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Review #68 of 365
Film: She’s The Man [PG-13] 105 minutes
WIP: $9.50
When 1st Seen: 19 March 2006
Where Viewed: AMC Theatres Westminster Promenade 24 Megaplex, Westminster, CO
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Review Dedicated to: Rachel T. of San Diego, CA
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DVD | soundtrack |
Unlike yesterday’s review for Find Me Guilty, today’s review will be for a film that has a catchy title and has enjoyed a huge publicity campaign. Given that this is also a film without aspirations for Academy Award® nominations, and strives instead to appeal to the crowd that enjoys light-hearted, teen comedies like 2004’s Mean Girls, for example, one would expect it to do decently well at the box office—that is, if the movie is any good. This is a fickle crowd, and they are not pleased by just any old thing with a teen cast and a for teens label--[PG-13] that is. Well, I am happy to report this film should be a fairly good crowd pleaser. I found it both humorous and fun. As the film’s opening credits suggest, the plot was inspired by one of Shakespeare’s most humorous and plot-tangled plays, “Twelfth Night”. Shakespeare purists, beware, a lot more than just poetic license has been taken by credited co-screenwriters: Ewan Leslie, Karen McCullah Lutz, and Kirsten Smith under the direction of first-time major motion picture director, Andy Fickman. Some of the names are the same: Viola, Sebastian, Olivia, Duke (instead of Duke Orsino of Illyria), the school where Viola goes and pretends to be her brother is called Illyria Academy, etc. Some elements of the plot are the same, however, this is not a pure adaptation, nor was it intended to be, hence the term ‘inspired’. The cast includes some really good, very likeable, amusing, talented, up and coming, ‘teen’ actors including: Amanda Bynes as Viola, Channing Tatum as Duke, Laura Ramsey as Olivia, Robert Hoffman as Justin, Jonathan Sadowski as Paul, and James Kirk as Sebastian. The one regret I have for the film is the same regret I have held for so many ‘made for teen girls too’ films, and that is the rampant perpetuation of gender biased stereotypes that invariably crop up in them. For example, the film starts off with Viola learning that the girls soccer team at her school has been cut due to low enrollment. The coach of the boys soccer team nixes the girls from getting to try out for the boys team. Well, the idea that programs set up for girls have to face the constant fear of being cut in schools (be they arts or athletics) is a societal one that way too many people just accept including a lot of girls and their parents/guardians. That girls have been so long deprived of equal access and encouragement from birth to be confident in their artistic and athletic abilities, let alone intellectual abilities is a shame. And, while I like Viola’s creativity and ingenuity in solving her problem (impersonating her brother at his prep school so she can make their boys team), I regret this is a problem she and other young women across the globe continue to face. In this film, Viola does break down some barriers and mind sets—which is a good thing, I just wish the writers would strive to break down barriers without building others—like the whole debutante ball part of the movie, was that necessary? What does it say that a girl has to pretend to be a boy to fulfill her dreams in this country? Sounds a bit antiquated doesn’t it? In any case, setting aside the gender-biased parts, this is an entertaining film. The actors do a really good job, especially Amanda Bynes as she over does the girl pretending to be a boy stuff (acting tough, trying to strut, attempting to shield emotional responses, etc.) with occasionally hilarious outcomes. No one said this was a new idea. The list of movies with a similar theme is long. So, rank this up there with some of the more entertaining ones, and one that teens and fans of teen comedies will enjoy. It is always interesting to see which movies will launch careers for future Matt Dillons (remember him in The Outsiders?) or Julia Robertses (remember her in Mystic Pizza?) or how about John Cusak (remember him in Class?). So, have some fun speculating who might break out of She’s the Man. Certainly, my money would be on Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, and Robert Hoffman, but don’t count out Bynes (hey, it could happen, remember, Tom Hanks got his big break playing Kip 'Buffy' Wilson on TVs “Bosom Buddies”, and look where he is now.
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She's The Man (Widescreen Version) [DVD] (2006) DVD
She's The Man [DVD] (2006) DVD
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