Uptown Girls

Add marvelously imaginative directing -- finally Yakin fulfills the promise he showed in "Fresh" almost a decade ago -- and you have a colorful, creative, deliciously frolicsome romp.

In Uptown Girls Murphy is like a puppy in traffic; you're confident she'll reach the curb but only because the cars are swerving, not because her moves are so deft.

By the climax, the adult has finally become a responsible though still charming citizen; the child has become age appropriate and, yes, even cuter. Tsunami swell of music. Roll the credits. Minus the charm, that pretty much sums up Uptown Girls.

Fatally true to the hypocritical values of its niche market. While pretending to teach a lesson in compassion, it wallows in the perks of privilege.

Uptown Girls gives the impression that everyone behind the camera just threw up their hands in helpless resignation.

Unlike in ''Freaky Friday,'' no magic spells are involved. Nor is there any of ''Freaky'''s marvelous charm in this ungainly Manhattan fairy tale, directed by indulgent sentimentalist Boaz Yakin.

A creepy, depressing and leering "comedy" that's a virtual collection of "What were they thinking?" moments.

Ok, so this movie is absolutely horrendous. As much I think Dakota Fanning is hilariously adorable here, the movie otherwise is pretty much garbage. Brittany Murphy, as much as I like her in other films, is horrible here. The script is atrocious and the story is a **** the first half of the movie. The second half is oddly touching and very moving at times, which almost rescues it, but then you are reminded of just how horrible and despicable all the characters are throughout the entire movie and return to hating this one. Now, again, I will say again that I did enjoy the second half and that it does pick up a bit and that Fanning is good here, but that does little to save this one from crashing head first into a brick wall.