CINEMA: Wild Child

According to this movie, the best way to deal with a spoilt American brat princess is to pack her off to an all-girls British boarding school where she can play hockey and ponder on the error of her ways.

Of course, before the movie is even into its second reel you know for sure that the wild child of the title – Malibu minx Poppy (Emma Roberts) – is going to run rings around the English establishment and come out on top, and so it proves to be in this far too predictable film. Everything here, from the girls’ clothes, to their catchphrases, is pitched directly at tweenies who will probably squeal, giggle and snigger their way through its hour-and-a-half-running time.

As Poppy tries everything to get expelled from the exclusive school we see her rivalry with snobby head girl Harriet (Georgia King), her gradual acceptance by nice girl Kate (Kimberly Nixon) and her dorm-mates (Juno Temple, Sophie Wu and Linzey Cocker), and her growing crush on head mistress’s son Freddie (Alex Pettyfer) but absolutely nothing about the movie stands out. It’s not funny, clever or in any way innovative and certainly lacks the wanton anarchy and energy of the early St Trinian’s films. However, pre-pubescent girlies will claim this film as their own – or at least until the next instalment of High School Musical hits the big screen. Everyone else should avoid it.      Dee Pilgrim