Sheâs All That (1999)
What makes a movie good isnât merely convincing performances, a story that generates an emotional response, meeting the audienceâs expectations, and proper filmmaking techniques. A good movie does those things, and more. If you're happy with "adequate", watch Sheâs All That. Itâs a no-bells, no-whistles version of My Fair Lady minus all the personality.
Zackary âZackâ 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 OâKeefe), 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.
Havenât we seen this movie already? It feels like it. Thatâs 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. Sheâs All That has none of those and isnât 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 canât help compare this 1999 film to My Fair Lady. Its equivalent of Zack had personality. This guy? Heâs amiable and bland. You wonât have any reservations about him and Laney getting together. Actually, thereâs 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 isnât really a dork, and she isnât unpopular for any convincing reason. Sheâs merely a pair of contacts and a new hairdo away from being a showstopper. If anything more drastic were required, thereâs no way the filmâs timeline of six weeks would work. I realize thatâs the premise but once Laneyâs glasses come off, they never come back on and it doesnât feel like Zackâs 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 Zackâs 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. Itâs just missing that something something. My favorite scene - a long dance sequence set at the prom - serves no purpose. Matthew Lillardâs character - as entertaining as he is - could've been removed entirely. You wonât be sorry if you sit down and watch Sheâs All That but you wonât remember it down the line either. (August 6, 2021)
