He’s All That Movie Review

Movie remakes are the rage in Hollywood, they have been so since nearly the beginning of the film industry. There are two ways this reboot could go. The first is that it stands on its own two feet while paying homage to its predecessor. The second is that on the surface has the imagery of the previous film, but it is nothing but a hollow shell of its forerunner.

The new Netflix film, He’s All That, was released on August 25th. A gender swap reboot of the late 1990’s classic, She’s All That, the new teenage would be lovers are popular girl/social media influencer Padgett Sawyer (Addison Rae) and artistic rebel Cameron Kweller (Tanner Buchanan). As in the original, Padgett’s boyfriend publicly cheats on her. When she makes a bet that she can do a makeover on any of her male classmates, the chosen candidate is Cameron. As they spend time together, they begin not just understand each other, but fall in love. But the revelation of Padgett’s initial impetus has the potential to break them apart.

The truth is that it does not take a rocket scientist to see where the narrative is going. But, that is this charm of both films. Its sort of a wish fulfillment fantasy about romance that has just enough of reality in it to keep it grounded.

What I liked was that it was not a line by like copy. It has enough of the 1999 film to keep old fans like me entertained while still being set in 2021 with everything that did not exist when I was that age. Add in Matthew Lillard and Rachael Leigh Cook as the high school principal and Padgett’s mother respectively (now I really feel old) and you have an entertaining 90 romantic adventure.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

He’s All That is available for streaming on Netflix.

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Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen Book Review

Every decade or so, there is one year in which forever alters how movies are made and seen. The year 1999 was one of those years.

The new book, Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen, by Brian Raferty breaks down the popular movies of that year and how those movies impacted the industry for decades to come. Movies such as Fight Club, The Matrix, She’s All That, Boys Don’t Cry and The Best Man are just some of the movies were released that year. Containing interviews with actors, directors and others involved in the film making process, this book is the story of the films, the creative teams who made the films and the impact these films have had on the culture over the past twenty years.

This book is a must read for movie fans. It is not only a fun read and a nice behind the scenes look at the films, but it also creates a sense of nostalgia for a year that produced some of our fines movies.

I recommend it.

Are There No New Ideas In Hollywood?

There is no story that will ever be completely brand new. Every story has it’s origins in another story.

Hollywood, for better or for worse, is a business. Any business man or woman will tell you that when an enterprise is successful, the enterprise is repeated, hoping that the success is repeated.

Hollywood has taken that idea and reformed it in their own image. That would explain the endless amount of sequels, prequels and re-makes that have been released over the years.

As much as I enjoy sequels, prequels and re-makes, certain movies are so perfect that there is no need for a re-make. And if there is a sequel, prequel or re-make and something is not right, fans of the original will not be shy about sharing their opinions.

According to the Wrap, a re-make of She’s All That will be premiering on the big screen.

I understand the reasons for the re-make, but as a writer, it is disappointing. There are many writers (myself included, hint, hint), who would love to see their work on screen or on stage. Unfortunately, some in Hollywood are blind to this idea.

There are new ideas in Hollywood. It is just a matter of the powers that be opening their eyes and minds to new writers with new stories instead of re-hashing the old ones.

 

Two Teen Movies That Transcend Their Genre (And I Happen To Love)

The best teen movies are the ones that transcend their genre and generations. Regardless of our age and how old we were when these movies were released, we can still relate to them.

Two of my favorites are based in classic literature, Taming Of The Shrew by William Shakespeare and Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.  They were also rebooted into Broadway musicals, Taming Of The Shrew remade into Kiss Me, Kate and Pygmalion remade into My Fair Lady.

But I happen to love their modern teenage remakes, 10 Things I hate About You and She’s All That.

10 Things I Hate About You is the story of the Stratford Sisters. Biana (Larissa Oleynik) is extremely eager to be popular and date Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan). But her hilarious and cringe inducing overprotective father (Larry Miller) will not allow Bianca to date until her older sister Kat (Julia Stiles) is dating. Kat has no interest in dating anyone. Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is new to the school and falls in love with Bianca instantly.  He uses Joey, who pays Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger), to date Kat, so he can go on a date with Bianca. The end result is very interesting and very entertaining.

I love this movie. The screenwriters kept the Beatrice and Benedict relationship between Kat and Patrick (as well as some of the Shakespearean language from the play)  while  dulling the sexist and misogynistic language of the original text. The late Health Ledger (pre Batman and pre Oscar for Brokeback Mountain) has a massive potential as an actor, that potential shines through in his later roles. Julia Stiles is another up and comer who proves that she has the talent to go very far.

She’s All That starts at the tail of senior year. Popular Zach (Freddie Prinze Jr) has just been dumped by his girlfriend (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe).  Zach’s friend Dean (the late Paul Walker), makes a bet that Zach can turn any of his female classmates into prom queen.  Zach’s choice is Laney (Rachael Leigh Cook), the artsy outsider.

I love this movie. It’s one of those movies that I can find on cable and brought back to that time in my life. The coup that makes this movie stand out from other teen movies of this era is that Zach and Laney are each dealing with their own internal pressures. As their relationship grows, they find a way to deal with those pressures. This is another movie full of then up and coming performers (Usher, Gabrielle Union (who also had a part in 10 Things I Hate About You), Anna Paquin, Dule Hill) who have had steady careers since then.

Both of these movies have quotable lines and soundtracks that fit in so perfectly with era that they premiered.

I recommend them both.