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Sydney White Reviews: "Amanda Bynes is adorable - as usual...Anyone who doubted Amanda Bynes can carry a movie needs look no further than this entertaining bit of comedy. Bynes is growing up in front of our eyes, and her talent as a comedic actress has expanded by leaps and bounds. Surrounded by a well cast group of 'dorks' and sorority witches (led by Sara Paxton), as well as the requisite hottie (played by Matt Long), Bynes' solid performance as the nerdy girl who gets the guy makes this modern day take on Snow White a whole lot of fun." - Rebecca Murray (About.com) "Amanda Bynes is the real deal when it comes to emerging young comic talent...Surprisingly, "Sydney White" is more than it really deserves to be. We can thank Bynes for that. She doesn't have to carry this barely sustainable romantic comedy totally alone. Just almost... There's something about Bynes, though, that's special. I saw "Sydney White" in a large theater more than half full of girls in the young teen range." - Larry Ratliff (MySA.com) "Sydney White (apple-cheeked, always likable Amanda Bynes)... (one hopes the target audience will note there's nothing loserish about the non-anorexic Bynes)..." - Bruce Ingram (Pioneer Press) "Bynes, a one-time Nickelodeon mainstay (“The Amanda Show,” “All That”) has a fresh, albeit safe appeal. She’s like Ashley Tisdale, but with better comic chops." - Rachel Leibroc (Kansas City.com) "yet again Amanda brings her comical act to the big screen with another hit. She is one of the younger talents with true abilities and a huge future ahead of her in this industry...This film was a pleasant surprise and I would recommend it for a family night out. 3.5 out of 4 stars" - Jolene Mendez (Entertainment Spectrum) "Bynes -- who was so fun in this summer's "Hairspray" -- turns in a charming, bubbly performance as Sydney. She displays deft comic timing when her character is forced to move in with her seven nerds, who all are never quite sure how to handle a girl who can throw a football harder than they can and knows all about comic books." - James Ward (Herald Dispatch) "The most enjoyable moments of the film are those that allow Bynes free-range over loosely-defined material. The actress is effortlessly charming here and brings a much needed energy to the lead role, perfectly balancing the zany spunk of her character with a generally attractive and appealing quality that gains the sympathies of the audience. Bynes also has terrific chemistry with the cast of the seven dorks in the film; they share several scenes that had even me, the epitome of a cinematic cynic, laughing out loud. Not to mention, Bynes perfectly complements the evil of Paxton’s wickedly (and brilliantly) played Rachel." - Danny Baldwin (Bucket Reviews) "Bynes, despite oddly unflattering hair and makeup, brings a perky, good-sport persona to the proceedings that helps" - Jane Horwitz (Washington Post) "the actress pulls it all off with good humor...Bynes does a terrific job. Her expressions really sell the sometimes familiar material, and she’s always a pleasure to watch." - Johanna (Comics Worth Reading)
"As Tracy’s loyal best friend Penny, Amanda Bynes (She’s the Man) has very little dialogue and doesn’t sing and dance as much as the rest of the cast, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off her when she came on screen. Talk about scene-stealing! Her big, expressive eyes tell us everything we need to know about what she’s thinking. Bynes’ impeccable comic timing never ceases to amaze me." - Pete Vonder Haar (Film Threat) "Another terrific performance is provided by Amanda Bynes as "Penny Pingleton", Tracy's best friend. Ms. Bynes has huge blue eyes that assist the actress in providing some hysterical facial expressions during her mishaps and adventures with Tracy. The girl has some festive comedic timing and delivery as well. To complete the package, Bynes has a terrific set of vocal pipes as well." - John Garcia (Pegasus News) "Bynes is unexpectedly terrific" - Betsy Pick (ScripsNews) "Amanda Bynes an unlikely bonus as her prim pal Penny" - Neil Smith (Channel 4) "But only Amanda Bynes as Tracy’s best friend, Penny, comes close to credible emotion; she looks at the high school’s dazzling black dancer, Seaweed (Elijah Kelley), with googly-eyed bliss. Yet, composer-lyricist Marc Shaiman never gives Penny and Seaweed a worthy duet. " - Armond White (New York Press) "For teen and tween audiences, the bonus casting includes former Nickelodeon star Amanda Bynes, amusingly geeky as Tracy's best friend Penny" - Kevin Lally (Film Journal) "Amanda Bynes steals her share of scenes as Tracy's straitlaced, lollypop-sucking best pal." - Phil Villarreal (ZXNighBuzz.Com) "Helping her is best friend Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes) who has so much energy you have to wonder what her token lollipop is really made of." - Sarah Nielson (Globe) "Amanda Bynes who also seems to be headlining this movie. She has all that tween pulling power...But I mean really what is a Potter compared to a Bynes?" - Meredith LePore (Pretty Boring) "Amanda Bynes and Elijah Kelly as the interracial couple Penny Pingleton and Seaweed are standouts in a high-stepping cast..." - Newsweek Entertainment "Kelley, Blonsky, Amanda Bynes (playing a slightly less daft Penny Pingleton) carry the show, their seemingly boundless energy keeping the movie aloft." - David Foucher (Edge Boston) "Bynes is perfect as the blinking airhead Penny." -TowleRoad "Queen Latifah is subtle and - sensational as record shop owner Motormouth Maybelle, though perhaps best of all is Amanda Bynes, reeking innocent sexiness as Tracy's best pal." - Mark Adams (Sunday Mirror) "Bynes and Zac Efron as best friend and boyfriend respectively, also make the most of their spotlight" - Soobhan Synnot (Scotsman.Com) "Supporting cast members Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, and Queen Latifah were fantastic. Actually they were better than the old cast members Sonny Bono, Pia Zadora, ex-Blondie Debbie Harry, and Ruth Brown." - Gerald Wright (Blog Critics) "But then you have the underrated; James Marsden, Allison Janney and Amanda Bynes, really talented people cast to perfect types." - C. Robert Cargill (Film.Com) "Tracy and her BFF (a wide-eyed Amanda Bynes, nearly as good as Blonsky)..." - Kyle Smith (Kyle Smith Online) "The first-class cast includes Amanda Bynes as Tracy’s best bud (and Allison Janney as the girl’s uptight mom), Christopher Walken (a song-and-dance veteran) as Tracy’s slightly loony dad (he boasts of owning “the Taj Mahal of joke shops”) and a magnificent Queen Latifah as Motormouth " - Bob Ross (Sticks of Fire) "... friend Penny Pingleton (an adorable Amanda Bynes)" - James Verniere (Boston Herald) "brilliant supporting performances by Zach Efron, Elijah Kelley, Amanda Bynes, and Allison Janney really help to flesh out the fabulousness." - Bill Gibron (Pop Matters) "But the smaller players are gems as well, particularly the usually blank Bynes, who subtly brings out the innocent Penny’s sexiness" - Tricia Olszewski (Washington City Paper) "Abetted by wonderful performances from Blonsky, Queen Latifah (as the soulful Motormouth Maybelle), Amanda Bynes, Efron and Kelley, the song and dance numbers brilliantly do their job." - Bruce Newman (MediaNews) "...her oddly endearing best friend Penny (Amanda Bynes, a comic revelation here)" - Dann Gire (Daily Herald) "Amanda Bynes is a definite asset as her blooming sidekick who gains the attention of the explosive Elijah Kelley..." - Hap Erstein (Palm Beach Post) "Tracy's friends, played by Elijah Kelley and Amanda Bynes, and love interest Efron, will attract the Disney Channel tweeners, but also prove their talents, delivering breakthrough worthy performances" - Hoang-Mai Hong (Guantlet Entertainment) "(Amanda Bynes, never better)...Bynes, Efron and Kelley, the song-and-dance numbers brilliantly do their job." - Bruce Newman (Mercury News) "The supporting players - notably Amanda Bynes as Tracy's wallflower pal Penny and Elijah Kenney ("Take the Lead") as Maybelle's dance-loving son Seaweed - come into their own." - Sean P. Means (Salt Lake Tribune) "the surprisingly-not-at-all-annoying Amanda Bynes (who probably wins the award for best facial expressions in the film)" - Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey (Phillyist) "stand out supporting turns from the likes of Amanda Bynes (a riot) and Allison Janey (as her overbearing mom)." - Jack Foley (IndieLondon) "And I LOVE Amanda Bynes: She's displayed a truly funny, goofy side on TV, and she's also proven she's a talented movie actress. (The fact that she doesn't go to Les Deux every night or hasn't been in rehab are big pluses, too.) But she is woefully underused in the movie in the role of Penny Pingleton, Tracy's best friend. I just wanted more -- because she can do so much more." - Sanford Marcus (Gay Blog) "I loved seeing Amanda Bynes as Penny Pingleton. I know when Amanda was trying to carry the comedic lead in a film like She’s the Man, it didn’t work so well. But casting her as the kooky sidekick was inspired. She shines here and steals almost every on-screen moment." - (ThePriceofLife) "Tracy's blithe best friend, played by the lovely Amanda Bynes" - David Edelstein (NPR) "Bynes is unexpectedly terrific" - Betsy Pickle (Scripps Howard News Service) "Amanda Bynes, when cast in "Hairspray" as sidekick, she has charisma to spare. She steals scenes with a single look, and I'm not exaggerating, her performance reminded me of Dean Martin and Paul Rudd. Amanda Bynes will get the best reviews of her career for this movie" - BlogStock "Bynes is a hoot as the lollypop-sucking, best gal-pal one could hope for: all naive, guileless loyalty. And when Penny's candle gets ignited at the other end, her independent spirit also begins to blossom." - Kit Bowen (Hollywood.Com) "As Tracy's best friend Penny Pingleton, Amanda Bynes ("She's the Man") starts out like a blissed out piece of wood, but her interracial romance with Seaweed gradually brings out something more in the actress" - Laura Clifford (Reeling Review) "Best of all the supporting players though is Amanda Bynes, who doesn’t get much in the way of musical epiphany, but is perfect in her suppressed exuberance in wanting to join in on it all. Bynes is a wonderful comedic presence and I hope people will take note of her attention to reaction." - Erik Childress (E Film Critic) "As fine as the performances uniformly are — Bynes has been quietly displaying a serious comic gift for some time now" - Carina Chocano (Calendar Live) "Then again, there is at least one performer who manages to shine her brightest and elevate the film whenever she's on screen, even when she's only in the backdrop of a shot: I've said it before and I'll say it again, Amanda Bynes is Amanda fine! I've been harsh on the Shankman so far, but his handling of the Penny Pingleton character, Tracy's best friend, is a stroke of genius. She's cute as a button with her pigtails and green schoolgirl jumper, her dumb blonde act is a hoot and you gotta love how she's always slurping on a lollypop! She's also got the chance not to be paired with a white bread bore like Zac Efron but with the single best singer and dancer in the film, Negro Day superstar Elijah Kelley. The two have sizzling chemistry, too, and their few scenes together are every bit as exhilarating as the rest of the picture is tiresome." - (Montreal Film Journal) "Physically towering over everyone in the cast, Amanda Bynes (SHE'S THE MAN) plays Penny Pingleton, Tracy's best friend. Bynes, in pigtails, steals many a scene with some terrific eye work. She is given some lines to speak, but her character is mainly there for some delicious reaction shots." - Steve Rhodes (Rotton Tomatoes) "For me, the two cast standouts are Christopher Walken as Tracy’s father and Amanda Bynes and her best pal...As for Bynes, the teen star who has demonstrated an enviable flair for comedy in such films as “What A Girl Wants” and “She’s The Man,” she is absolutely adorable and when she finds herself smitten by Maybelle’s son, Seaweed (newcomer Elijah Kelley) and announces to the world, not to mention her reactionary mother (Allison Janney), that she is now a “checkerboard chick,” even the hardest hearts in the audience will find themselves cheering with delight." - Peter Sobczynski (E Film Critic) "Who realized Amanda Bynes could do Tracy's daffy, cute pal so well, then add her ringing voice near the end?" - Lawrence Toppman (The Charlotte Observer) "Nickelodeon graduate Amanda Bynes is a delight as Tracy's friend, Penny, who leads her own integration movement by taking up with Kelley's character, Seaweed." - Jonathan Takiff (Daily News) "pluming nuance in what is essentially a one-note joke; Amanda Bynes, shaping into a memorable character actress" - Christopher Borrelli (Teledoblade.com) "The supporting cast ranges from pleasant (Amanda Bynes, capturing about 60 percent of the comedy in the sidekick role of Penny)" - Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribue) "And although Amanda Bynes is used to being the lead in films, she seems perfectly at home in the supporting role of Tracy’s best friend who falls for Motormouth Maybelle’s son Seaweed (Elijah Kelley). Bynes looks adorable in pig tails and her comic timing is impeccable." Rebecca Murray (About.Com)
"Bynes elevates this so-so teen comedy based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night by her mere presence. For someone so young, she possesses keen comedic skills." - George M. Thomas (Akron Beacon Journal) Amanda Bynes was fabulous in her role as Viola. The character itself was very well-developed, showing that girls can love football, and still be normal. Amanda did her best to develop Viola’s personality further. I felt that her acting skills have really improved since What A Girl Wants. - Natalie (Portrait Reviews) "Amanda Bynes really sparkles as Viola and brings her unique comedic talents to the part." - Kat (Portrait Reviews) "She's The Man hangs together by a gossamer thread thanks to the luminous Bynes, one of the few players who genuinely look young enough to be attending high school. Even when her heroine behaves like a lunatic, the young actress exudes sweetness and charm, which is difficult to resist. We want her to succeed in pulling the wool over the eyes of her classmates, even hough the film around seems determined to undermine all of her good work." - Sophia Abbell (LondonNet) Bynes, a graduate of Nickelodeon super-stardom, is an endearing goofball who seems to enjoy parts where she makes a fool of herself while standing up for girl power. Her squeaky voice and hyper energy that will. not. stop. is surprisingly effective - Anne Gilbert (FilmCritic.Com) "Amanda Bynes clowns around with such an appealing lack of vanity that she could be the next Julia Roberts - or the next Jim Carrey." - Nicholas Barber (Independent Online Edition) "Anything starring MKP [My Kinda Place] fave, Amanda Bynes is going to rate high on our list and She’s The Man is no disappointment!" - Reviewer Unknown (MyKinda Place) "Bynes is a marvellous clown" - James Christopher (Times Online) "Bynes tackles her part with gusto" - Neil Smith (BBC UK) "Bynes is her usual cute, quirky self, even when she looks like a dude. It made me flash back to her "Amanda Show" days, though Bynes has matured as an actress. She leads the way, rolling off joke after joke as the cast fumbles to keep up." - Megan Myers (Charlotte Observer) "Amanda Bynes is the reason that “She’s the Man” is a success. Bynes is cute and lovable and is surprisingly funny here. Bynes in disguise as Sebastian is funny alone. She has this Michael Rapaport voice that made me laugh more than once." - Glen Davis (Independent Tiger Weekly) "What is easy to accept is Bynes as a formidable comic force." - Aaron Ellen (Daily Utah Chronicle) "Leading lady Amanda Bynes is charming and funny in her role as the sometimes-boy soccer player, and she does bear an uncanny resemblance to the guy she is pretending to be." - Ellen Tandy (WBRZ-TV) "Of Amanda Bynes let us say that she is sunny and plucky and somehow finds a way to play her impossible role without clearing her throat more than six or eight times. More importantly, we like her. In this role, as Shakespeare might say, she achieves greatness, or maybe she has it thrust upon her." - Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun Times) "Bynes has just the right persona for this sort of role — she deflects clueless teachers, pestering parents and insensitive boyfriends with the same exasperated sense of humor. And as a bonus, she doesn't even have a song on the soundtrack." - Josh Larsen (Sun Newspaper) "The star here, however, is Bynes. She's a talented actress who appears to be on track for a very long and drama-free career in television and film. My only career advice: read about everything happening to Lindsay Lohan and learn." - George Thomas (Beacon Journal) "But any "Twelfth Night" requires the right leading lady, and Bynes rises nicely to the occasion. With her sardonic charm, she throws herself into this none-too-glamorous role, swaggering and spitting and doing a fairly credible impersonation of a late-blooming teenage boy... Bynes may not be the man, exactly, but the girl is worth watching. As is this Shakespeare fellow." - Moira MacDonald (Seattle Times) "It all comes down to the Bynes factor. The young actress has been doing comedy for years now, even hosting her own sketch comedy show as an early teenager; yet in feature films ("What a Girl Wants," "Big Fat Liar"), she's been oddly muted. "Man" changes all that, giving Bynes a free pass to try out all her rubbery reactions and mine into the rich, fertile land of cross-dressing comedy. Bynes doesn't quite know when to reel herself in, going too quickly to screaming for effect, but she's endearingly madcap, and that energy is a rare commodity in her age bracket, where every actor seemingly wants to play in life affirming dramas. Bynes gets good mileage out of the Sebastian role, frantically trying to maintain her "boy" voice and suppress her female instincts toward the opposite sex, and she's mostly hilarious going through the daily male rituals. Bynes elevates the material with her spunk, and deserves most of the credit keeping "Man" away from tedium with her resolve to keep the film fluffy and silly." - Brian Orndorf (Axcessnews.com) "This movie was funny because of its cast. Amanda Bynes did a great job and was very funny, indeed." - Matthew A. Thomas (Bacon Journal) "Bynes displays a flair for comedy, especially when Viola studies guys walking down the street and mimics their gait and mannerisms. Bynes uses her elastic face to show Viola's every thought making the transition and doing her darnedest to pull it off. When a soccer ball hits her in her private parts, Bynes expresses Viola's momentary confusion followed by an overreaction to pain she doesn't feel. She's not going to win an Oscar for playing a boy, as Hilary Swank did; but Bynes makes a far more convincing one than Barbra Streisand in "Yentl.''" - Ruthe Stein (San Fransisco Chronicle) "But, in the end, it’s Bynes, whose voice-altering, crotch-scratching performance makes this gender-bending tale a strangely appealing ride." - Chelsea Bain (Boston Herald) "With a dynamite lead in the form of Amanda Bynes. Whether playing beautiful tomboy Viola or the quasi-macho, semi-effeminate Sebastian, Bynes is a force to be reckoned with who is willing to do whatever is necessary to garner big laughs from the audience." - Dustin Putman (Themovieboy) "Most of the laughs are due to Bynes, a vibrant young actress with excellent comedic chops. In trying to speak like a man she comes up with a rather improbable and inconsistent accent, but her girl-turned-guy routine is full of enough hilarious moments that surely even William himself is chuckling in his grave." Winda Benedetti (Seattle PI) "Bynes is a terrifically talented and appealing performer with the true fearlessness and lack of vanity of a born commedienne. This film doesn't let her show off all she can do, but she handles the predictable complications well, from the quick changes in the carnival's port-a-john to the faked grimace and moans when she gets hit in the crotch with a soccer ball." - Movie Mom's Review "Bynes, a graduate of Nickelodeon super-stardom, is an endearing goofball who seems to enjoy parts where she makes a fool of herself while standing up for girl power. Her squeaky voice and hyper energy that will. not. stop. is surprisingly effective" - Anne Gilbert (Film Critic.com) "Bynes does such a good job as a boy, that it comes across as funny and entertaining, even if you have graduated from high school. In fact, she is so good that it is jarring when she reverts back to being a woman later in the film." - Tony Medley (TonyMedley.com) "Amanda Bynes has exquisite timing, impeccable physical comedy instincts and a gift for wringing a giggle out of just about any given moment. The star of TV's "What I Like About You" is pushing 20 and staking her claim to being the best comic actor of her generation. She dashes through her latest and best movie vehicle, "She's the Man," at a bug-eyed sprint - all eyerolls, pratfalls and broad parodies of male behavior." - Roger Moore (Orlando Sentinal) "Bynes, with a script from the team that teen-tamed "The Taming of the Shrew" for an earlier generation with "10 Things I Hate About You," makes it work. Her sassy swagger, macho-posturing with gestures just big enough to signal her ineptitude in the world of testosterone, sells the concept... But, "If music be the food of (teen) love, play on." Just so long as Amanda Bynes is the player.GO!" - Roger Moore - (Orlando Sentinal) "'She's the Man' and Bynes work so hard to please, though, it's not that difficult to surrender and just go with the flow... A quartet of writers (five if you include Billy Shakespeare) sets the framework. Bynes brings it home with an energetic performance. Or performances... Ever game and keeping the energy level percolating, Bynes romps through enough quick changes from Viola to Sebastian to send Tootsie's wig flying." - Larry Ratliff (Express-News Film Critic) "Still, the conceit works, for the most part, thanks in large measure to Bynes' effervescence, making for diverting entertainment whether you're into cleats or couplets." - David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) "Amanda Bynes ("What a Girl Wants") is an experienced star and plays her role well." - Rain Battle (Bella Online) "Bynes, Tatum and Ramsey appear to have what it takes to do inspired work in these roles. Yet because their director favors shtick over character, you only catch glimpses of their talent." - Kirk Honeycut (Hollywood Reporter)
"Amanda Bynes brings an easy spunkiness to Piper." -- Christy Lemire, The Associated Press "Amanda Bynes shines as Piper Pinwheeler." -- Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews; and echoed by Roger Moore of the Orlando Sentinel "Amanda Bynes makes Fender's tomboy sister, Piper Pinwheeler, a strong and funny role model for young girls." -- Louis B. Hobson, London (Ont.) Free Press "Hearing Amanda Bynes as the little girl robot was cute." -- Fred Topel, about.com
"What a girl wants is guaranteed to charm all audiences. Amanda Bynes is absolutely irresistable." - CBS/TV "Bynes Shines" - Chicago Daily Herald
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