Dopey plot won't make you Sleepy, Grumpy
Comedies about geeks who empower themselves and seek revenge on the popular crowd are nothing new.
In that sense, "Sydney White" will bore you to tears. It's a movie you've seen 100 times.
What saves it from being an eye-roller, though, is that it moves along at a nice pace, has a few funny moments and an upbeat bubblegum-pop soundtrack. The script contains hardly any cursing and limited drinking and sexual references, making it feel downright wholesome next to "Superbad" or "Knocked Up."
Most of the stereotypical or weird characters (a college freshman who is so shy he only speaks through a hand puppet?) aren't on screen long enough to grate on your nerves. Instead, the star of almost every scene is teen idol Amanda Bynes.
Bynes plays Sydney White, a beautiful college freshman with a good heart and an impressive knowledge of comic books, sports and tools.
In hopes of following in her deceased mother's footsteps, she pledges the Kappa sorority, which is filled with vapid, blond size 2s, led by the evil Rachel Witchburn (Sara Paxton).
White's down-to-each personality charms Witchburn's ex-boyfriend, Tyler Prince (Matt Long, who brings back memories of Jake Ryan in "Sixteen Candles"). A jealous Witchburn kicks White out of the sorority on a technicality.
With nowhere to live, White ends up in a dumpy house with seven geeky guys who have names like Lenny and argue about pirate ninjas. When their house is condemned to make way for Witchburn's "Greek Life Center," White convinces the geeks to fight back and run for student council.
With Bynes' encouragement, they form the "Freedom to the 7th Power" party and a showdown for student council president ensues between White and Witchburn.
The geek versus Greek showdown features a lot of ridiculous and over-the-top scenes, with a heavy-handed embrace-your-inner-dork message.
You won't walk out of this movie and say, "That was great!" but you will say, "That was cute."
"Sydney White"
2 1/2 stars
out of four
Opens today
Starring As
Amanda Bynes Sydney White
Sarah Paxton Rachel Witchburn
Matt Long Tyler
Jack Carpenter Lenny
Jeremy Howard Terrence
Crystal Hunt Dinky
Written by Chad Gomez Creasey. Produced by Guy McElwaine and Wayne Morris. Directed by Joe Nussbaum. A Universal release. Rated PG-13 (language, sexual humor and partying). Running time: 108 minutes.