She’s All That (1999)
What makes a movie good isn’t merely convincing performances, a story that generates an emotional response, meeting the audience’s expectations, and proper filmmaking techniques. A good movie does those things, and more. If you're happy with "adequate", watch She’s All That. It’s a no-bells, no-whistles version of My Fair Lady minus all the personality.
Zackary “Zack” Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr.) is a shoo-in for prom king in six weeks. When his equally popular and attractive girlfriend Taylor Vaughan (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe), dumps him, Zack says he can find another future prom queen no problem. His friend Dean Sampson, Jr. (Paul Walker) challenges him to turn dorky, unpopular art student Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook) into a hottie.
Haven’t we seen this movie already? It feels like it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Most romantic comedies, fairy tales, etc. follow a general formula. What makes you prefer one over the other are the details, the little quirks that make the characters unique, memorable lines you quote to your friends, favorite moments, instances where the formula is turned on its head, or even the imperfections everyone acknowledges then moves past. She’s All That has none of those and isn’t self-aware enough to make this work in its favor.
It's the cinematic equivalent of a hotdog with ketchup… and nothing else on it. You can’t help compare this 1999 film to My Fair Lady. Its equivalent of Zack had personality. This guy? He’s amiable and bland. You won’t have any reservations about him and Laney getting together. Actually, there’s no reason for them not to. On their first date, he clearly shows genuine interest in her, so much that when the inevitable shocking reveal about the bet comes around, you expect her to listen to his apology and accept it no problem. Particularly after he befriends her brother, Simon (Kieran Culkin), and then defends him from school bullies. He turns against him too eventually, which is even less convincing.
As expected, Laney Boggs isn’t really a dork, and she isn’t unpopular for any convincing reason. She’s merely a pair of contacts and a new hairdo away from being a showstopper. If anything more drastic were required, there’s no way the film’s timeline of six weeks would work. I realize that’s the premise but once Laney’s glasses come off, they never come back on and it doesn’t feel like Zack’s done anything to get her to open up and make new friends either. Once done-over, she fits in perfectly with the upper-class high-school clique, which makes you question some of the "earth-shattering" truths she encounters on the road from ugly duckling to swan. So what if Zack’s ex is mean to her? Why does she take it out on him?
The picture is consistently short of what it could be. The leads are appealing enough, there are some occasionally funny moments, the premise has a certain timeless appeal. It’s just missing that something something. My favorite scene - a long dance sequence set at the prom - serves no purpose. Matthew Lillard’s character - as entertaining as he is - could've been removed entirely. You won’t be sorry if you sit down and watch She’s All That but you won’t remember it down the line either. (August 6, 2021)
