A Brave New Girl

-- Video Business, 9/7/2004

Color, NR (nothing offensive), 90 min., DVD $19.98, VHS rental

DVD: featurette

Street: Oct. 12, Prebook: Sept. 21

First Run: ABC Family, April 2004

Cast: Lindsey Haun (Addams Family Reunion), Virginia Madsen (The Rainmaker), Jackie Rosenbaum (TV's Girlstuff/Boystuff), Barbara Mamabolo (Fast Food High)

Director: Bobby Roth

LIONS GATE

Holly (Haun) works at a fast food joint in a small Texas town, hoping to eventually realize her dreams as a singer. She is thrilled when asked to fill a mid-semester slot at a prestigious music conservatory. With mom (Madsen) in tow, Holly heads to school and learns that her dreams may not be as easy to achieve as she thought. Britney Spears executive produced this drama and her pop essence is present in most every scene. In fact, one of Britney's songs plays a large part in the plot. Though entertaining in a light way, Brave New Girl unfortunately feeds more off of emotion than reason. As talented as Haun is as a singer, her character's acceptance into a prestigious music school without any classical training or experience is a bit difficult to swallow. And her mother tagging along for the ride up the success ladder is a plot contrivance that adds little momentum to the story. Regardless, the music is fun and the characters are accessible. This one should be well received by many in the teen and tween markets, particularly those more into Hilary Duff and Britney circa 1999 (as opposed to naughty Britney 2004). It has a bit of down home country innocence to it with some quality work from Madsen, but could have benefited from a narrative overhaul. --Mekado Murphy