Really Surprised!

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

RELEASED IN 2003 and directed by Boaz Yakin, "Uptown Girls" is a dramedy with a little romance about Molly (Brittany Murphy), a fun-loving 22 year-old who suddenly loses her inherited riches and is forced to become a nanny to a stoical neat-freak girl, Ray (Dakota Fanning). Heather Locklear plays Ray's distant mother who's an exec in the music biz while Jesse Spencer plays a hunky musician who gets signed. Marley Shelton and Donald Faison are on hand as friends of Molly. The first act didn't do much for me, but at the halfway point something made me bust out laughing and I busted out four more times before it was over. More importantly, the movie is rich with quality mind/spirit food. Both Molly and Ray are broken people who handle their grief in opposite ways. And each has what the other needs to heal and escape their disorder."Uptown Girls" boldly reveals that "meds" (drugs) cannot heal or deliver a person; the best they can do is help a person cope. In fact, they usually have negative side-effects, mentally and physically. Sadly, six years after the release of the film Murphy ironically died of cardiac arrest due to inadvertent overdoses of a mixture of over-the-counter & prescription drugs taken (they presume) for a respiratory infection. She was only 32.The flick encourages growing up and achieving true success through (1.) recognizing "golden connections" and taking advantage of them (after all, no one makes it alone, no one; they had help); and (2.) discerning and cultivating one's special talent(s). I'd say more, but it's better to see the movie, enjoy it, and quarry the gems for oneself. THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 32 minutes and was shot in New York City (Manhattan & Brooklyn with studio work done in Queens). WRITERS: Julia Dahl, Mo Ogrodnik & Lisa Davidowitz wrote the script based on Allison Jacobs' story. GRADE: B+

Brittany Murphy charms as Molly, an immature, sexy, hoarder who lives in the hotel from Babe 2: Pig in the City and sleeps with the pig Babe from Babe. She nannies for Dakota Fanning as Ray, a Skynet-created simulant of a child actor dead set on destroying all humanity, starting with her own facial expressions. The pair butt heads over the idea of "acting one's age" and "who can be a bigger ¢U₦₮." Amidst career and family crises, financial woes, and an unhealthy obsession with forcing sex on the (Australian?) dude from House, Molly learns that no matter how rich, white, privileged, selfish, cruel, and manipulative you are, you can always improve by surrounding yourself with even more selfish, cruel, rich white people that make you seem like a damn saint in comparison. Also she learns that Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray would like her to build him some special rock n' roll pants.While distracted by the fact that I was watching a dead person babysit a ghost, I still managed to register all the screen writing shortcuts, shameless clichés, sexist tropes, and dated licensed music on offer. Imagine my surprise when the film's climax offered an emotionally satisfying arc for all parties involved, reminding us that true, selfless, love and friendship is the most powerful force in this world. Uptown Girls is a family film that's not for kids. A comedy with no real laughs. A romance about codependent manipulation and sexual victimization. A cynical, lazy, trainwreck of a film that left me in tears. RIP Brittany Murphy. Heather Locklear could still get it. And Nasty Nas shows up.

This movie seems to be geared towards children, but it is NOT a kid's movie. I enjoyed Brittany Murphy's portrayal of a truly clueless heiress who's lived on the memory and bank account of her deceased parents. What strikes me as realistic, is that I've know people like this. Who've covered their real pain with spending a majority of their adult lives in a muddled haze in order not to confront the pain of the truth.Once Molly has to face her own demons thru the eyes of Dakota's character, you see that she will be a strong fulfilled person. And that is a nice way to NOT get preachy.Boaz Yakin's direction is amazing, because he skates the typical rom-com with real emotions. Similar to the way he's done "Remember The Titans", he gives it a touch of truth, even though we are clearly in a fairy tale story. I am impressed with his ability to not get TOO corny, but still play it up for emotions. Obviously, you will get the staples of physical humor (break a heel and trip, closet contents falling on head), but these pratfalls are few between that you can forgive it.Some of the plot lines are frustrating though. The Heather Locklear character has only one speed and you feel that her "change" may be too...pat. But for the most part, you either go with the flow or get angry that you're being manipulated. I went with the flow.In hindsight, and knowing the fate of Brittany Murphy, it's sad to see what could've been. She is a stronger actress than people seem to give her credit for. I think had she grown up into her late 30's or 40's, I almost feel she may have done more important work. In that sense, this movie feels haunted because of this knowledge. And watching it now...there is more gravity to her character.

Don't go by the name or the poster. This is a great movie, period. It may start out as a chick flick. That is the major characters in this movie are women. But its not vanilla. This movie captures the feeling where everyone is getting what they want except you. But women in this movie don't change because of the selfish people around them who claim to love them. It made me cry and I'm sure it can make a boy/dude/hunk cry. The acting is classic. The character stay true to their roles to the end. And though one of them is a 28 year old loser and the other a mysophobic punctual 8 year old you develop respect and love for both as they do for each other. I would never mind watching it again.