Un rêve à l'epreuve

Regarding the movie "BRAVE NEW GIRL", though it has its faults, it was still an ENJOYABLE MOVIE.

I was especially impressed with the fact that VIRGINIA MADSEN was part of the cast, and that she turned in such a winning performance as WANDA LOVELL.

While the spotlight will certainly be on her co-star, LINDSAY HAUN, it is still wonderful to see Virginia in a good role that she will be very proud of.

Knowing her responsibilities,it is unfortunate that she is not seen more often, and still being young and VERY ATTRACTIVE, one can only hope that she will continue to pick such likable roles in the future.

Perhaps Virginia will, unlike her piers, go gracefully into middle-age playing such roles, unlike THE STEREOTYPICAL BITCHY ROLES that would otherwise await her, and which she had already played earlier in her career.

Of course, this was a Brittany Spears production, so this was really a showcase for her work, and while there are indeed some good production values here, you really have to be one of brittany's fans to properly appreciate this movie.

As a fan of Virginia Madsen, I wish her continued success, and my very best.

Yes, the plot is predictable; yes, there are a few plot holes; yes, it has a made-for-TV quality; and yes, Britney Spears "wrote" the book with obvious self-promotion.

But forget all of that... this movie is fun.

Fun in an After School Special sort-of-way, but fun nevertheless.

Virginia Madsen as the mother does a great job... so good that I'm going to start watching for her movies. She reminded me of Diane Lane for all the good reasons.

The rest of the cast does a fine job, too. If I was a casting agent, I'd be scouting some of these young actors.

The production values are above usual TV standards and the music was really great... better than several big-budget movies I've seen.

If you're in the mood for German noir this movie isn't for you. If you want a safe, fun and underrated movie, this is a good one. It's one you could show to your 10 year old daughter but enjoy it yourself too.

Wow. I am really really disgusted at this movie. Not only is it so tacky, unoriginal, poorly acted, poorly directed, and over-advertised, it also teaches little girls everywhere that they can go up on stage and sing tacky out-of-date pop songs, send in a tape and get into a CLASSICAL music conservatory among some of the worlds finest and most hard-working musicians. The people that get into those conservatories work their ASSES off trying to perfect their style, and especially in the vocal category, it takes even more hard work and dedication. It is even more insulting later on to see her sitting there not even able to read music. READING MUSIC IS A NECESSITY WHEN YOU WANT TO BE A MUSICIAN!!! period. End of story. You cannot expect to be a music major without being able to read music. If you can sing your favorite pop song after listening to it 20 times over again, somewhat in tune, this does not mean you are talented. It does not mean you belong in a music conservatory. It doesn't even mean you belong in choir. It means you should try out your local karaoke bar. Its enough of a problem to have these blonde bimbos making HIGH-SCHOOL choirs sound like crap, but to put out a movie like this encouraging them that they can major in music with such mediocre abilities is degrating, and insulting to anyone who's worked hard at what they do. This is not a brave new girl, this is a talentless idiot who belongs in beauty school across the street from the music conservatory. I really wish I could sue someone over this, it makes me that mad.

I give this 0 stars out of 10. Don't even see it. Don't support such insulting behavior.

Holly Lovell (Lindsey Haun) lives in a small Texas town with her mother Wanda (Virginia Madsen). Her father is long absent. She is desperate to go to the Haverty music school in Philadelphia. Her mother secretly films her singing for the school application. Her boyfriend Tyler (Aaron Ashmore) proposes but she holds off. She is surprised by the school's midterm acceptance. Unbeknownst to her, the family home has been foreclosed. Ditz is her new rich troubled roommate friend. Her competition Angela pines for Grant who takes a liking to Holly. She struggles with the unfamiliar classical music. With the car breaking down, Wanda takes a nearby waitress job working for Dee (Jayne Eastwood). She keeps all of it a secret while staying with her embarrassed daughter Holly.

This is loosely based on a book written by Britney Spears and her mother which is loosely based on her life. Any resemblance to reality is strictly an accident. They do get producer credit and a lot of references in the movie. The story is basically not terrible. Haun and Madsen are perfectly good actresses. Holly is a little self-obsessed and petty. Her enemies are cartoonish but that's alright. She has a few too many supporters which detracts from her underdog status. I also would get rid of her hometown boyfriend whom she leaves behind way too easily. There are a few too many miscalculations from the standard formula. This should be easily likable but it doesn't completely work.

People like to complain about TV movies a lot. I have one question. Is there ever a TV movie that is perfect?

Anyway, I find that the movie was good. Considering that I am not a Britney Spears fan and the fact that there was a lot of Britney in it, I thought I was going to hate the movie, but I actually enjoyed it. Though, at some points things seemed to be repeating themselves and it got to be a bit long, there was just something there that was good and made me watch it to the end.

This movie isn't for everybody. If you can't stand pop or classical music, don't watch. If you can't stand some predictable moments don't watch. But if you want to watch a movie that has an uplifting feeling and lets people know that everyone can do whatever they want to in life, a real good family movie, this is it.