the Snow White story, the college setting, the witch, the dorks, all of it. I like the idea that my character is condemned by the Kappas, which is something a lot of girls go through. Evil witches always hate 'the fairest of them all.' So she befriends these dorks, a good movie for kids".

Plot

Sydney White (Amanda Bynes) is the daughter of a plumber, and has grown up among construction workers ever since her mother died when she was nine. Sydney earns a scholarship for college and hopes to follow the legacy of her mother and enter the Kappa Phi Nu sorority. Shortly after arriving at Southern Atlantic University, Sydney clashes with the sorority president Rachel Witchburn (Sara Paxton), after Rachel sees Sydney talking to her ex-boyfriend (although according to Rachel and those who speak on her behalf, he is her on-off boyfriend) Tyler Prince. Rachel tries to deny Sydney's bid for membership in the sorority, but cannot because Sydney's mother was a member. Despite Rachel's hazing, Sydney successfully meets all of the requirements during her time as a Kappa pledge.

Rachel schemes to keep Sydney out of the sorority and uses her presidential authority to declare Sydney unfit to be a Kappa. Humiliated, Sydney immediately leaves the Kappa house. With no place to go, Sydney is taken in by seven outcast students who live in "The Vortex" (which is called The Vortex because "it sucks in losers"), a house on Greek Row for people who don't belong. In the house, she befriends all the guys ("the dorks"), especially Lenny, (Jack Carpenter) who falls for Dinky Hodgekiss (Crystal Hunt), one of Sydney's popular friends.

The Vortex, however, is badly in need of repairs, and the Greeks will not pay for it. Rachel tries to get it condemned so she can build a Greek Centre in its place. An angry Sydney convinces one of her housemates, Terrance, to run for Student Body President on the "Freedom to the 7th Power" ticket in order to take back what the Greeks have had for so long. But he is disqualified and the "Dorks" are kicked out of the Vortex by the Health Department. Sydney then runs for president herself.

Meanwhile, Sydney's Hot or Not ranking on the school's website gradually rises to overtake Rachel's #1 position, which infuriates her. It is part of Rachel's daily routine to consult her computer ("mirror mirror on the wall") to see "who is the fairest of them all." Enraged, Rachel visits a hacker who remotely infects Sydney's computer (a "poisoned Apple"), which erases an important paper due the next day. Sydney studies all night at the library, and fails to awake in time for the presidential debate. Tyler finds her, tells her she must wake up, and kisses her, which, "breaks the spell". Together, they rush to the debate and Sydney gives a triumphant speech. Many members of various "dorky" groups on campus arrive to show their support. An angry Rachel is stripped of her presidency by her sorority sisters.

In the end, Sydney's dad and his colleagues repair the Vortex and Sydney White gets her prince.

Cast

Additional Characters:

*John Schneider as Paul White

*Chris Carberg as Moose

*Brian Patrick Clarke as Professor Carlton

*Lauren Leech as Katy

*Ashley Eckstein as Alicia

*Mike Mage as Extra

*Erika Taylor as Extra

*Heather Locklear as Cassie

Critical reception

"Sydney White" has received mixed reviews. As of September 21, 2007 on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 37% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 75 reviews (a movie is considered "rotten" when it receives less than 60% positive reviews).

Film critic Laura Kern of the New York Times said: "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."

A top critic on Rotten Tomatoes stated:

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

On Metacritic, the film had an average score of 44 out of 100, based on 19 reviews.

"Sydney White's message of embracing all kinds of people and not quaking in fear of the elite and popular is a sound one, but each twist and turn is so telegraphed and expected that the story feels wan and the comedy feeble." —Claudia Puig, USA Today

Production notes

Filming took place in and around Orlando from February 14, 2007 to April 4, 2007. Filming locations included the University of Central Florida, Rollins College, and University High School (Orlando).

Box office

The film opened at #6 at the U.S. Box office raking in $5,196,380 USD in its first opening weekend.

Rating

The film was rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some language, sexual humor, and partying.

See also

* Revenge of the Nerds

References