Trailers
Description
A nerdy teen, Ryan Woodman is smitten with the popular and gorgeous Ashley Grant, who apparently has no interest in him. Meanwhile, dim star athlete Chris Campbell has his eye on Ryan's brainy and beautiful friend, Maggie Carter. The two agree to help each other in their romantic quests, but, as they come closer to their goals, both Ryan and Chris suspect that they might be pursuing the wrong girls.
Starring
Awards
Key opinion
Whatever It Takes is a quintessential, formulaic teen rom-com that relies on a well-worn 'Cyrano de Bergerac' inspired premise. While viewers are sharply divided on the film's entertainment value, the consensus centers on the charismatic performances of Shane West and James Franco, which often elevate an otherwise predictable and derivative script.
| Acting | Shane West and James Franco deliver charismatic performances that stand out as the film's most engaging elements. | |
| Originality | The narrative leans heavily on generic high school tropes, offering little innovation or surprise to the teen comedy genre. | |
| Acting | Opinions on the female lead performances are divided, with some critics finding Jodi Lyn O'Keefe's portrayal of the 'popular girl' unconvincing or repulsive, while others appreciate the intentional vileness of the character. | |
| Humor | The humor is polarizing, split between those who find the actors' expressive delivery and improvisation genuinely funny and those who dismiss it as lowbrow and stale. | |
| Screenplay | The plot is contentious; some viewers find the predictable, feel-good nature of the story charming and pleasant, while others criticize it for being superficial and narratively incoherent. |