I got the chance to see Amanda Bynes’ latest flick Sydney White (pictured) earlier this week — a modern-day version of Snow White in which the dwarves are replaced by dorks, and the evil queen is replaced by a sorority president whose last name is Witchburn — and while it was cute, I couldn’t stop thinking throughout the entire movie: haven’t I seen her play this exact role before?
Case in point:
Bynes’ movie plots are always somehow driven by parental issues:
- In Sydney White, she strives to join a sorority to reconnect with her mother, who passed away when she was a child.
- In She’s The Man, her parents are so consumed by their divorce that they don’t even notice their daughter is now dressing up as their son.
- In What A Girl Wants, she heads to London to try to reunite with her long-lost dad, who is, conveniently, a British aristocrat.
…and she always plays characters with a go-girl attitude who’s trying to right the wrongs of society:
- In Sydney White, she’s fighting against the reign of Greeks in student government on campus in order to restore power to the rest of the students.
- In She’s The Man, she’s out to prove to a sexist boys-soccer coach that girls are, in fact, good enough to play on a boys team.
- In What A Girl Wants, she’s at odds with her father’s new family, who find her Bohemian style and adventurous nature unsuitable for the high-society in which they live.
- Even in Hairspray, her character Penny helps Tracy Turnblad stand up against segregation on the Corny Collins show.
… and, finally, without fail, she always portrays afree-spirited, anti-girly girl who prefers jeans over dresses, embracessports, and rejects conformity.
Looking at the examples above makes me wonder: What happened to Bynes once-budding career? Not too longago, following the success of her sitcom What I Like About You,she was being hailed as Hollywood’s next big young female comedian. In fact, here at EW, we even dubbed her the "It Ingenue" inour 2002 It List issue, proclaiming, "She looks like the teen next door, but has a knack for slapstick reminiscent of Lucille Ball."
Having stayed out of the tabloid spotlight (unlike a majority of herformer teen-queen counterparts), I think most people are rooting forBynes to succeed (I know I am), but if she keeps taking on suchformulaic roles, I’m not so sure how that will ever happen.
So tell me, Popwatchers, how do you think can she save her future?Do you think she’s already squandered her early fame and success? Or do you think she keepstaking on the same type of role over and over again because Hollywoodjust doesn’t know how to handle funny women?
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i like her – and i hear from a reliable source that she has Puffy nipples…. mmmm chew on that…
I’m not sure exactly what city you live in, Lindsay (for all I know you could be phoning it in from somewhere in Ohio) but I will tell you this.. go outside and do something fun. This is one of the most useless pop watch blogs..ever… EVER!
Seriously, let her pick whatever roles she wants.. she’ll stop as soon as studios stop asking for her. Her movies are fine and since they’re focused at pre-teens.. the roles are appropriate.
I’m rooting for her to and I hope this movie does well so she can continue to get work. Hopefully this will be the last of these movies shes in. What a Girl wants was Middle School, She’s then Man was High School and Sydney White is Collage.
I have to assume there is no shortage of now-defunct Lindsay Lohan vehicles out there….Amanda should call Tina Fey and get Fey to work on a great comedy vehicle for her.
But I’m with you, Lindsay – I’m rooting for Amanda to make it. She’s REALLY funny, and I’d like to believe that 20 years from now, we’re talking about how she and Rachel McAdams helped saved film for young, up-and-coming actresses.
Well I am phoning it from somewhere in Ohio (lol TuMadre) and all I have to say is at least she’s not out snorting crack and getting DUIs and showing her bits all over the place, in and out of jail and rehab like Lindsay and Paris and Britney. Her roles may be formulaic, but her fans really love her (I’ve only seen a couple of her movies but I thought she was really funny and a capable actress) and I think she has loads of potential. She’s doing steps up–this is a college comedy as opposed to a high school one, it looks like–maybe now she just needs a more grown-up movie or tv comedy to cement her as the new go-to funny girl. I would definitely not say that she’s squandered her fame and early success!
Actually, TuMadre, I’d argue that the most useless Popwatch post EVER is the one right before this one, about some Jason guy on “The Hills” no one cares about marrying someone off of facebook.
As for Bynes, it’s not just that Hollywood doesn’t know what to do with funny women (which it doesn’t) it’s that Hollywood just wants to put actors (ANY actor) in a box and keep them there. Tom Cruise has been playing the cocky pilot/lawyer/secret agent/sports agent for more than 20 year, Christopher Walken is now always some weird guy, Jodie Foster’s constantly a woman in peril in her starring roles, etc. Come on, Hollywood…take a chance!
Hell to the NO… Amanda Bynes is a comic GENIUS I tell ya! She’s the Man was GOLD!
Seriously though, I usually hate this crap but for some reason Amanda Bynes always makes me laugh and I really DID love She’s the Man so I’m kind of excited about this new one actually!
As long as ol’ Amanda doesn’t lose 40 pounds, date Wilmer Valderrama, snort coke on YouTube, “forget” to wear underwear, go to jail for 4 hours and come out “changed,” or shave her head, I’d say she’s doing pretty well, wouldn’t you? At least by Hollywood standards…
I’m not fully convinced of her ‘comic genius.’ She always seems so wooden on screen.
It’s odd, but frequently I get the impression that the Popwatch Staffers don’t read each other’s posts or assume we don’t. Because it was only a month or two ago when Popwatch was talking about how cool it was that Amanda Bynes had turned 20 without going psycho and was generally singing her praises.
Agreed that she does try and right the wrongs of the world in all her movies (Linday, you forgot “Big Fat Liar” in which a tomboy-ish Bynes helps Frankie Muniz get revenge on an infamous hollywood no-good), but better she play this uplifting character than a heroin addict.
She’ll grow into more roles as time comes. For now, she looks young, cute and right minded. Why not let her run with it? We’ll have plenty of time to see her as a hooker with a heart of gold, mercenary turned mom or other allegedly “grown up” role.
hey TuMadre, since when does PopWatch actually contain usefull information? It’s called POPWATCH! Not InformationYouWillNeedToSucceedInLifeWatch. So simmer down and have fun.
Cause & Effect. She plays this type of role because she does it well so the more of this type of role she gets offered.
Wasn’t the idea of retelling snow white but replacing the Dwarfs with Dorks done on Saved by the Bell 15 years ago? Way to go hollywood, you are now stealing your story ideas from Zack Morris.
I know I’m rooting for Ms. Bynes to make it the movie business but I’m, for one, am tired of all this TEEN romantic goofball comedy. She is SOO much better than that. I really enjoyed her in “Hairspray”. I hope her next project(s) will veer away from what she’s known for now.
She needs to take on some funny ensemble roles; I think she needs to be in some movies with some great adults to really learn the game. She got thrust into starring roles too early and only knows one type. Get her a supporting role in some solid, clean romantic comedies and prestigious ensemble dramedies a la Prairie Home Companion.
I admire her for doing roles that are age appropriate and enjoyable. Too many young starlets try to grow up too fast. She seems like she isn’t taking things too seriously. She’s got plenty of time to explore deeper material and more mature themes.
So let me get this straight – you’re knocking a girl who makes movies for little girls who need a positive role model? Interesting.
She needs to stop going to the tanning salon. I can barely look at her anymore. Her character name should be Sydney SuperTan.
Loved Chaddogg’s suggestion that she hook up (no, no, no…not THAT kind of hook up) with Tina Fey – that could be a brilliant move. Personally, even my 19 year old son noticed how good she was as Penny in Hairspray – thought the part was slight, he really enjoyed her performance and her little bit of singing and thought she looked “hot”. I think that’s the kind of role she should look for…small, supporting roles that showcase a variety of skills.
I would think the appropriate question is – how does she keep getting movie roles when she cannot act! I watched “What A Girl Wants” (just because it was filmed in London) and she is HORRIBLE. I don’t know who is worse – Amanda or Hilary Duff. YEESH.
I agree with fredric about knocking her similar roles. I think while she looks young and tweenish keep making the same non girly girl movies. Isn’t that what Avril is all about? I think she’s seen what happens to her counterparts who try to take that big step into Adult movies and her parents & her had the right mind to say, “No thanks.” I think b/c the blogger has watched her grow up makes her think the clock is ticking on her career and it’s not. Time is still on her side.
To fredric – I second you absolutely. She is choosing parts that maintain her as a positive role model. On the other hand, she truly is a brilliant comedian, and it would be great for her to have the opportunity to really showcase that.
And yes, please stay away from the tanning salon, Amanda!
Yeah I’m with the first poster – I heard she has Puffy nipples too – not that theres anything wrong with that – is that like a bad thing? to have puffy nipples?
The Olsen twins played the same role over and over, and I don’t think they have much to complain about.
I’ve never been sold on her “acting skills” either. If tripping over a sofa with a goofy look on your face is talent, a lot of awkward teens should be making millions right now. She was one of the weakest links in Hairspray (thankfully, Travolta saved her from being THE weakest), and should never be handed a singing role again. If you want a good Penny, give Kerry Butler a try.
Personally I enjoy Amanda Bynes’ role choices even if they are aimed at the pre-teens of today. Better those choices than Britney, LiLo, Paris, etc. I agree she should team up w/Tina Fey for some fresh new roles. But quit the hair dye/overtanning!
did anyone notice that she’s orange in the movie trailers?
There’s nothing wrong with being a good role model role in films, but when you play the same cute, klutzy, tomboyish roles over and over again, even your fan base will get bored with you. She may be compared with Lucille Ball, but even Ms. Ball’s schtick got tired by the time Life With Lucy hit the airwaves. If Amanda Bynes expects to still have a career past drinking age, she should join the Judd Apatow posse. THEY know comedy isn’t all about tripping over furniture and stuffing your face with food.
she should do an indie a’la lindsay lohan in bobby or prairie and she should do a risque r rated comedy but it has to be really funny. not slapstick but real smart.
Truthfully, there is a part of me that doesn’t care if her roles are repetitive as long as she is promoting an intelligent, classy version of a young Hollywood starlet. She is a breath of fresh air compared to so many of the “It Girls” out there today.
At the same time I would love to see her challenge herself in the future. But I don’t think there is anything wrong with a young actress easing herself into high-class projects by perfecting her craft in more popular style projects.
After all, isn’t it better to do a Jodie Foster by learning the trade in a Freaky Friday and then embarking on a Taxi Driver?