Amanda Bynes stars as Daphne Reynolds, a girl who has grown up without a father. Her mother (Kelly Preston) tells her a wonderful story on her birthday every year, of a dashing man who swept her off her feet and they were married by the chieftain of a Bedouin tribe, but were unable to stay together because his family disapproved. All Daphne has of her father is a picture. She’s never seen him and he never knew she existed.
Daphne misses having a father. Whenever she sees a daughter with her father, she feels the lack. Finally, she decides to go to England and hunt him down herself.
Upon arriving, she finds that her father, Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth) is running for political office and her timing isn’t the best. She’s not exactly what the British would consider a proper daughter – she likes her music a little loud, she wears black fingernail polish, and she’s just herself. Henry is taken aback by the idea that he has a daughter, and is hurt that his wife never told him about Daphne, but he starts immediately to work her into his life, much to the disgust of his fiancé, Glynnis (Anna Chancellor).
In order for Daphne to fit into Henry’s political plans, she has to try to conform. She buys some new clothes, stuffs down her natural exuberance, and tries to fit in, but it’s making her miserable. All the joy she felt at being reunited with her father is gone in the light of having to be someone she’s not. Henry realizes what his campaign is costing her and pulls out from the race, determined to set things right.
This was a cute movie. I enjoyed the storyline and I especially enjoyed Colin Firth, although I have to say, it was a little odd to see him in a fatherly role and looking so cute at the same time (he was a little more dowdy in “Nanny McPhee.”)
Interesting side note: Anna Chancellor, the actress who plays Glynnis, also played Miss Bingley opposite Firth in “Pride and Prejudice.” Poor woman is doomed never to win him.
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