What elevates She's All That above the realm of standard teen fare is its mixture of good-natured fairy-tale romance and surprisingly clear-eyed view of high school social strata. The lines of class are demarcated as clearly as if in a Jane Austen novel, but the satire is equally deflating and affectionate. Sure, high school could be bad sometimes, but it was lots of fun too; this is a movie good-natured enough to take time out for an extended hip-hop dance number at the prom. Director Robert Iscove (who also helmed the Brandy-starring TV adaptation of Cinderella) has also assembled a great young cast, including a scene-stealing Anna Paquin as Zach's no-nonsense sister, Kieran Culkin as Laney's geeky brother, and a stupidly goofy Matthew Lillard as a Real World cast member whose arrival shakes things up a little too much. And amidst all the comedy and prom drama, you'd be hard-pressed to find two teen stars as talented, attractive, and appealing as Prinze and Cook. Prinze is an approachable and sensitive jock, though it's Cook who's the true star, investing Laney with confidence, humor, and heart. Like Zach, you'll be hard-pressed not to fall in love with her. By the story's end, both Cook and the film will have charmed the socks off of you. --Mark Englehart

For DVD enthusiasts, this is not cool!

As for the movie, I enjoyed the movie. I enjoyed the dance scene during the prom. Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook did a great job. Also, you can see a special small cameo of Buffy the Vampire Slayer star, Sarah Michelle Gellar in the cafeteria scene. This movie is a fun movie to watch, but as a DVD...there should have been more included.

The movie was fun to watch...but the DVD was just blah! No extras...no good rating! Hope Miramax remembers that if they want their DVD's to be bought that rented, they need to add more to their DVD releases.


One of the best teen movies out there   December 31, 2004
K. M. Talha (Malaysia)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr) is doing fine - he's just started his last 8 weeks of high school, he's class president, he's dating the most desirable girl in high school, and they are a shoo-in for prom king and queen. Everything's good until his girlfriend arrives at school. Taylor Vaughn (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) got a tattoo on spring break, and she is now dating Brock Hudson (Matthew Lillard), whose only claim to fame is that he's an idiot on MTV's Real World reality TV. Zack is hurt, especially when his friend Dean (Paul Walker) razzes him about it. Zack responds by claiming he can make any girl in school into the prom queen. That's the kind of statement that leads to a bet. Dean says he'll choose a girl for Zack's challenge, and he chooses Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook).
Laney is about as big an outsider as Taylor's ego. She's an artist - she has been advised that many artists are more appreciated after they are dead, so she should kill herself (we all need "friends" like that, right?). She looks after her father and her brother. She's clumsy. She wears unattractive glasses. She wears no makeup. She wears overalls. She even wears a daggy hat while she works in a fast-food joint. They've pulled out all the stops to try to make the beautiful Rachael Leigh Cook look plain (they failed, but they tried hard!).
This is the predictable My Fair Lady type of story, or so it seems at first, especially when Zack's sister Mackenzie (Anna Paquin) gets involved to do a make-over on Laney. But there are some nice little twists, and they add up to a film that's different enough to be a pleasant time. Two of the interviewees mention that this film was deliberately modelled on early John Hughes films; I'm not sure I'd agree with that, but it does capture the idea of the romantic comedy / teen comedy genre to which this film belongs.
There are some interesting lesser characters in this film. We get to see Gabrielle Union and Clea DuVall as minor characters, and Sarah Michelle Gellar in a non-speaking role (she's included in a list headed "They're all that" in the end-credits). Tim Matheson, in a single real scene as Zack's father, was haggard-looking, but convincing.
All up, this is a pleasant film, and I recommend giving it a try.



two guys make a bet after one gets dumped by popular gf   October 14, 1999
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

If you're a teen like me and like these new teen movies that are coming out, then I absolutely recommend that you see this movie. The two leads in this movie played by Freddie Prinze Jr.(Zach) and Rachel Leigh Cook (Laney) are a great duo. They perform well together and are a great team. Also, Zach's bestfriend played by Paul Walker helps to make this movie what it really is.

When school starts Zach (Prinze) who is the popular, jock gets dumped by his popular girlfriend Taylor (Jodi Lyn O' Keefe) after spring break. So he's left dateless for the very important prom. With a little provoking from his not so sensitive bestfriend (Walker) he bets that he can make any girl into a prom queen only eight weeks before the big event. The victim of their bet: Laney (Cook), a nerdy art student too busy with art to help her dad and brother, and also to make a social life. However, a couple of looks from Zach and a couple of dates, Laney's heart begins to melt, and her appearance at school soars. Then before you know it Zach's falling for her and she's falling for him. Only problem, Zach's bestfriend tries to ruin it for Zach by asking Laney to the prom. Then Laney finds out about their bet and wants nothing to do with Zach. But sooner or later with a little swooning from Zach her heart belongs to him again and Taylor is left out in the cold. So as you can see this is a great movie that is wonderful, and really keeps your attention while the movie is playing. It's kind of like a newer version of Cinderella only instead of a fairy godmother she's got a hunky guy, and ALL THAT. Well, this movie is guaranteed to charm the socks off of you. So if you are looking for a romantic comedy this movie is for you.


A great feel good movie!   December 16, 1999
M. Aaron (Pennsylvania)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

I love this movie! It is great because it is all fun. Most movies have annoying parts that you just don't want to watch after you have seen it a few times, not this movie, every second is great! Not only that but it has to make you happy, sure it is a little cheesy, but it ends great. Not to mention the fact that most of us were NOT the prom queen type, so this movie is especially great!


"You didn't think you became popular for real, did you?"   June 15, 1999
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

"You did? That's so sweet." I'm a 26 year old guy and I saw "She's All That" seven times in the theater. Anyone with a heart will love with this movie. It does not have the best actors, script, or plot, and it's not even close to being original, but then again, what high school movie is? This is the first film since the John Hughes era which I have completely fallen in love with. I don't like this movie because the stars are good looking, or because of the soundtrack (though Sixpence None the Richer's "Kiss Me" helps), but this spin on "Pretty In Pink" meets "Pygmalion" meets "Can't Buy Me Love" has won me over. The beach house flashback, the bet, the expressive theater, the beach , and the party are all great, and the the dance scene is classic ("Right about now..."). Like "Can't Hardly Wait," this is an 80's movie for the 90's, and is a must for the video collection of any lover of the high school genre of film.