She's All That (1999)

This charming update of Pygmalion (by way of the John Hughes oeuvre, most notably Pretty in Pink) rode the crest of the late-'90s wave of immensely popular teen films (Varsity Blues, etc.), thanks primarily to the immense charisma of its two leads, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook. When school star Zach (Prinze)--who's a jock, smart, and popular--gets dumped by vacuous Taylor (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) after spring break, he's left dateless for the all-important prom. With a little goading from his less-than-sensitive best friend (hunky Paul Walker), he bets that he can make any girl into prom queen a mere eight weeks before the dance. The object of their wager: misfit Laney (Cook), a gawky art student too busy with her paintings and taking care of her brother and dad to worry about school politics. However, after a couple looks from Zach, and a few dates that reveal him to be a hunk of substance, Laney's armor begins to melt--and her stock at school soars. Soon enough, she's the lone candidate for prom queen against the bitchy and relentless Taylor.

What elevates She's All That above the realm of standard teen fare is its mixture of good-natured fairy-tale romance and surprisingly clear-eyed view of high school social strata. The lines of class are demarcated as clearly as if in a Jane Austen novel, but the satire is equally deflating and affectionate. Sure, high school could be bad sometimes, but it was lots of fun too; this is a movie good-natured enough to take time out for an extended hip-hop dance number at the prom. Director Robert Iscove (who also helmed the Brandy-starring TV adaptation of Cinderella) has also assembled a great young cast, including a scene-stealing Anna Paquin as Zach's no-nonsense sister, Kieran Culkin as Laney's geeky brother, and a stupidly goofy Matthew Lillard as a Real World cast member whose arrival shakes things up a little too much. And amidst all the comedy and prom drama, you'd be hard-pressed to find two teen stars as talented, attractive, and appealing as Prinze and Cook. Prinze is an approachable and sensitive jock, though it's Cook who's the true star, investing Laney with confidence, humor, and heart. Like Zach, you'll be hard-pressed not to fall in love with her. By the story's end, both Cook and the film will have charmed the socks off of you. --Mark Englehart Amazon.com

Found it here but no where else

My wife wanted this movie for a long time and after going to all the local retail stores I finally started looking online and bang, here it was this whole time. Thanx Amazon.com you helped me find my wifes fav. movie. Thank you. May 21, 2008

Unbelievable, clichéd, but hard to not enjoy

This is the classic turn-a-nerd-into-a-star movie, where a bet between popular people ends up leading to an unpopular person being used. However, in typical fashion, the unpopular person ends up being the bigger person, and eventually teaching one of the cruel, selfish popular people something about life.

The biggest problem with this movie is that Rachael Leigh Cook is the nerd and Freddie Prinze Jr. is the agent for change. I can buy Prinze as the big man on campus, but Cook as the unpopular, awkward, artsy student? Maybe the latter two are believeable, but there is no world in which Cook is the unpopular girl in school while looking like she does. In the High School social structure, Cook's beauty puts her in the upper-echelon of students

As far as the movie, Cook plays Lanie, a beautiful but somewhat reclusive girl into performance art and worldly problems. Somehow, she goes nearly unnoticed by the in-crowd.

The bet is made between Dean (Paul Walker) and class President Zack Tyler (FP Jr.) that, after a breakup with his girlfriend, Zack can turn anyone into prom queen. Lanie is selected because she's SOOO undesirable. And, despite the fact that all it took to "make her cute" was a hair cut, a new dress, some makeup, and the removal of her horn-rimmed glasses, her transformation is completely baffling to every one of the popular kids. Then the big confrontation happens between the ex-girlfriend and Lanie in the battle for Prom Queen.

The only real point to this movie was as a spring-board for several young stars. Aside from those already mentioned, Gabrielle Union, Anna Paquin, Usher, Matthew Lillard and a host of others also make contributions as supporting actors. April 20, 2008

This movie fades with time.

She's All That was a film I saw almost a decade ago, and although I thought it was pretty good, but I hate it now. It's dated, the dialogue is horrible, and the acting is just painful especially Freddie Prinze Jr. Rachael Leigh Cook looked like a star in the making, but you hardly ever see her in movies anymore. This film has a tired formula, hunky guy bets her can make an ugly-duckling into a prom queen, so stupid and we've seen it done a million times before. Paul Walker is nice eye candy in this but please stay away from this disaster. February 18, 2008

Post grunge My Fair Lady

I'd like to think that I am smarter than to watch teen movies, as I haven't been one in a long time. And yet, even the stiffest, most serious of intellectuals such as myself want a little trash now and then so we don't have to think too hard. This was not bad, not bad at all.

This modern day update of Pygmailion / My Fair Lady takes us to a California high school. It's almost the end of the year, and the senior class is getting ready for their end of the year, pre graduation antics. Among them is Laney, the Eliza Doolittle, off in her artistic corner sulking away while the popular kids are off doing things that popular kids do. Freddie Prince Jr, in one of his many leading man roles in teen movies, is the most popular guy in school who has been thrown a sudden curveball. His girlfriend, Taylor, suddenly drops him after going down to Florida for spring break and falling into a hopeless (and I do mean hopeless) affair with Matt Lillard, "star" of the latest season of The Real World on MTV. His friends comfort, but say that he can find another date for the prom just as quickly. They bet him that they can not only find him another woman, but based on his good looks, charm and popularity he can take a lost cause and make her just as A List as he is. They single out Laney, and the chase is on.

A few things put me off about this movie. Firstly, this wasn't a new story (it's Pygmalion / My Fair Lady, like I said). Secondly, it is possible that people really are mindless sheep enough to go along with something once a person in power says to do it, as eventually Laney will not be tarred and feathered once Zach starts bringing her to parties out of her area. Third, if Zach really was such a nice guy (which he seems to be), I have a hard time believing that someone like him would be with a shrew like Taylor to begin with. Looking back, I realize that a lot of the popular kids got their ways with people by making them look bad before others (like when Taylor pours her drink down Laney's dress), and Zach seems too good to do something like that to someone. And fourth, Laney was hot underneith all those ugly clothes and hostile attitude, you could tell through those overalls and thick glasses. Naturally if and when she got dolled up, she would be all she could be rather than look like an ogre in a dress.

It's nice, light entertainment. Have fun with it on a rainy afternoon. June 19, 2007

Very good lighted hearted film

I like films that are funny and cheerful nothing drab and sad. Something to make you smile and laugh. November 12, 2006

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