Rated:
PG-13
Runtime: 1 Hour
and 35 Minutes
Reviewer:
Erik
Grade: F
Most so-called "teenage" comedies make me want to bang
my head against the wall, and
"She's All That" is no exception. Except, this one made
me BEG for unconsciousness. It's that bad.
Freddie Prinze Jr. is Zack Siler, a popular high-school senior with
everything going for him until his DESPICABLE girlfriend Taylor Vaughn
(Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) dumps him for an obnoxious actor on MTV's "The
Real World" (Brock Hudson, played by Matthew Lillard).
Zack becomes convinced that Taylor can be easily replaced, and says
he can turn any girl into the prom queen in six weeks, simply because
he's dating her. His "friend" Dean takes him up on it, and
picks out Laney Boggs (Rachel Leigh Cook), a geeky artsy type whose
entire high-school existence consists of getting recommendations to
kill herself.
The movie was bad until this point, but gets worse. Laney wants nothing
to do with Zack, who must take a liking to her immediately to win
his bet. Laney does a lot of running away and crying and talking about
her being with him is just plain "surreal." They grow closer,
somehow, although we learn very little about these characters (unless,
of course, we really believe they can fall in love by playing volleyball
and showing up at a party together).
Of course, there comes a point where Laney is nominated for prom queen,
Taylor wants Zack back, and Laney learns the truth about Zack's sudden
interest.
I hated these characters. I wanted Taylor dead. I wanted Brock dead.
I wanted Dean dead.
Zack is obviously surrounded by the biggest phony suck-asses on the
planet, yet continues to hang out with them. Laney desperately needs
to experience real-life, but turns down advances from the hottest
guy in the school? I don't think so. What do we really learn about
Laney and Zack, the two biggest characters in the movie? Not much.
What was the deal with the choreographed dance at the prom? Gimme
a break. Is the father that big of an idiot to not realize an entire
soccer team has invaded his house? Why was this movie made?
"She's All That" is a big dopey mess.