
Ryan (Shane West) is a bit of a geek with eyes for the school sex bomb, Ashley (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe), which induces cringing in his neighbor and best friend, Maggie (Marla Sokoloff), a cute intellectual girl. But popular jock Chris (James Franco) has his eye on Maggie, and he offers to help Ryan win Ashley if Ryan will help Chris with Maggie. So begins a two-headed variation on Cyrano de Bergerac; Ryan composes soulful e-mails for Chris, and Chris advises Ryan to treat Ashley li... (Full plot summary below)
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Ryan (Shane West) is a bit of a geek with eyes for the school sex bomb, Ashley (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe), which induces cringing in his neighbor and best friend, Maggie (Marla Sokoloff), a cute intellectual girl. But popular jock Chris (James Franco) has his eye on Maggie, and he offers to help Ryan win Ashley if Ryan will help Chris with Maggie. So begins a two-headed variation on Cyrano de Bergerac; Ryan composes soulful e-mails for Chris, and Chris advises Ryan to treat Ashley like dirt, which seems to be the only way to get her attention. At first, neither finds it easy to change their ways; Chris comes on too strong, and Ryan is too nervous to be a jerk. But as they start to succeed, Ryan begins to see Maggie in a new light and wonders if he's pursuing the right girl. He realizes Ashley is not meant for him, and tries to convince Maggie about Chris's affection for her. Maggie is reluctant to take him "back" at first, but then realizes Ryan has a change of heart.
Leave your thoughts about Whatever It Takes.
| St. Paul Pioneer PressChris Hewitt (St. Paul)There are way too many poop and crotch jokes. |
| USA TodayMike ClarkDidn't work this time, David. Maybe next season. |
| Film Journal InternationalDavid NohYou can see the outcome from the very first seconds of the film, and Mark Schwahn's screenplay plunders everything from Cyrano de Bergerac to Risky Business. |
| San Francisco ExaminerWalter AddiegoWhatever It Takes is DOA -- dated on arrival. |
| Globe and MailRick GroenWhat you're actually hearing is the sound of a really old coot preaching a very practised sermon. |
| Philadelphia InquirerCarrie RickeyYou haven't heard anything until you've heard "Play That Funky Music" on the accordion. |
| TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghIt's larded with blinding glimpse-of-the-obvious homilies. |
| New York TimesA.O. ScottThe script's way of handling its romantic complications is unusually obtuse and insensitive. |
| New York Daily NewsJack MathewsA teen comedy so stupid that a long nose -- perhaps with a red bulb on it -- actually would have helped. |
| Boxoffice MagazineMike KerriganIt never has enough confidence to let itself go and shock or surprise the audience. |