Uptown Girls Details

Newly broke “It Girl” Brittany Murphy takes a job as nanny to precocious youngster Dakota Fanning in this predictable comedy from Remember the Titans director Boaz Yakin. A frothy tale of trust and responsibility, it buries the strong performances of its leads under a nauseating script and an embarrassing romantic subplot. Following stand-out turns in I Am Sam and the sci-fi series Taken, Fanning is remarkably sophisticated as an uptight eight-year-old, while the always quirky Murphy fits the bill perfectly as a dead rock star's immature daughter. Their clash of personalities makes for flashes of spirited humour, and Fanning in particular clearly relishes her bratty role. Had Yakin concentrated solely on this chalk-and-cheese duo, he may have saved his movie, but instead he destroys any potential charm by focusing too heavily on Murphy's obsessive relationship with an unconvincing rock singer (Australian actor Jesse Spencer). The end result is a painful mess that's so sugary and sentimental, it's likely to give viewers stomach ache.

Molly Gunn (Murphy) is the party-hearty daughter of a late rock legend. When Molly's accountant makes off with her... read more on Time Out