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Emma Roberts, Natasha Richardson, Shirley Henderson, Alex Pettyfer, Aidan Quinn ... see more see more... , Nick Frost , Kimberley Nixon , Georgia King , Juno Temple , Sophie Wu , Linzey Cocker

The unhinged behavior of a Malibu princess (Emma Roberts) prompts her frustrated father to send her to an all-girls English boarding school in this teen comedy penned by Lucy Dahl (daughter of Roald D... read more read more...ahl and a boarding school alumni herself) and directed by Nick Moore. Poppy is a bratty, self-absorbed 16-year-old whose pampered L.A. childhood has left her with a notable sense of self entitlement. Showered with unlimited-balance credit cards and constantly flanked by a horde of hangers-on, the ill-mannered Poppy loudly lets her parents know just how frustrated she is with her current family situation. When Poppy pulls a prank that goes further over the top than she originally intended, however, her frustrated father (Aidan Quinn) decides that it's high time his spoiled daughter understands the true concept of discipline and sends her off to boarding school in England. Upon arriving at her new school, American princess Poppy is taken aback to learn that she must follow the rules laid out by the stern matrons in charge, be in bed by curfew, and of course take part in mandatory lacrosse matches. While Poppy is at first confident that she can contend with any and all of these stifling lifestyle changes without due concern, there's one variable that hasn't factored into her self-centered equation -- her classmates. Now, as Poppy begins to realize that her British classmates simply won't tolerate her self-centered ways, she reluctantly admits defeat while vowing to shake up her stuffy school as she makes the transition from reckless youth to refined lady. With the ever-present headmistress (Natasha Richardson) presiding watchfully over the student body, however, Poppy mischievously sets out to prove that just because you're proper doesn't mean you can't have a little fun every now and then. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

68% liked it

15,164 ratings

Critics

42% liked it

24 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Nick Moore

Release Date: August 14, 2008

Keywords: teen

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DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009

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Stats: 1,870 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,870)

  • murphmann93
    October 24, 2011
    murphmann93
    Suprisingly good film considering the 'mild' teen films that we have around today. I'd agree with the name of the film, the main word being 'wild' as it's not afraid to mention things such as sex or alcohol. Comedic in some scenes and Emma Roberts and Alex Pettyfer have good chem... read moreistry. Although predictable, it's not awful and I'd consider this one of my guilty pleasures.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    May 31, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    New Girl. New School. New Rules.

    The movie clearly is a chick flick azn girls only but I enjoyed it anyways been a guy and all, it entertain me to say the least. The story was nice and has a nice message to it. I see Emma Roberts been a great actress someday she's so adorable a... read morend likable but for now she's doing some work of her age and not typically great movies but that's ok because you gotta start somewhere.

    Sixteen-year-old Poppy Moore (Emma Roberts) has always got what she wanted and lives a pampered life in her L.A. world. Though she's handed credit cards with unlimited balances and surrounded by countless hangers on, Poppy can't escape the mounting frustration she feels with her family situation and she makes sure everyone knows it. After an over-the-top prank pushes her father (Aidan Quinn) one step too far, Poppy is shipped off to an England/English boarding school.

    Finding herself in a foreign world of early curfews, stern matrons, and mandatory lacrosse, the United States|American princess has finally met her match: a school of British girls who won't tolerate her rebellious ways. Under the watchful eye of the school's headmistress (Natasha Richardson) and surrounded by a new circle of friends (Josie, Kate, KiKi & Drippy), Poppy begrudgingly realises her bad-girl behavior will only get her so far. But just because she must grow into a fine young lady doesn't mean this Wild Child won't be spending every waking hour shaking up a very proper system. Poppy Moore starts Abbey Mount as she means to go on-her way,or no way.

    Realising her Dad's not coming back to get her, and having nowhere to fit in, room-mate Kate tells Poppy she'll have to get herself expelled. Later that night, Poppy reads a book (Alice In Wonderland - her punishment for fighting) with a lighter when her room-mates sneak up on her with torches, and offer their help. They give their ideas on how she can get expelled, and act on them as a group, and let her take the blame. This brings the girls closer, but Poppy still wants to leave. When none of the plans to get Poppy expelled are working the girls realise they will have to go all out and hit the headmistress closer to home by snogging her son Freddie, which is completely forbidden by the school. After some flirting, Freddie asks Poppy out on a date, during which they kiss. Before going out with Freddie, Poppy is so excited she doesn't log off the computer, and runs off. Harriet takes her revenge on Poppy by rewriting her emails to best friend Ruby, and sticks one on the girls' door, suggesting that Poppy is just using them and is faking the friendship. Harriet also rewrites an email about Freddie, stating Poppy's plan to kiss him only to get expelled and that she thinks he is a loser.

    Coming back from her night out, Poppy is ready to confess she's actually happy, to find the girls upset. They read the email to her and leave. Upset, Poppy goes to see Freddie but he has found the email about him also and feels betrayed. Poppy, with no one else to turn to, sneaks down to the cook's room to use the phone and rings Ruby, who it turns out is sleeping. Even more alone, Poppy starts playing with her lighter, setting a curtain alight. Hearing footsteps, she quickly puts out the fire and runs off. A few minutes later, she looks out her window to see a fire, and wakes Kate and the rest of the school. After the fire is put out, Freddie looks at the damage and finds her lighter. He gives it back to her, refusing to listen to what happened. Poppy goes to the headmistress and confesses. Poppy also asks Mrs. Kingsley to give a letter to Freddie apologizing and confessing her feelings about everything.

    While waiting for the Honour Court which will decide if she should be expelled, she finds a picture of her Mum and the lacrosse team. Poppy sits with the picture when Freddie finds her crying. After a heart to heart, they are friends again. At the Honour Court, Poppy tells her story while her room-mates find out Poppy was out with Freddie when the email was sent, and Harriet was the only one around. Going to the court,they get the whole school to confess they were present at the fire. Harriet then lets slip about Poppy's lighter being used to start the fire, which only Poppy and Freddie knew about, and accidentally confesses to restarting the fire after Poppy successfully put it out. Poppy is innocent. The movie is left off where Harriet is expelled, and Poppy will remain at Abbey Mount.
  • movieguru12
    July 25, 2010
    movieguru12
    Really good. I love Emma & Alex! :)
  • 3niR
    January 28, 2010
    3niR
    Another nice fun movie.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    October 26, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    its an ok movie actually i was actually surprised.
    if i compared this to any movie it would probably have to be st trinians of course not as good as st trinians by a long shot but nevertheless a worth while movie.
    its entertainging and funny with likeable characters and of cour... read morese i good old revenge story so it is worth a watch even if its on a rainy day it'll keep you entertained!
  • romy861
    February 16, 2009
    romy861
    This was okay for a teen movie. Vastly superior to St Trinians which I recently also inflicted on myself, still could have been better though. Could have done without the sports crap and what was with the make-under - pretty blonde goes yuck brown halfway through movie and than... read moreks hairdresser for it because it makes her look like her mother. (Huh?!). Admittedly said mother is dead, but still. The character was WAY more fun as a vacant blonde and I think the movie actually goes downhill from the dye job!
  • deano
    February 1, 2009
    deano
    Emma Roberts demonstrates that she's definitely inherited the talent of both her dad, Eric, and aunt, Julia.
    Bubbly, beautiful and very funny, Roberts gives a spirited performances as Poppy, a rebellious Malibu princess who's shipped off to a strict English boarding school.
    ... read more>Wild Child isn't just a great vehicle for Emma Roberts, it's an entertaining movie in itself!
  • kiriyamakazou
    January 2, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    Emma Roberts is so damn adorable she makes any film instantly likable. Even here where she plays a bit of a bitch for the first half. The film relies too heavily on the stereotypical differences between England and America to be of any real comic note, but there are a few genuine... read more laughs. Most of the laughs will be directed AT the film for it's dated humour. Performances are OK and the mix of girl trying to fit in, romance and even a bit of underdog sports comedy means there is always something going on to stop the film from stalling. Tally-Ho.
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    August 23, 2008
    StarCrossedVoyager
    The beginning seemed far too quick for my liking but the rest of the movie was really good. Had some really good laughs in there and great acting from all. It was a bit cheesy when Emma and Alex kissed though, the music was really bad. Really funny.
  • husky10000years
    March 23, 2009
    husky10000years
    I guess Emma Roberts' more memorable role was taking on the iconic Nancy Drew character, but now she exchanges those sleuthing skills and good manners for spoilt brat antics. Naturally as the loner who stands out because of her rather uncouth behaviour and fashion s... read moreense, this was somewhat a throw back to The House Bunny, where the protagonist is clearly out of place, and remains to be seen if it is herself who would be assimilated into the norm, or if she could be the trend-setter and begin a serious case of behavioural osmosis. For starters, this is clearly chick flick territory, with all characters being girls and the only male supporting characters happened to be her dad (Aidan Quinn), the school principal's son Freddie (Alex Pettyfer) for romantic purposes and Nick Frost who cameos as a small town hairstylist. Wild Child is surprisingly entertaining with a good story to tell, even though it's the usual about having friends for life versus the superficial ones that one tend to meet from time to time. Written by Lucy Dahl, daughter of the renowned Roald Dahl, that credit alone provided some interest in this movie, despite the story and plot development being nothing unusual and being very predictable. But I guess predictability could still work if the ensemble cast delivered their roles convincingly, which they do, and with any movie that deals with friendship and one targetted at children, this is as plain sailing a movie as it can get, nobody dies, everyone becomes friends, tense situations get diffused amicably, and there's plenty of BFF-love to go around.

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Critic Reviews

Leslie Felperin
October 18, 2008
Leslie Felperin, Variety

Competent if mechanical helming debut by editor Nick Moore. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
December 7, 2009
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com

A slight but tart teen comedy, Child carries some surprising bite, subverting the norm with a fine British cast helping to sell the pixy stick fantasy, buttressed by Roberts's refreshing angry streak. Full Review

David Nusair
November 23, 2009
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

Mildly entertaining and utterly innocuous... Full Review

Fionnuala Halligan
October 18, 2008
Fionnuala Halligan, Screen International

A project broad-based enough to make tween competitor Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging feel arthouse. Full Review

September 19, 2008
FILMINK (Australia)

What begins as tedious teen comedy/drama about a Californian brat turns out to be a surprisingly agreeable popcorn flick. Full Review

Jake Wilson
September 19, 2008
Jake Wilson, The Age (Australia)

The screenplay by Lucy Dahl (daughter of Roald) dwells unpleasantly on cruelty and humiliation, and finally Poppy does little more than exchange one form of snobbery for another. Full Review

September 19, 2008
The Australian

It's an unoriginal story but one with potential, and the actors who play Poppy's school chums are lively company. Full Review

Louise Keller
September 13, 2008
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile

The film has an energy and honesty about it: it's lively, funny and smart and the characters are appealing Full Review

Rich Cline
August 15, 2008
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

Bright and silly, with just enough wit and intelligence to make it watchable, this British-American teen comedy doesn't break much new ground, but is pretty entertaining while it lasts. Full Review

Matthew Turner
August 15, 2008
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

Despite a shaky start, Wild Child is actually a surprisingly entertaining teen flick, thanks to likeable performances and a script that highlights the importance of friendship. Worth seeing. Full Review

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Wild Child Trivia

  • Name the child actor that stared in all of these westerns and more. The Lone Ranger Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok The Rifleman Rawhide The Big Valley  Answer »
  • In which movie was this WB Yeats poem in: "Come away O human child To the waters and the wild With a fairy hand in hand For the world's more full of weeping Than you can understand."  Answer »
  • Where is this line from: Come away,O human child! To the waters and the wild With a fairy, hand in hand, For the world's more full of weeping then you can understand.   Answer »
  • Which actress stars in Atonement, Wild child, St Trinians and Notes on a scandel?  Answer »
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