Movie Sneak Preview: Sydney White

Forget all about that kid who plays McLovin in "Superbad" because the real breakout star this Fall is Jeremy Howard, the actor who has a featured role in the new Amanda Bynes romantic comedy "Sydney White." Thanks to his stork-like neck and wonderfully expressive face, Howard gets big laughs, even when he doesn't say a word.

In this updated version of "Snow White," Bynes plays Sydney, the daughter of a widowed plumber (John Schneider). Sydney grew up on construction sites hanging out with the guys and helping her dad, getting pretty adept at installing water filters in the process. Mr. White wants his tomboyish daughter to go to college, though, and she heads off to her mother's alma mater, Southern Atlantic University. She also pledges at the sorority where her mom had spent many happy years.

Almost immediately, Sydney runs afoul of Rachel Witchburn (Sara Paxton), the sorority president who doesn't think that a plumber's daughter is a good fit with the other girls. Coming up with a few paper-thin excuses, Rachel has Sydney forever banished from the house.

Because she gave up her dorm room to join the sorority, Sydney now must live at the Vortex, a broken-down building at the end of "Greek Row" that serves as the home for all the school's outcasts. Her roommates include the chronically congested Lenny (Jack Carpenter) and Terrence (Howard), a student who has spent the last 8 years at Southern Atlantic because he feels he hasn't learned enough.

The one nice thing that Sydney does find in the Greek system is Tyler Prince (Matt Long), the president of one of the leading fraternities on campus. Handsome with a good heart, Tyler takes an immediate liking to the sweet Sydney, but since he used to date Rachel, she doesn't appreciate him giving his heart to Sydney.

Upset at the way that Rachel bullies everyone on campus, Sydney decides that she and her 7 roommates should run for the Student Council. Surprisingly enough, the student body responds favorably to Sydney's campaign, which infuriates the scheming Rachel, who then hatches a scheme to shut Sydney down for good.