“Uptown Girls” (Metro Goldwyn Mayer)
“Uptown Girls” is a fairy tale of a story that is weak in several places, but strong where it counts. And that is in the performances of Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning. These two young actresses light up the screen with their story of an immature young woman and a too mature young girl.
Murphy plays Molly Gunn, a rich, spoiled orphan who lives the New York high life with rarely a care for anyone or anything other than her own pleasure. She is the daughter of a 70’s rock star and has some celebrity spillover from that fact.
Fanning is Ray Schleine, an eight year old going on forty. Her mother is record producer Roma Schleine (Heather Locklear) and her father is in a coma. She has basically raised herself and she is not tolerant of flighty grown-ups.
When Molly’s accountant absconds with all her money the only job she can find is as Ray’s nanny. It is not a perfect match by any means but slowly Molly begins to grow up and Ray begins to loosen up. Watching these transformations makes for enjoyable movie magic.
The weaknesses of the movie are in the details. In an early scene Molly’s power is cut off – but the TV still works! Also the side story of her romance with a rock star (Jesse Spencer) is just wasted moments. Murphy and Spencer have little chemistry, and the audience really doesn’t care about the romance.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and adult situations.
Brittany Murphy manages to take one of the most obnoxiously written roles and still make us care for the character. Now that takes talent. You really don’t want to like Molly but as she grows up, she grows on you.
Fanning’s Ray has your heart from the start. She lets her frail frame and frightened eyes convey a lost soul who is desperate for a friend and some security in her world. With a turn of her head or a shrug of her shoulders, Fanning can say scores about who this lost child is.
One thing that would have added to the film would have been the inclusion of Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” song. It ain’t there.
“Uptown Girls” is a movie that shouldn’t have been as enjoyable and touching as it is. But the magnificent Ms. Murphy and the fantastic Ms. Fanning make it that way.
I scored “Uptown Girls” a high rise 5 out of 10.
