She's All That

In 1999, director Robert Iscove updated George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion for the teen crowd with She's All That. Freddie Prinze Jr. plays Zach Siler, a popular high school jock whose world gets turned upside down when his girlfriend Taylor Vaughan (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) dumps him for a reality TV star. To save face, Zach bets he can turn any girl into prom queen. Enter Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook), a brooding artist who prefers paintbrushes over popularity contests. The movie also features early roles for Paul Walker as Zach's goofy friend Dean and Anna Paquin as Zach's sister Mackenzie. Produced on a modest $10 million budget, the film became a sleeper hit, grossing over $103 million worldwide. With its mix of makeover montages, house parties, and teen angst, it defined the late-90s teen rom-com. Critics were mixed, but audiences made it a staple of the genre. [edit]

At Torrance High School in Southern California, Zack Siler is the undisputed king of the social hierarchy. He is popular, athletic, and dating Taylor Vaughan, the most beautiful girl in school. The spring semester is underway, and prom looms as the ultimate social event. When Zack returns from spring break, Taylor dumps him for Brock Hudson, a sleazy reality TV star from MTV's The Real World. Humiliated and watching his social standing crumble, Zack makes a bold public claim that Taylor is replaceable. He bets his friend Dean Sampson that he can turn any random female student into prom queen within six weeks.

Dean selects Laney Boggs, a brooding, socially awkward artist who wears oversized clothes and thick glasses. She keeps to herself, still grieving the death of her mother. Laney lives with her eccentric father Wayne and younger brother Simon, spending her time creating performance art pieces and worrying about global issues. Zack approaches Laney under false pretenses, pretending to be interested in her art. She rebuffs him repeatedly, suspicious of his motives. Undeterred, Zack persists, eventually winning her over with genuine-seeming interest. He invites her to a house party, where she experiences the cruelty of Taylor and her friends firsthand. Laney begins to emerge from her shell, shedding her glasses and baggy clothes for contact lenses and more fashionable attire.

As Zack spends more time with Laney, he discovers her intelligence, passion, and depth. He begins developing genuine feelings for her. The central conflict revolves around Zack's secret bet, which hangs over every interaction. Meanwhile, Laney's confidence grows as she embraces her own beauty and talents. Her performance art piece at school draws attention, and she begins to find her voice. Zack's sister Mackenzie observes her brother's transformation with knowing amusement. The film builds toward the prom night election, with Zack torn between his original bet and his real feelings for Laney. Taylor, jealous and vindictive, schemes to sabotage Laney's newfound popularity.[edit]