On August 27th, He’s All That was released on Netflix starring Tanner Buchanan (Cobra Kai) and making her acting debut, TikTok’s Addison Rae. This remake of the iconic “She’s All That” had many doubtful and unsure of what to expect from Addison Rae, as she has been known only for making Tiktoks- up until now. Though it stays true to the classic teenage rom com while maintaining its charm, the movie lacks chemistry between the two leads and disappoints with its dry storyline.
This picture-perfect couple may seem ideal, but it fails to offer the butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of love we yearn for when watching this genre. Although Addison Rae manages to successfully fill the role, there was little depth to the character, and she failed to execute the scenes needing more emotion. The acting also became very cheesy at times, and it felt distant between the two main characters, seeming as if we were experiencing a series of awkward interactions that occur in our everyday life, not a developing spark between two people in a teen romance film. Instead, it offers a “modern” version of this high school fairytale using the same overused plot we see in many movies of this genre. In other words, a missed opportunity for a fresh take.
The main premise of this story is making over a “scruffy antisocial” boy into a charming prom king. However, the big makeover feels insufficient, comprised of nothing more than a haircut, shave, and a new outfit. Besides that, we see the same boy we saw at the beginning of the movie with his personality and interests unchanged. So much for an epic transformation!
In this movie you can expect to see Addison Rae showcasing the one thing that fueled her rise to fame. Dance. It features a big dance scene and a few other moments where she shows off her dance skills, and for those who are big fans, it won’t disappoint.
Rachael Leigh Cook, one of the leads in the original movie, makes an appearance playing Padgett Sawyer’s (Addison Rae’s) mother. She represents a crossover between the classic and the new movie, evoking some nostalgia for those who are fans of the original. It was enjoyable seeing her demonstrate support for the new generation of cast members and gave some needed credibility to this remake.
The overall rating of this movie is a 4 out of 10. Sure, the message conveyed is something we could all benefit from hearing over and over again, “Be true to yourself.” Unfortunately, it gets lost in this lackluster film; you can pick up any self-help book, find the same phrase and save yourself the disappointment.
Isabel Ballard // Staff Writer
