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Sydney White

(2007, Rated PG-13, Comedy, Starring Amanda Bynes, Sara Paxton, Matt Long)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Tween star hits college; drinking, hazing ensue.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Lots of "mean girl" cattiness and cruelty, particularly during rush (the Kappa sisters are advised to target "cute pledges" and avoid "fat losers") and when the Kappas haze their new pledges (Rachel submits each girl to a blunt analysis of the flaws in her appearance, strafes pledges with water guns, addresses them as "skanks," etc.). But it's made very clear that everything Rachel does is unacceptable, and the movie's overall message is a positive one -- be true to yourself and accept others for who they are, and you'll be a lot happier in the end. There's also a fair amount of stereotyping; virtually everyone except Sydney fits into a "type" (spoiled sorority girl, geeky Star Wars nerd, bulky football player), and student groups are portrayed very one-dimensionally during the student council campaigning scenes. But again, it all ends up being used to reinforce lessons about diversity and tolerance.
  • Violence:

    Mostly minor comic falls and tussles. Terrence's experiments are often accompanied with small explosions, and fire occasionally breaks out in the Vortex, but no one gets hurt. Rachel drives her golf cart through a phalanx of marching band students, who tumble to get out of her way. A few screen shots of a first-person shooter video game.
  • Sex:

    Lots of flirting, with some kissing and talk of "hotties" and "hooking up." Spanky is obsessed with women and sex (he's enthralled by Sydney's sports bra, saying "that thing has touched boobs!"). Female characters' skimpy tank tops, shorts, sundresses, and bikinis prompt ogling among the guys. A scene in which Sydney eats ice cream with relish (with guys watching eagerly) prompts a comment of "this is a SO-rority, not a HO-rority." The school's "Hot or Not" list plays an important role in the plot. Male construction workers wolf-whistle at an attractive woman; Sydney matches them by whistling at cute boys. Sydney's dad attempts to explain the birds and the bees using plumbing supplies.
  • Language:

    Not that bad for PG-13, but definitely strong for the younger tweens who love Bynes. "Bitch" is used a couple of times, as are "hell," "damn," "ho," "crap," "skanks," "ass," "booty," "whoring," "douche-baggy," "hump," "shut up," "pissed," "screwed," and "loser."
  • Consumerism:

    Rachel is obsessed with labels (her "soothing words" are Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Armani, etc.), and the Kappa sisters are very materialistic in general (they look down on Sydney for having a plumber as a dad). Brands/products include a Mac laptop, MySpace, cell phones, and a Scooby-Doo nightlight.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    No smoking or drugs, but a fair amount of both visible and implied drinking. During tailgate and fraternity party scenes, many students (most of whom are presumably under 21) are seen holding plastic cups; they're not explicitly beer, but it's implied. One character sets a "keg stand" record at the Beta party, earning lots of praise and applause. Some alumni (and possibly students) hold beer bottles at the tailgate, and Sydney and the guys attract people to their booth by offering "free drinks." Tyler mentions having to pick up a keg early in the movie, and the frat house boasts an impressive beer-can wall.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Sydney White

Parents need to know that this take on Snow White is tween favorite Amanda Bynes' most mature movie to date. She's as sweet and down-to-earth as always, but the film's focus on college Greek life includes drinking (one character is applauded for breaking a "keg stand" record) and catty "mean girl" behavior (hazing, cruel put downs, and more). Characters use words like "bitch," "ass," and "ho"; there's some kissing, flirting, and innuendo; and characters obsess about the school's online "Hot or Not" list. All of that said, the movie's messages about accepting people for who they are and being yourself are on target for tweens and young teens.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about who this movie is targeted at. Do you think filmmakers intend for Bynes' legion of tween fans to watch this college-centric comedy? If so, why do you think they included strong language and drinking? If not, who is the target audience? Kids: What made you want to see this movie -- the story? The cast? The ads you saw on TV? Is that what you think college is really like? Would you want to join a fraternity or sorority based on what you saw in this movie? Why or why not?

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Our Members Say

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See all 24 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    :)

    THis is my all time favorite move! its laugh out loud funny

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    :)

    THis is my all time favorite move! its laugh out loud funny

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

  4. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Iowa
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 5.0

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    Oh Man, So Good

    I loved the movie, honestly good.

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Kentucky
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 2.0

    this movie was alright not my fave

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Oregon
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Great with Great message. Though somethings may be "iffy"

    The only thing bad is spankys attuydie towards girls and the constant colleg diaglouge that suggests things. Many pranks are pulled but at the end it has a great message. The ionly langauge parents could say theyworry about is when the "seven dorks" (they are labled just as the hot or not website) pass rachel witchburn. They say hi ho, by ho imating the song but with a hidden message. Not that many childern would get this. If your kids under 13 i wouldnt hestaite to let them watch it.

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

  11. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 2.0

    Ack

    I'm actually younger than I signed up as (11) I did'nt get some words and I don't want to.FYI: loser is not a bad word!

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    sydney white a strange fairy tale

    when i first heard of this movie i was expecting another disney fairytale- - - size zero waists, girls sitting around waiting for a man to sweep them of their feet- - - even if it was supposed to be a spin. but i was wrong. it starts off good enough with sydney growing up w/ her dad and being raised by construction workers. then she heads off to college w/ big hopes of joining her mothers sorority. she promptly meets a friend, another kappa phi nu legacy, and they get ready for the rush party together. sydney has only brought some clothes in a duffel bag and her treasured comic books, so she borrows a dress from 'dinky' her new friend. at the party, the sorority president, rachel witchburn, tries to throw her out, but after learning she is a legacie and must be excepted into the pledge group, makes it as hard as possible for her to get in. then, on initiation night, she choose every1 but sydney, & claims that she broke kappa phi nu laws. sydney leaves, after taking off her dress-to reveal a slip- and throwing it at rachel. sydeny moves in w/ 7 geeks to try and tries to stop the old shack they live in from being torn down and having sydney run for president. the only thing i really didnt like was the sterio type against blondes. SICK OF IT in the movie industry!!!!! but the main message of this movie is : find the geek in all of us

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    hilarious

    this is such a great movie! it may be inappropriate for kids 12 and under because of the language, and the sex related talking. but there is not much of any of it. you gotta see this movie!

  14. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    It wasn't that bad. No actual sex or nudedy. Nerds do appear without swim trunks, because girls tricked them, but it only shows top half of the boys. A nerd is obbsessed with sex, but its not really bad. There not a lot of violence, and i don't agree with the reviews.

  15. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 3.0

    Cute movie! Cute spoof of Snow White - for tweens and up

    It shows hazing and shallow co-eds but it has a good message in the end as the star, Sydey White stays true to herself!It is a modern day take of off Snow White - she lives with seven dorks instead of dwarfs and the wicked witch is rather a stuck up soriety girl who is jealous of the attention Sydney White receives. Some parts of movie give parents opportunity to discuss poor behaviors and values of some characters in the movie.

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Not for younger audience

    Not for anyone under 12, but great movie.

  17. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    FUNNY MOVIE NOT SO INNAPROPRIATE AT ALL

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Alaska
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    One of the funniest movies i have ever seen...

    A modern spin on the classic Disney tale Snow White, Sydney White is a hilarious comedy set on a college campus. If you consider butt, screwed, and crap bad words, this movie may not be the best choice...and only scattered, mild cursewords are spread throughout. Younger audiences would probably not get some of the humor, but all of it is pretty funny. Good movie...i give it an A!!!

  20. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 3.0

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