For most people too young to remember the 1999 premiere of She’s All That. TikTok star Addison Ray is the main attraction of He’s All That, the gender remake of the Netflix teen classic.
In July 2019, 18-year-old Ray named Addison Ray Eysterling went from a freshman. At Louisiana State University to one of the most recognizable faces of Generation Z,
Mostly its all overnight when he started posting short dance videos on TikTok.
As such, Rae is a fitting start for a teen TikToker reboot like an unfinished IP. That appeals to the average taste buds of everyone who’s hard-pressed to look breezy. Likely widespread in terms of cultural saturation. But utterly unappealing to anyone.
You may also read Free Guy Review: Comedy video game Ryan Reynolds brings a lot to the table, but not everything is played
To be clear, I’m not blaming Ray for really trying to land his first screen role. As Paget Sawyer, aka @PadgettHeadtoToe, a high school and influential person. Unlike the special golden boy Freddie Prince Jr. Zachary Siller.
Paget hides his middle-income roots (his mother, played by real star Rachel Lee Cook, is a nurse). Behind a glamorous facade – he lies to his friends about his address; it’s “on” all the time, often disgusting.
The 90-minute beat of the film mirrors the original: within minutes. Paget finds his girlfriend, a viral blonde music star named Jordan Van Draanen (Peyton Meyer). Who cheated his immediate destruction into going viral due to a particularly nasty virus.
Lost sponsors him and puts his social rehab on transforming the stupid man chosen by his nemesis Alden (Madison Pettis). Conditions: make Cameron Queller (Tanner Buchanan). A cynical exile with shaggy hairstyles, hats and a hobby of photography and horses. The prom king for six weeks or be called a loser or something.
Although Fleming’s script plays an older male approach to Generation Z.
“Go on TikToks and you’ll see some real dancing!”, at least that’s not what the director. Played by Matthew Lillard (original Brock Hudson. On the so-called show, said. very Prom High Times) is interesting.
Everything that quickly passes through a slideshow of scenes remade with a slight twist in 2021. Gatsby-themed party scenes, Rae’s friend Kourtney Kardashian’s cameo as a gloomy and ruthless brand manager, constant pressure from followers.
There are some welcome updates to the original. While Zack insists he can’t choose between a handful of other elite schools (the horror!), Paget is more realistically worried that he can afford college without his branded store (gloomy). Both Cam and the original “Laney” have lost their mother.
You may also read Vivo Review: It cannot be separated from Hamilton’s shadow, even with amazing animation
Still, the remake version goes a little deeper into the lasting damage caused by the grief caused by Cam Brin’s horny little sister (Isabella Crowvetti, the most substantial young actress here).
Other elections are worse. Ball-Asher’s original lead choreography, Rockafeller Skkank’s lead dance by Fatboy Slim-gets TikTokified (heavy dance moves with the torso) to indescribably hip-hop tunes that aren’t that catchy.
Fashion is confusing – it’s hard to imagine that Ray, whose Gen Z popularity is based on spotting and adapting to hyper transition trends, wearing one of the elaborate sweaters or cardigans he handles in the movies.
There’s just a point to not being overly loyal:
The update luckily avoids some of the most obvious flaws of the original, namely: objectification of women, phobias, and above all, Laney’s game of sexual harassment Dean (Paul Walker) for a long time. Laugh.
But excessive censorship; where real teens smoke, drink, vomit, go out and lie in bed together, He’s All That features a high school where students drink good mock-ups, barely kiss and avoid swearing. There may be no puppy pizza here, but the apparent avoidance of anything remote makes this film feel sterile and strange.
It feels like looking at a clean bunch of TikTok’s. While Rae makes lightning-fast promises, especially when she flashes her winning smile, here she’s not claiming to be a TikTok-for-movie star.
You may also read Blackpink Review: Reminders about the excitement of Live Music with the biggest group of girls in the world
The chemistry between him and Buchanan is hazardous. But it wouldn’t be fair to force the film’s stupidity on it because it’s one of the many algorithmically successful pieces of this ultimately outmoded nostalgia bait. This recipe isn’t entirely captivating.