Uptown Girls ** (2003, Brittany Murphy, Dakota Fanning, Heather Locklear, Jesse Spencer, Marley Shelton, Donald Faison, Austin Pendleton) – Classic Movie Review 7911

Producer-director Boaz Yakin’s 2003 Uptown Girls stars Brittany Murphy as socialite Molly Gunn, who falls on hard times and gets a job as nanny to an obnoxious eight-year-old, Ray (Dakota Fanning).

Despite lots of dodgy moments, this iffy comedy struggles gamely along on its girl power, with the cool star duo cutely appealing as they find a way to bond. Ex-Neighbours star Jesse Spencer helps out as Brittany’s singing boyfriend, Neal. It also stars Marley Shelton, Donald Faison, Austin Pendleton and Heather Locklear.

Uptown Girls is directed by Boaz Yakin, runs 92 minutes, is made by Greene-Street and MGM, is released by 20^th Century Fox, is written by Julia Dahl, Mo Ogrodnik and Lisa Davidowitz, based on a story by Allison Jacobs, is shot by Michael Ballhaus, is produced by Boaz Yakin, John Penotti and Fisher Stevens, is scored by Lesley Barber and Joel McNeely, and is designed by KalimaIvanov.

Also in the cast are Will Toale, Marceline Hugot, Pell James, Benjamin Quddus Philippe [aka Quddus], Russell Steinberg, Susanna Frazer, Wynter Kullman and Amy Korb. Producer Fisher Stevens appears as Fisher Stevens.

Jesse Spencer played Bill Kennedy in 460 episodes of Neighbours.

RIP Brittany Murphy (1977–2009), dead at 32, attributed by the Coroner to pneumonia and anaemia.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7911

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