A bevy of popular teen movies erupted at the end of the 20th century, and one of the best ones came in the final year of the millennia in “She’s All That.”
Directed by daytime Emmy winner Robert Iscove, “She’s All That” is a modern adaptation of the film “My Fair Lady” and features a cast of famous Generation-X faces. It’s a funny movie from top to bottom; a testament to the characters, the story itself (written by R. Fleming Jr.) and Iscove’s direction.
“She’s All That” is the type of movie that parodies itself; it’s got the typical high school cliche’s of over-the-top clickes, ridiculous house parties, and students that seem a touch too clever to be simple teenagers. It doesn’t take itself seriously, and that’s kind of the point. “She’s All That” is meant to be funny, and that’s exactly what it is.
Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr) is the Big Man On Campus – the exaggerated popular student with regal good looks, athletic skills, and brains and charm to boot. A bet from fellow jock friend Dean (Paul Walker) pairs the super cool Zach with the nerdy weirdo Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook) giving him a time frame of six weeks to turn the unsuspecting geek into the prom queen.
The chemistry between Prinze and Cook is thoroughly enjoyable. Prinze is a bad actor but not in a way that turns you off. The star of the 1997 teen horror film “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” Prinze won’t win any Oscar’s but he will make you smile in the role of the popular Zach.
Likewise, Cook delivers a great performance as Laney Boggs. She’s so 90’s you’ll smile with nostalgia as the art student gets wrapped up in her weird social issues of the era. Each actor also has some deep scenes that reveal further depth to their character, and as we progress, we see that Zach and Laney actually need one another.
One of my only complaints is that the pair seem to get too close too fast. The film runs in at 97 minutes, and I think an extra scene or two depicting Zach and Laney getting to know one another may have been a great addition. Despite that, the movie still has some famous lines, quotes, and scenes – specifically the iconic Big Reveal as Laney transforms from dork to babe with some makeup and a new hairstyle.
The supporting cast fills in the story nicely with Token Black Guy, Preston (Dule Hill), stuck-up head cheerleader Taylor (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe), and the hysterical Matthew Lillard as Brock Hudson, a reality TV star who will leave you gasping with laughs.
“She’s All That” is also a great homage to the marvelous decade of the 1990’s. Its got fashion, music, and pop culture references like ‘The Real World’ and the infamous MTV Beachhouse all included. It’s also the last movie ever reviewed by legendary film critic Gene Siskel before his untimely death in 1999. Siskel gave it a favorable review.
In the end, “She’s All That” is a fun movie that’s a nice easy treat to watch. Its enjoyable in a simple way that’s often overlooked in today’s fast paced and high expectation society. If you like high school movies, you’ll like this story.
by – Matt DeCristo
