An American teenager learns that her father is a wealthy British politician running for office. Although she is eager to find him, she realizes it could cause a scandal and cost him the election.
Loosely based on The Reluctant Debutante (1958) starring Sandra Dee, this family-friendly comedy features popular Nickelodeon teen star Amanda Bynes in her first feature-starring performance after her debut in Big Fat Liar (2002). She plays teenager Daphne Reynolds, who lives in New York City with her musician mother, Libby Reynolds (Kelly Preston). After she turns seventeen, Daphne is undecided about her future, so she takes off by herself to London in search of her father. She immediately meets cute musician Ian Wallace (Oliver James) before sneaking in to her father's estate to surprise him. He turns out to be Lord Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth), a fabulously wealthy aristocrat who doesn't even know that she exists. He had met her mother in Morocco and the two were married in a tribal ceremony. Upon their return to England, she left him and went back to the U.S. without ever revealing that she was pregnant. The uptight Henry is already flustered by his campaign for election, advised by doting aide Alistair Payne (Jonathan Pryce). His no-nonsense fiancée, Glynnis Payne (Anna Chancellor), and her bratty daughter, Clarissa Payne (Christina Cole), are threatened by Daphne's presence, thinking that she will hurt Henry's political aspirations by causing a scandal. However, family matriarch, Jocelyn Dashwood (Dame Eileen Atkins), takes a liking to her and she soon finds herself trying to liven things up at several stuffy aristocratic parties. Meanwhile, the evil Glynnis and Clarissa conspire against her by trying to sabotage her appearance, leading up to the conclusion at Daphne's coming-out party.
Daphne Reynolds (Amanda Bynes) lives an comfortable but unsatisfying life as a seventeen-year-old American teenager, who has never met her father, but has heard some about him. She lives with her single mother Libby Reynolds (Kelly Preston) above a Chinese Restaurant in New York City. Daphne decides it's time for her to meet her father, so she boards a flight to England. She sees her father, and he is not who she thought he is, he's Lord Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth). So she tries to fit in, also while people are doubting her, an maintain her love life, and trying to make a good impression on everyone, all while she's trying to get to know her father better so they can have a great relationship.—honestiward-98896
A young female travels across the world after discovering that her father is a politician who lives in the United Kingdom. They both do their best to get to know each other as he faces an election. She reveals to him what she is like in life and tries to adapt to his lifestyle.—RECB3
Daphne Reynolds (Amanda Bynes), a seventeen-year-old girl from New York City goes to England in search of her father, who does not know he had a child with an American girlfriend he met while working in Morocco, and whose aristocratic family did not approve of the woman.
Daphne Reynolds (Amanda Bynes) is a 17-year-old American girl, living with her wedding singer mother, Libby (Kelly Preston), above a restaurant in Chinatown, New York City. Libby had met Briton Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth) in Morocco, and they married in a Bedouin wedding ceremony of uncertain legality. They returned to his family estate in England. His father soon died, making Henry the Lord Dashwood. Alistair Payne (Jonathan Pryce), the family's aristocratic advisor, tricks Libby into leaving, telling her it is best for Henry's duties not to know she is pregnant, then he lies to Henry, hiding the pregnancy from him and saying that Libby claimed to be leaving because she was in love with someone else. Alistair orchestrated Henry and Libby's separation, because he viewed Libby as unsuitable to be a lady.
Libby has always been honest with Daphne about who her father is, though Daphne feels a sense of emptiness without him. She always wanted to share a dance with her dad. When Daphne graduates from high school, she runs off to London to try and meet her father. Henry has disclaimed his seat in the House of Lords to run for election to the House of Commons, hoping to eventually become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Henry is being pushed by Alistair, acting as his political advisor. Henry is engaged to Alistair's daughter, the snobby Glynnis (Anna Chancellor), who has an equally snobby teenage daughter, Clarissa (Christina Cole).
Checking into a London hostel, Daphne meets Ian Wallace (Oliver James), a local boy who works there to support his dream of making it as a musician. After forming a friendship when Ian shows Daphne around London, they start dating. When Henry catches Daphne at his estate, he is stunned to learn he has a child, but his mother, Jocelyne (Eileen Atkins), immediately welcomes her in, giving her a room at the estate. Jocelyne despises Alistair, Glynnis and Clarissa for their snobbishness and over-emphasis on social standing, preferring the more authentic and humble Daphne.After confirming things in a phone call with Libby, Henry embraces the opportunity to connect with Daphne. Daphne tries to win the acceptance of her father's social circle, but is repeatedly thwarted by Glynnis and Clarissa (Clarissa tricks Daphne into wearing a really casual dress for a really formal social function (attended by the royals), which was important for Henry). Daphne responds to the glitch by owning her outfit and even walking down the ramp with it.In addition, Daphne has to ward off the advances of Armistead Stewart (Ben Scholfield), a sleazy and arrogant upper-class boy whom Clarissa fancies and with whom Ian has long-standing rivalry. Daphne eventually pushes him into the Thames.
Daphne inadvertently wins over the aristocracy, including the elderly Princess Charlotte (Sylvia Syms), whenever she interacts with them. Ian continues to pursue Daphne through this period and this makes Henry protectively jealous of her.However, Henry's political campaign suffers due to Daphne's flamboyant behavior (The country wonders if Henry cant handle his daughter, he cant be expected to handle an entire government), and his subsequent misbehavior with her. He asks her to assume the more dignified manner of the Dashwood lineage, after which Henry's polling numbers quickly improve. Ian is disappointed in her new behavior, made worse when she stands him up in favor of attending an upper-class social function.
During her coming-out party, hosted by her father (who flies Libby over to attend), Daphne overhears Alistair telling Glynnis how he "got rid of" Libby 17 years earlier. When Daphne confronts him, Glynnis locks her in another room. Glynnis then asks Ian, the band's lead singer, to announce the father-daughter dance, knowing Henry will have to dance with Clarissa. Libby frees Daphne, but when they see Henry dancing with Clarissa, Daphne rejects her new self, telling Henry she is returning to the United States. Sometime later, Henry surprises everyone by announcing that he is withdrawing from the election. As he leaves the press conference, Henry discovers that Alistair knew about Libby's pregnancy and manipulated their separation. Henry punches Alistair in the face, then breaks off his engagement to Glynnis.
Daphne is serving as a caterer at a wedding, where Libby is the singer. When the father-daughter dance begins, Henry shows up, telling Daphne that he loves her for who she is. Daphne embraces him, calling him "Dad" for the first time. Daphne finally gets the father-daughter dance she has been longing for her whole life. Henry informs Daphne that he has brought a large apology present for her-at which point Ian appears and asks her to dance. As Ian and Daphne dance, Henry apologizes to Libby, and the two also start dancing.
In the epilogue, Glynnis marries a wealthy nobleman (who bores her to death), Clarissa marries Armistead (who still womanizes), and Alistair works on a London tour bus. Henry and Libby are legally married in a Bedouin ceremony. Daphne is accepted into Oxford and is dating Ian.
