Sydney White
Encyclopedia
Sydney White is a 2007 teen comedy film starring Amanda Bynes
, Sara Paxton
, and Matt Long
, and based on the story of Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs.
) 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 dork
s"), 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 because he graduated 6 years before but did not leave the Vortex and the "Dorks" are kicked out of the Vortex by the Health Department. Sydney then runs for president herself. She reaches out to all the campus clubs and organizations in a broadbased campaign reminiscent of the successful campaign waged by John F. Kennedy
in the 1960 U.S. Presidential election.
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 (who has by now fallen for Sydney) finds her, tells her she must wake up, and kisses her, which, "breaks the spell". Together, they rush to the debate (which is moderated by Sydney's Political Science
professor) 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 and is then drummed out of the sorority altogether, "killing
" her.
In the end, Sydney's dad and his colleagues repair the Vortex and Sydney White gets her prince.
Additional Characters:
, 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 cherub
ic 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
, Rollins College
, and University High School (Orlando)
.
Amanda Bynes
Amanda Laura Bynes is an American actress, comedian, singer, and fashion designer. Bynes appeared in several successful television series, such as All That and The Amanda Show, on Nickelodeon in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s, and in 2002, she starred in the TV series, What I Like About You...
, Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden...
, and Matt Long
Matt Long
Matthew Clayton "Matt" Long is an American actor. He played the teenaged Jack McCallister on Jack & Bobby, the younger Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider, and Tyler Prince in Sydney White....
, and based on the story of Snow White
Snow White
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
and the Seven Dwarfs.
Plot
Sydney White (Amanda BynesAmanda Bynes
Amanda Laura Bynes is an American actress, comedian, singer, and fashion designer. Bynes appeared in several successful television series, such as All That and The Amanda Show, on Nickelodeon in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s, and in 2002, she starred in the TV series, What I Like About You...
) is the daughter of a plumber
Plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
, 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
Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden...
), 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
Hazing
Hazing is a term used to describe various ritual and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group....
, 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 dork
Dork
Dork may refer to:* USA pejorative slang for a quirky, silly and/or stupid, socially inept person, or one who is out of touch with contemporary trends...
s"), especially Lenny, (Jack Carpenter) who falls for Dinky Hodgekiss (Crystal Hunt
Crystal Hunt
Crystal Clarese Hunt is an American actress. She is best known for playing Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light from 2003-2006. She played the role of Stacy Morasco on One Life to Live from February 2009 until March 2010.-Career:...
), 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 because he graduated 6 years before but did not leave the Vortex and the "Dorks" are kicked out of the Vortex by the Health Department. Sydney then runs for president herself. She reaches out to all the campus clubs and organizations in a broadbased campaign reminiscent of the successful campaign waged by John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
in the 1960 U.S. Presidential election.
Meanwhile, Sydney's Hot or Not
Hot or Not
Hot or Not is a rating site that allows users to rate the attractiveness of photos submitted voluntarily by others. The site also offers a match making engine called 'Meet Me' and an extended profile feature called 'HOTLISTS'. It is owned by Avid Life Media....
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
Computer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
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 (who has by now fallen for Sydney) finds her, tells her she must wake up, and kisses her, which, "breaks the spell". Together, they rush to the debate (which is moderated by Sydney's Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
professor) 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 and is then drummed out of the sorority altogether, "killing
Social death
Social death is a term used to describe the condition of people not accepted as fully human by wider society. Used by sociologists like Zygmunt Bauman and historians of the holocaust to describe the part played governmental and social segregation in that process...
" her.
In the end, Sydney's dad and his colleagues repair the Vortex and Sydney White gets her prince.
Cast
| Cast | Role | Character Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Amanda Bynes Amanda Bynes Amanda Laura Bynes is an American actress, comedian, singer, and fashion designer. Bynes appeared in several successful television series, such as All That and The Amanda Show, on Nickelodeon in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s, and in 2002, she starred in the TV series, What I Like About You... |
Sydney White | Snow White Snow White "Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm... |
| Matt Long Matt Long Matthew Clayton "Matt" Long is an American actor. He played the teenaged Jack McCallister on Jack & Bobby, the younger Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider, and Tyler Prince in Sydney White.... |
Tyler Prince | The Prince |
| Sara Paxton Sara Paxton Sara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden... |
Rachel Witchburn | The Evil Queen |
| Jack Carpenter | Lenny | Sneezy |
| Jeremy Howard Jeremy Howard Jeremy Patrick Howard is an American actor. He appeared in the films Sydney White, Galaxy Quest, and Accepted.Howard was born in Burbank, California, the son of Sharon Hess and actor Joe Howard.-Filmography:... |
Terrence | Doc |
| Danny Strong Danny Strong Daniel W. Strong is an American actor and writer in film and television.-Early life:Strong was born and raised in Manhattan Beach, California. where he would rent videos from Video Archives, becoming friends with Quentin Tarantino who was then a clerk there... |
Gurkin | Grumpy |
| Samm Levine Samm Levine Samuel Franklin "Samm" Levine is an American television and film actor. He is known for his portrayal of Neal Schweiber on NBC's short-lived Freaks and Geeks and PFC Hirschberg in the hit 2009 film Inglourious Basterds... |
Spanky | Happy |
| Adam Hendershott Adam Hendershott Adam Hendershott is an American actor.Hendershott was born in Los Angeles County, California. He has appeared in a number of film and television roles, including Sydney White and Jack & Bobby,Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls.... |
Jeremy | Bashful |
| Donté Bonner Donté Bonner Donté Bonner is an American actor.Bonner attended Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, where he was active in the drama program... |
Embele | Sleepy |
| Arnie Pantoja | George | Dopey |
| Crystal Hunt Crystal Hunt Crystal Clarese Hunt is an American actress. She is best known for playing Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light from 2003-2006. She played the role of Stacy Morasco on One Life to Live from February 2009 until March 2010.-Career:... |
Demetria "Dinky" Rosemead Hodgekiss | Rose Red Snow-White and Rose-Red Snow-White and Rose-Red is a German fairy tale. In the seventeenth century Charles Perrault was the first to write it down, but the best-known version is the one collected by the Brothers Grimm as tale number 161.... |
| Laptop Virus | Attack on Sydney's Apple Laptop | The Poisoned Apple |
| List on computer | Hot or Not list | The Queen's Magic Mirror |
| Kappa Phi Nu | Sorority | The Queen's Castle |
| The Vortex | Dorks' house | The Dwarves' Cottage |
Additional Characters:
- John SchneiderJohn Schneider (television actor)John Richard Schneider III is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bo Duke in the 1980s American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, and as Jonathan Kent on Smallville, a 2001 television adaptation of Superman.Alongside his acting career, Schneider performed as a...
as Paul White - Chris Carberg as Moose
- Brian Patrick ClarkeBrian Patrick ClarkeBrian Patrick Clarke is an American actor.Clarke was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and graduated from Yale University in 1974...
as Professor Carlton - Lauren Leech as Katy
- Ashley Eckstein as Alicia
- Mike Mage as Extra
- Erika Taylor as Extra
Critical reception
"Sydney White" has received mixed reviews. As of September 21, 2007 on the review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, 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 cherub
Cherub
A cherub is a type of spiritual being mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and cited later on in the Christian biblical canons, usually associated with the presence of God...
ic 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
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, 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
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
Production notes
Filming took place in and around Orlando from February 14, 2007 to April 4, 2007. Filming locations included the University of Central FloridaUniversity of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
, Rollins College
Rollins College
Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia....
, and University High School (Orlando)
University High School (Orlando)
University High School is a public high school in Orlando, Florida opened in 1990. The school is one of many public high schools in Orange County and is located about a mile from UCF. University High School has an International Baccalaureate program and a Global Technologies magnet program, which...
.