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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best teen movies out there, December 31, 2004
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.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
She's All That - Good movie, Bad DVD, May 27, 2000
Well, I have always been into these kinds of movies about the young Generation X. I heard from my teenage sister that this movie is definitely all that. So is it?  One of the reasons why I was hesitant on buying this DVD is because there is only one extra and that's the music video by Sixpence None the Richer. There is no trailer, nothing.... 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.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
two guys make a bet after one gets dumped by popular gf, October 13, 1999
By A Customer
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.
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