She's All That

She's All That
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert Iscove
Produced by	Robert L. Levy Bob Weinstein Harvey Weinstein Richard N. Gladstein Jennifer Gibgot
Written by	R. Lee Fleming, Jr.
Starring	Freddie Prinze, Jr. Rachael Leigh Cook Matthew Lillard Paul Walker Jodi Lyn O'Keefe Kevin Pollak Usher Lil' Kim Anna Paquin
Music by	Stewart Copeland
Cinematography	Francis Kelly
Editing by	Casey O. Rohrs
Studio	FilmColony
Distributed by	Miramax Films
Release date(s)	January 29, 1999 (1999-01-29)
Running time	97 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$10,000,000
Box office	$103,166,989

She's All That is a 1999 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Iscove, and is a modern adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. It was one of the most popular teen films of the 1990s and reached #1 at the box office in its first week of release.

Plot

Zach Siler (Freddie Prinze, Jr.)—soccer star, class president, honor student—is the big man on campus at his California high school. At the outset of the film, his popular girlfriend, Taylor Vaughn (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) dumps him for a faded reality TV star from The Real World, Brock Hudson (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 friend, Dean Sampson, Jr. (Paul Walker), disagrees. They make a bet on whether or not Zach can turn any girl into the 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 the prom queen. His first encounter with her is a failure, when she pointedly ignores his attempt to befriend her. Laney's little brother, Simon (Kieran Culkin), continuously talks Zach up to Laney. Zach is eventually successful in getting Laney to invite him to a lounge that is frequented by artists and performers with help from Laney's friend Jessie (Elden Henson) against Laney's wishes. Laney performs a contemporary and interpretive performance. Afterwards, Zach is invited to take the stage. At this point, Zach improvises and performs with the hacky sac in his pocket. Laney is amused by Zach's performance but rejects him after he makes a move on her. He continues to attempt to see her by becoming friends with her brother and, in an attempt to stop this, Laney agrees to see him and they go to the beach together. He successfully persuades her to come to a party at Preston's house the same night, by employing his sister Mackenzie Siler (Anna Paquin) to give her a makeover and making the JV soccer team clean her house. At the party, showing off her new look, Laney is humiliated by Taylor, but is consoled by Zach.

During these outings, Zach's friend Dean begins to show an interest in Laney as Zach's victory becomes more and more imminent—primarily a sexual interest. Dean also invites Laney to the prom, in an attempt to ruin Zach's attempt at winning the bet. As a result of her new look and Zach's interest, Laney is nominated for Prom Queen and this begins a battle between Laney and Taylor Vaughn for the crown. Dean, angry after a fight with Zach, tells Laney about the bet and she forces him to reveal the truth about the bet in public, to her (and his) great embarrassment. Zach ends up attending the prom with his sister, while Taylor arrives alone, thinking that Zach is still interested in her. On prom night, Dean shows up at Laney's house in a tuxedo; Laney reluctantly changes clothes and goes to the dance with him despite turning him down previously.

At the Prom, after an in-depth dance-scene, presided over by the school's resident DJ (Usher Raymond) Zach's sister Mackenzie meets Jessie and they become friends. Drunk, Dean boasts in the bathroom that he is going to a hotel room with Laney, Jessie overhears this and warns Zach. Taylor is then crowned Prom Queen with just over half the votes; She begins a long moaning speech which is interrupted by her microphone being turned off by a teacher. Laney and Dean leave together.

When Laney arrives at her house, Zach is waiting for her. Laney 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 tells her that she has taught him valuable lessons. He asks for forgiveness and the chance to have something more than just a friendship, which she grants. Laney tells Zach that she is considering art school; Zach then tells her that she has inspired him to pursue a career in performance art. They also joke about the 1990 film Pretty Woman.

At the graduation ceremony, Zach must make good on his bet with Dean by appearing nude on stage. After his name is called, Zach heads to the stage, carrying a soccer ball to cover himself, but then tosses the ball to Laney.

Cast

• Freddie Prinze, Jr. as Zachary "Zack" Siler: He is the All-American boy President and co-captain of the soccer team. He makes a bet with Dean about Laney, but ends up falling for her. He is undecided about his future. While he likes Laney at first, but does the same thing his ex Taylor did him til he changes. He loses the bet and as a result, has to go to graduation nude with only a soccer ball until he throws it to his now girlfriend, Laney.
• Rachael Leigh Cook as Laney Boggs: An artist who is part of the bet Zack and Dean made. She is beautiful, but isn't truly shown until her makeover. Her mom died when she was young and she became the woman of the house. She pretend she doesn't care about what people think of her until she admits it after Taylor verbally abuses her at a party at Preston's house. She falls for Zack.
• Anna Paquin as Mackenzie "Mack" Siler: Zack's little sister. She is the one who gives Laney her makeover. She is the average teenage girl but she is honest. She attends an all-girls school probably because she is shown as boy crazy. At the end of the film, she begins to date Laney's best friend Jesse.
• Paul Walker as Dean Sampson, Jr.: Zack's best friend who he makes the bet with. He is shown as a bit of a jerk but he is later shown as a okay guy, which is only an act. He then tries to sleep with Laney but she puts a foghorn to his ear that can be heard for a mile away. At the graduation ceremony, he still has trouble hearing.
• Jodi Lyn O'Keefe as Taylor Vaughan: The most popular girl at school. She is shown as bossy and arrogant. She breaks up with Zack because of meeting the "famous" Brock Hudson from The Real World. At first, she becomes even more popular until she has a downfall when Laney becomes popular. Brock eventually breaks up with her. She then wants Zack back, but it did not work. At the end of the movie, she is seen sitting alone at graduation, her friends finally having had enough of her snotty behavior.
• Kevin Pollak as Wayne Boggs: Laney and Simon's dad, widower.
• Matthew Lillard as Brock Hudson: A reality star who Taylor breaks up with Zack for. Eventually he breaks up with her after he becomes a bigger star.
• Kieran Culkin as Simon Boggs: Laney's little brother. He is pushed around by many people at his school until Zack stands up for him. He might become one of the many popular people after Zack leaves because he starts to hangout with Zack until he graduates at school.
• Elden Henson as Jesse Jackson: Laney's best friend who is trying to lose weight before graduation. He eventually falls for Zack's younger sister, Mackenzie.
• Usher Raymond as Campus DJ: He is the cool, smooth DJ of the school who knows all the dirty and latest gossip at school. He votes for Laney.
• Lil' Kim as Alex: Taylor's friend. She is on friendly terms with Laney it seems even after Laney is voted for Prom Queen (though she is seen with Taylor when they both parties run into each other in the hall). She is thought to be the girlfriend of Zack's close friend Preston, but she goes to prom with someone else (possibly because he became a friend of Laney).
• Sarah Michelle Gellar as Girl in Cafeteria
• Gabrielle Union as Katarina "Katie" Darlingson: Seen first as one of the best friends of Taylor, but she eventually becomes close to Laney after their encounter at the beach. She is the one who nominates Laney because she is tired of Taylor winning everything. She thinks Laney deserves to be prom queen as revenge of when Taylor verbally abuses Laney at a party. She is mad when Taylor wins prom queen. She possibly starts to date Preston since he was her date to prom. Only one of Taylor friends who is genuinely nice to everyone, speaks honestly, and doesn't always just say what Taylor wants to hear.
• Dulé Hill as Preston: Zack's other best friend. He is the one who tries to not have the bet started. It seems though he is rooting for Laney, whom he later befriends. He seems to date Alex at first but then is later seen with Katie.
• Tamara Mello as Chandler: Taylor's friend who dislikes Laney.
• Clea DuVall as Misty: Dark gothic artist who comes from a rich family. Told Laney that she should think of committing suicide because infamous artists only become famous after their death. She gets drunk at Preston's party and as revenge, Laney paints her face as a clown.
• Tim Matheson as Harlan Siler: Zack and Mack's father who wants him to go to his college.
• Alexis Arquette as Mitch
• Chris Owen as Derek Funkhouser Rutley
• Vanessa Lee Chester as Melissa's Friend
• Milo Ventimiglia as Soccer Player
• Takbir Bashir as Rapper
• Brandon Mychal Smith as JV Cleaning Boy
• Flex Alexander as Kadeem
• Debbi Morgan as Laney's Art Teacher: Laney's teacher who is trying to make her art be personal. After Laney paints a picture of her mother she says she is finally personal. Unintentionally makes Laney realize that she should give Zack another chance.

Release

Critical reception

The film has received mixed reviews by critics, with rate of 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Top Critics rating the film with 25%. Most of the criticism is directed to the now infamous choreographed group dance scene at the prom near the end of the movie. Many felt it was completely unrealistic that all of these student would be so perfectly in synced with their dancing. However many fans disagreed and argued that the dance scene fits in perfectly with the film, and is often rated among a handful of other choreographed dance scenes in a comedy as one of the best.

Box office

The movie reached #1 in the box office in the first week of its release in theaters. It earned $63,366,989 in the United States and $39,800,000 internationally.

Accolades

The film won and was nominated for several awards.

Year	Ceremony	Category	Result
1999	YoungStar Awards	Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film	Won (Rachael Leigh Cook)
1999	Teen Choice Awards	Movie – Choice Actor	Won (Freddie Prinze, Jr.)
1999	Teen Choice Awards	Movie – Sexiest Love Scene	Won (Freddie Prinze, Jr. & Rachael Leigh Cook)
1999	Teen Choice Awards	Movie – Choice Comedy	Nominated
1999	MTV Movie Awards	Best Breakthrough Female Performance	Nominated (Rachael Leigh Cook)
1999	MTV Movie Awards	Best On-Screen Duo	Nominated (Freddie Prinze, Jr. & Rachael Leigh Cook)
2000	Young Hollywood Awards	Best Bad Girl	Won (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe)
2000	Young Hollywood Awards	Best Song	Won (Sixpence None the Richer – "Kiss Me")
2000	Kids' Choice Awards, USA	Favorite Movie Couple	Won (Freddie Prinze, Jr. & Rachael Leigh Cook)
2000	Blockbuster Entertainment Awards	Favorite Actress – Newcomer (Internet Only)	Won (Rachael Leigh Cook)
2000	Blockbuster Entertainment Awards	Favorite Actor – Comedy/Romance	Nominated (Freddie Prinze, Jr.)
2000	ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards	Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures	Won (Matt Slocum – Writer of the song, "Kiss Me")
2000	ALMA Awards	Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film	Nominated (Freddie Prinze, Jr.)

External links

• She's All That at the Internet Movie Database
• She's All That at Rotten Tomatoes
• She's All That at Box Office Mojo