New high school comedy isn't all that

Published: Monday, February 1, 1999

Monday, February 1, 1999

FILM: Movie interesting despite predictable plot, stereotypical characters

By Terry Tang

Daily Bruin Contributor

Now that the wave of movies about teens who scream about what they can't recall two summers ago is dying down, another old trend is undergoing a rebirth. Comedies about high school angst, trademarks of directors like John Hughes and Amy Heckerling, have resurfaced with a '90s gloss. The valley-girl spin that "Clueless" took on Jane Austen's "Emma" is what "She's All That" tries to do for George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion."

The caterpillar-turned-butterfly story makes for a very predictable, but somewhat amusing movie that should attract a handsome crowd of Backstreet Boys-humming, TGIF-watching youths.

The fairy tale begins when, upon arriving back from spring break, senior Zack (Freddie Prinze Jr.) gets dumped by rich-bitch girlfriend Taylor (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) for an oddball resident of MTV's "The Real World." As the most popular guy in his class, Zack doesn't take the humiliation of being dumped very well. In order to downplay his loss, Zack bets his jock pals that he can work magic on any girl in six weeks and turn her into prom queen material, breathtaking enough to even beat out his ex.

Enter Laney (Rachel Leigh Cook), an isolated misfit who only enjoys immersing herself in art and pessimistic CNN headlines. Appearing to be a classic four-eyed dork, Laney unknowingly becomes Zack's guinea pig. Of course, as the Prince and Cinderella get to know each other, it doesn't take a valedictorian to guess that Zack learns not to judge a book by its cover.

Both Prinze and Cook seem too cool for the audience to believe that Zack and Laney are really tortured inside by problems with family and classmates, respectively. With mostly Kevin Williamson-scripted films on his resume, Prinze doesn't really get a chance to prove he has acting muscles to stretch, especially in a role that could be played by any young hottie from any young television show.

Meanwhile, Cook barely passes for an ugly duckling with her waif figure and porcelain-doll features. Furthermore, the actress just can't seem to muster up the winning charisma needed to prove that her character really is all that and more.

However, the shiny, happy flick conjures up most of its charm through the high school backdrop. In the classroom hierarchy, seniors have a leash on every other grade - it makes for great laughs when Zack uses his clout to overrule the punier lower classmen. And the immaturity and degradation of high school really comes to a comedic light when Zack gets Laney's little freshman brother out of a very nasty, hairy situation with two grungy bullies.

Of course, being a school in sunny southern California, the halls also swarm with anorexic, fashion-chic girls and buff guys who drone on about which female they'd like to nail. Zack's wager is only an example of what a petty and scary world high school can be in an alternate dimension. Instead of being the time of your life, this high school looks more like a freak show.

Every actor represents a walking stereotype waiting to be made into a fool.

Although you definitely don't want an education there, it is nice to ride through.Miramax Films

Zack (Freddie Prinze Jr.) bets he can transform Laney (Rachael Leigh Cook) into prom queen material in "She's All That."

Miramax Films

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