She's All That

Infobox_Film | name = She's All That

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caption = Theatrical Release Poster
director = Robert Iscove
writer = R. Lee Fleming Jr.
starring = Freddie Prinze, Jr.,
Rachael Leigh Cook,
Anna Paquin,
Paul Walker and Lil' Kim
producer = Peter Abrams,
Richard N. Gladstein,
Robert L. Levy
distributor = Miramax Films
budget = ~ US$10,000,000
released = January 29, 1999
runtime = 95 mins
language = English
imdb_id = 0160862

"She's All That" is a 1999 romantic comedy film, directed by Robert Iscove, and is a modern remake of George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" (which was also the basis for the musical comedy "My Fair Lady" starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison).

Plot

Zach Siler (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) is the "big man on campus" at his California high school, as he is a soccer player, class president, and an honor student. At the outset of the film, his popular girlfriend, Taylor (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) dumps him for a faded reality TV star (Matthew Lillard) whom she met on spring break. Although he is hurt by Taylor's rejection, Zach consoles himself by saying that Taylor is replaceable. Zach's best friend, Dean (Paul Walker), disagrees. They make a bet on whether or not Zach can turn any girl into prom queen within six weeks. While walking around the school, Dean picks out Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook), a morose but highly responsible art student, as his choice for Zach.

Zach approaches Laney in the attempt to transform her into Prom Queen. His first encounter with her is a failure, when she pointedly ignores his attempt to start a conversation. While Zach's younger sister (Anna Paquin) gives him advice on how to woo Laney, Laney's brother (Kieran Culkin) continuously talks Zack up to Laney. Zach is eventually successful in getting Laney to invite him to a lounge that is frequented by artists and performers and the two begin to see each other socially. After Laney becomes more comfortable with Zach and his friends, Zach's sister convinces Laney to submit to a make-over. At a party, showing off her new look, Laney is humiliated by Zach's ex-girlfriend, Taylor, but Zach follows her and tells her that, when you let people in, sometimes you let the bad in with the good.

Meanwhile, Dean decides to pursue Laney sexually. Right after a soccer game that Dean and Zach played in together, Dean brags about how impacted Zach is due to his lag in sexual activity. After contemplating about going after Laney, Zach slams Dean into a locker, indicating that he has come to see her as more than just a "project". Dean then announces to Zach that he is going to lose the bet, by any means necessary. Immediately afterwards, Zach goes to Laney's house and discovers her drawing a picture of her mother, who died many years ago. She explains to him that she can recall every other detail of that day, but she could not recall crying; she admits to him that that was the day that she decided to play safe and keep herself distant from everything and everyone else. Zach tries to tell her that she can not keep shutting people out of her life (indication that he genuinely likes her at this point). That is when he opens up to her about the situation at his house with his father and how he feels like his father is pushing him to attend Dartmouth College, but he isn't sure if that is what he really wants to do. Laney tells him advice that she never takes for himself; that he is old enough to make his own decisions. He then tries to kiss her, but she asks if he only came to get her vote for prom king. Afraid that he might hurt her, he backs away from her and leaves, assuming that they are going to the prom together.

Taylor approaches Zach and asks him if he wants to go with her to the prom. When he indicates that he is thinking of taking Laney to the prom instead of her, she declares that Laney is already been asked by Dean. When Zach approaches Dean, he turns all of the bad details over on Zach. To her great embarrassment, Dean reveals the bet to Laney in public. Laney is so upset that she storms out of the cafeteria and vows not to go to the prom. Taylor tells Zach to pick her up at 8PM for the prom, but he is stuck thinking about how he hurt Laney. Zach tries calling her house several times on the night of the prom to ask her to the prom, but her little brother Simon tells him to stop calling and calls him an asshole in front of his father. Despite still holding a torch for Zach, she ends up attending the prom with Dean; and despite holding a torch for Laney, Zach dances with only Taylor at the prom although he stares at Laney all night.

At the prom, Dean brings out a key to a hotel room and tells his male friends that he's going to get 'lucky' with Laney that night. Laney's best friend, Jesse, (Eldon Henson) overhears the conversation and runs to tell Zach, who has been elected as Prom King. (Taylor becomes Prom Queen in a very close race.) While Taylor attempts to complete an acceptance speech, asking if those who failed to vote for her were mentally retarded, one of the chaperones pulls the microphone, leaving her yelling uselessly in to the crowd. As this is happening, Mackenzie and Jesse find Zach and tell him about Dean's plan. Zach finds out about Laney and Dean too late; they had already left. He attempts to try calling every hotel and see if Dean Sampson had ordered a room. To no avail, he decided to go to Laney's house and wait for her to come home.

When Laney arrives at her house Zach is waiting for her. Laney then explains how she fought off Dean's advances, deafening him with her rape alarm, and left him at the hotel. Zach reveals his true feelings for Laney and how she taught him valuable life lessons. He asks for forgiveness and the chance to have something more than just a friendship, which she grants readily. Laney tells Zach that she is considering art school; Zach (trying to impress his new girlfriend) then tells her that she has inspired him to pursue a career in performance art.

Laney asks Zach what would happen now that he lost the bet. The movie then cuts to their graduation. Taylor is seen sitting alone, her friends having dumped her for her cruel attitude towards Laney. It is then revealed that Zach promised to show up to the graduation ceremony nude. Dean is also revealed to still be suffering the after-effects of Laney's rape alarm after he misses his name being called to receive his diploma.

Cast

*Freddie Prinze Jr as Zach Siler
*Rachael Leigh Cook as Laney Boggs
*Matthew Lillard as Brock Hudson
*Paul Walker as Dean Sampson
*Jodi Lyn O'Keefe as Taylor Vaughan
* [Kevin Pigs
*Anna Paquin as Mackenzie Siler
*Kieran Culkin as Simon Boggs
*Elden Henson as Jesse Jackson
*Usher Raymond as Campus DJ
*Lil' Kim as Alex
*Gabrielle Union as Katie
*Dule Hill as Preston
*Tamara Mello as Chandler
*Clea DuVall as Misty
*Tim Matheson as Harlan Siler
*Alexis Arquette as Mitch
*Dave Buzzotta as Jeffrey Munge Rylander
*Chris Owen as Derek Funkhouser Rutley
*Vanessa Lee Chester as Melissa's Friend
*Milo Ventimiglia as Soccer Player
*Sarah Michelle Gellar as Girl in Cafeteria (Cameo)
*Takbir Bashir as Rapper
* Jason Keyser as Metal Guy (Cameo)

Box office

External links

*imdb title|id=0160862|title=She's All That

Box Office Leaders USA
before = Varsity Blues
date = January 31
year = 1999
after = Payback