After the raunchy AMERICAN PIE PRESENTS: THE NAKED MILE, SLEEPOVER director Joe Nussbaum returns to tween-form with a contemporary take on the Grimm Brothers' Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Tomboy Sydney (Amanda Bynes) was raised by her widowed plumber father (John Schneider) and his team of construction workers. Even on the cusp of adulthood, a time when most girls concern themselves with Prada and flavored lip gloss, she’d rather read comics and play with power tools. But Sydney is about to start college at her mother’s alma mater and is also preparing to set aside her tomboy image so she can join her mom's old sorority. Her troubles begin when aptly named sorority president Rachel Witchburn (SLEEPOVER’s Sara Paxton) comes into the picture and spots Sydney innocently talking to her ex-boyfriend. Sydney is guaranteed a shot at membership because she’s a legacy, but Rachel intends to make the pledge process excruciatingly difficult. But as the pledge program gets under way, outgoing Sydney has already begun making friends in the sorority and has landed hunky frat boy Tyler Prince (Matt Long). She's even made it onto the school’s "Hot or Not" website, which is unheard of for a freshman. Determined to put an end to Sydney’s sudden rise to social stardom, Rachel removes her from the pledge program — on induction night no less! Cast out by her sisters, Sydney is reduced to seeking shelter at the Vortex, the rundown house at the end of Greek Row occupied by outcasts deemed unworthy of inclusion in any of the school’s social clubs. Enter the seven dorks: allergy-prone hypochondriac Lenny, angry blogger Gurkin, shy puppeteer Jeremy, permanently jetlagged exchange student Embele, horny Spanky, elder statesman Terrence and lovable simpleton George. Though her dreams of joining her mother's sorority have been shattered, Sydney feels at home with the dorks. She's content in her new social circle, she still has the big man on campus, and her stock on the "Hot or Not" website continues to rise. This, naturally, makes Rachel more determined to destroy Sydney’s social life, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to maintain her status as the queen of Greek Row and student-council president.
Amanda Bynes, no stranger to remakes, uses her natural cuteness and awkward style of humor to make the role of Sydney her own in this adorably clever rethinking of a classic fairy tale. And the film's comically rousing conclusion will have adults and kids alike acknowledging and embracing their inner geekdom: "My name is Adam Schubak, I like Amanda Bynes movies.... And I’m a dork!" leave a comment --Adam Schubak
