Uptown Girls

Director Boaz Yakin (Remember the Titans) is the Tinkerbelle behind this would-be fairytale of a rock princess that finds herself penniless when her accountant splits for warmer climes with her millions. Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy) resorts to her meagre ingenuity and aid from her eccentric friends (played by Marley Shelton and Murphy's Clueless pal Donald Faison), who hook her up with a job babysitting Lorraine Schliene (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of negligent record exec Roma (Heather Locklear). Somewhere in-between losing her drab songster boyfriend (Aussie Jesse Spencer) and getting evicted from her eclectic apartment, Gunn learns how to act her age, not her shoe size. Extras in this DVD include the making-of mini doc "The Lowdown On Uptown," costume designer Sarah Edwards' "Rockin' Style," a video still gallery, deleted scenes, Chantal Kreviazuk's music video for "Time," the soundtrack spot and the trailer. "The Lowdown On Uptown" exposes Yakin's self-professed Fellini fixation to be behind the cyclical camera angles and fluid scene cuts, though this film will never be a classic. It also illuminates some pretty tight bonds between the cast members and discusses thought processes behind putting the story to film. "Rockin' Style" was an entertaining choice for this DVD, educating viewers on such valuable insights as how to make a tea light lampshade into a hair barrette, and altering two pairs of shoes to make one — Gunn's wardrobe was the most interesting aspect of her character. Deleted scenes reveal a more complicated story line between Gunn and Faison's characters. They also provide background for what appeared to be random comments, and answer the burning question as to how the television could have been playing despite a power outage. The soundtrack spot features two original songs from the movie, which is curious, as both are utter crap, especially the lyrically inept "Sheets of Egyptian Cotton." Chantal Kreviazuk's "Time" is one shining moment, but is too tame to carry the movie on its own. (MGM)