Release Date: March 17, 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sexual material
Directed by: Andy Fickman
Starring: Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, Jonathan Sadowski, Robert Hoffman, James Snyder, Alex Breckenridge, Amanda Crew, Jessica Lucas, James Kirk, Emily Perkins, Vinnie Jones, Robert Torti, Julie Hagerty, David Cross
Plot:
Viola Johnson (Amanda Bynes) had her own good reasons for disguising herself as her twin brother Sebastian (James Kirk) and enrolling in his place at his new boarding school, Illyria Prep. She was counting on Sebastian being AWOL from school as he tried to break into the music scene in London. What she didn't count on was falling in love with her hot roommate, Duke (Channing Tatum), who in turn only has eyes for the beautiful Olivia (Laura Ramsey). Making matters worse, Olivia is starting to fall for Sebastian, who--for reasons Olivia couldn¿t begin to guess--appears to be the sensitive type of guy she'd always dreamed of meeting. If things weren't complicated enough, the real Sebastian has come back from London two days earlier than expected and arrives on campus having no clue that he's been replaced...by his own twin sister.
Review:
Let me get it out of the way by saying that She's the man is a surprisingly funny film. It will keep its audience laughing for a decent amount of its running time. The problem with She's the man is that besides laughs, it doesn't offer much else. One can say, its meant to be comedic and nothing else, I'd have to disagree. Comedy films are tricky, but the plot and storyline of a comedy has to equal its laughs in order to earn them rightfully.
She's the man is filled with flaws and cliches, up to the point that its difficult to digest. You have a girl who dresses up like her brother to prove that she can play in the soccer team while her brother is in London for a couple of weeks. Not only is she noticeably shorter than her brother, but she looks nothing like him whatsoever. This girl is played by actress Amanda Bynes who is named Viola. On a positive note, Amanda Bynes handles this film well all on her own as the lead star.
The supporting cast includes Channing Tatum who plays Duke, Laura Ramsey who plays Olivia and James Kirk who plays Sebastian, just to name a few. Many people going into this film probably have no idea that this is actually a take on the original "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare. She's the man is very similar to 10 Things I Hate About You, and O, but one can argue that She's The Man is the weakest from the bunch and much more of an insult to the Classical Shakespeare. Those that don't do their research will more likely enjoy the film for what it is, a comedy.
She's the man is paced well, so the average viewer will not find the film tedious. However, at a close two hours in length, she's the man is unnecessarily long when the plot is very simple. The main reason Viola is disguising herself as her brother is to play soccer and yet, this hardly gets underway until mid way through the film which then gets ignored until the final scene. This is more of an excuse for its laughs in the department of how Viola is trying to contain herself from acting like a girl. Viola has to clear her throat and remember that she is a man for the couple of weeks until her brother returns.
Andy Fickman is the first time director of She's the man and well, he needs more experience. There is nothing beyond average in the direction and the screenplay is rather lame, but the execution is a tad above average, but predictable. Everyone can see coming a long way how this film will end, then again I don't think anyone expected any surprises from a typical Hollywood comedy. This film is a mess, an unrealistic mess with no real reason, but one.
She's the man is not believable for one second and thats what makes it hard to watch with a straight face. Yes, it is entertaining, but can only be recommended for those under the age of sixteen and for those who leave their brain at home. Anyone else, like myself, will find She's the man hard to chew and definitely hard to swallow. In the end of it this film proves that Amanda Bynes is funny and that there is some hidden talent in her, but it also proves that its living in its own fantasy world. Comedies should have a story as its base and its comedy secondary, not the other way around.
