Whatever It Takes
Mr. Cranky's rating:
It takes the characters days to figure out what the audience knows instantly.
What's funny and ironic about films like "Whatever it Takes" is that the adults who write them think they have insight into the teenage mind because they remember themselves as teenagers. With all the reflective wisdom of Dan Quayle during his latest presidential run, they fondly remember all the stupid things they did, put them in the screenplay, and then expect today's teenagers to identify with it. The ironic part is that they reveal themselves to be even more stupid as adults.Such is the case with these filmmakers and their riff on "Cyrano De Bergerac." The believability of the plot lasts all of about five seconds. Ryan (Shane West), who's friends with Maggie (Marla Sokoloff), wants Ashley (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe). Ashley is friends with Chris, who wants Maggie. So, Ryan and Chris conspire to get each other what they want even though Ryan and Ashley have nothing in common and neither do Chris and Maggie.
Naturally, it takes the characters days to figure out what the audience knows instantly. Ryan and Maggie are neighbors and their balconies are like five feet apart. Furthermore, Maggie makes Ashley look like Linda Tripp, due in part to a rack from which you could hang a couple of deer heads and the kids' soccer trophies. But Ryan wants the vain Ashley and somehow gets the super-intelligent Maggie to fall for the selfish, idiotic Chris. This is also the kind of film where three people have a phone conversation requiring them to put each other on hold, so the filmmakers cut to the phone each time so you can see their fingers hitting the "hold" button, as if you couldn't figure that out.
During the course of all this, Ryan naturally ostracizes his geeky friends, which pretty much happens in every single teen comedy about a geek becoming cool. The film is also endlessly insulting to women who apparently don't exercise one iota of control over their lives and are easily manipulated by the simplest of plans hatched by teenagers. This film stops just short of the filmmakers' actual vision for young females, which is to line them up, legs spread, and have them willingly and stupidly submit to the wishes of every guy in sight.
Was it really that bad?
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Public Apology to Jessalyn Leyra Karen_G
Chapter 3 (Parca_Mortem)
Return of RBB: Chapters 3, 4, and more... (Parca_Mortem)
"The Return of RBB: A [mostly lame and unoriginal] Tale of Terror", Ch. 1 (Parca_Mortem)
Chapter 2 (Parca_Mortem)
"To kill the sheep you must first kill the shepherd" (geodesy)
Re: A [mostly lame and unoriginal] Tale of Terror (liquid-sunshine)
A CLOCKWORK PARCA. (liquid-sunshine)
Almost... (Parca_Mortem)
Who Ignores Me? (liquid-sunshine)
Perception's what counts, huh? (Taurus)
Nahhhh! (liquid-sunshine)
Oh woe is me, WOE IS ME! (Taurus)
Taurus is dead. Long live Taurus. (Glencannon)
That's "little," not "litte." It's hard to type while crying.<nt> (Glencannon)
Whatever Happened To Logic? (liquid-sunshine)
Don't flatter yourself, kid. It's called sarcasm. (Taurus)
Here's How You Can Help. (liquid-sunshine)
Hey! That's my line! (Taurus)
Now You're Catching On. (liquid-sunshine)
LOL (Taurus)
My Shrink... (liquid-sunshine)
Therapy? (Taurus)
Well I'm Not Sure... (liquid-sunshine)
Great. I extend an olive branch and she tells me to shove it. (Taurus)
Yeah, Well. (liquid-sunshine)
I think the story has moved, and thus so has Parca. (Taurus)
I Would Never Be So Crass As To Say "Fuck Off." (liquid-sunshine)
*yawn* Have it your way, ls. <nt> (Taurus)
Okay! (liquid-sunshine)
That's "Hold the pickles," not "Hold the cheese." (Taurus)
I'll Sing It My Way, If You Please! (liquid-sunshine)
HERETIC! HERETIC!!!!!!!!!!! Wot, No Cheese? (Wulfgar)
Real Cheese, Yeah! (liquid-sunshine)
NOOOOOOOO! Say it ain't so, ls! (Taurus)
So What? (liquid-sunshine)
Wonderful. You really enjoy ruining my day, don't you? (Taurus)
It Won't Kill You! (liquid-sunshine)
Like father, like son I guess.<nt> (Taurus)
Fanfic: "The Return of Richard B. Bernstein: A Tale of Terror"... (Parca_Mortem)
From this week's Onion (Alpan)
Whatever it takes to get laid by Marla Sokoloff .. (spektre)
Lyrics Quizz (The_Knight_After)
Live!!! From Death Row it's the Mumia Commencement Rap... (MAYORBOB)
Apology to Junk Yard Dog (Edward_J_Cunningham)
boredom strikes again, and you know what that means!!! STUPID KAORU QUIZ!!! (Kaoru-dono)
Penny poll (Illinois_Stan)
insomnia strikes again, and you know what that means: LYRICS QUIZ!!!!! (Pseudonym)
Wrestlemania 2000 <spoilers> (Drew_Atreides)
Tequila Rules (Critico)
Pregnancy: say goodbye to sonogram's. (Mouse)
I don't know if Skilly=glutes or Richard=Bib but... (MAYORBOB)
I love you, Thpartacus! Tony Curtis, aka (Theodoric)
Oh yeah? Well. . . (Pat-The-Bunny)
No, I am Elenor Roosevelt! (Mouse)
Where the fuck is skilly, anyways? (Pat-The-Bunny)
No, goddammit... Butch Gladiator (Wulfgar)
Brian...I am your father...Naughtious-Maximus... (Stink_Finger)
Well... (Lionel_Cosgrove)
I am Keyser Soze! (Bickle)
I'm Spartacus (Poor_College_Boy)
I AM THE PIMPUS MAXIMUS (pharmb0y)
No, Bickle you are not. (Keyser_Soze)
I AM GUNNERY SGT. HARTMAN, YOUR SENIOR DRILL INSTRUCTOR!!!! (Infrequent_Poster)
I'm Brian . . . (convenor)
FREE WIONEW COSGWOVE!!!!! How do you solve a problem like (Wulfgar)
Forget Spartacus. . . . (Cardinal_Biggles)
concerning myself (Ricardo_Montalban)
I am the master of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu!!!!!! (Kaoru-dono)
I am the Walrus (lurker)
I - AM - IRON - MAN!!! (Theodoric)
I AM... (Wulfgar)
I'm BATMAN! (Jack-Em-Up_JACKAL)
I AM THE GOD OF HELL FIRE! (nt) (convenor)
I'M KABUKIMAN! (Lionel_Cosgrove)
I'm DAR! Friend Of The Beasts (Wulfgar)
I'm KILLROY!!! No More Oragato (Mr-Mucus)
I'm Gonna Knock You Out! (Poor_College_Boy)
I AM KUNTA KINTE!!!!!!!! Deeply Rooted (Wulfgar)
I'm a little tea-pot, short and stout.... (Theodoric)
I Am Arther, Son Of Uther Pendragon, King Of The Britons... African Swallow (Wulfgar)
Oh, BUGGER, that should say "ARTHUR"...<NT>... (Wulfgar)
I... AM... DEATH! (Lionel_Cosgrove)
I AM STUPORDUCK!!!!! (Wulfgar)
I am woman, hear me roar! (Lionel_Cosgrove)
I'm back in the saddle again... (Theodoric)
I yam what I yam. (Bickle)
I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay! (Lionel_Cosgrove)
I am the Sthcarlet Pah-Pah-Pah-Pumpernickel!!!! Shashbuckling (Wulfgar)
I'll be your waiter for this evening.. (Drew_Atreides)
No time for the old in-out, luv, I'm just here to read the meter! That lovable malchick (Theodoric)
I'm a man! A man, man, man! (Lionel_Cosgrove)
I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIGHT (geodesy)
I'm SUPER... (Wulfgar)
I'm Michael Jordon Air (Mr-Mucus)
I'm John Cameron Swayze... (Wulfgar)
Hi! I'm Earl Shive... (Bickle)
I'm Marlin Perkins... (Lionel_Cosgrove)
I'm Charleton Heston... (Bickle)
I am Aguirre... I am the wrath of God... (Lionel_Cosgrove)
Also... (Lionel_Cosgrove)
I AM CARDINAL. . . . (Cardinal_Biggles)
I'm Luke Skywalker Awfully short for a (Mr-Mucus)
My name is Robert Paulson! My name is Robert Paulson! (Bickle)
I'm Walter Cronkite... Crusty Anchorman (Wulfgar)
IIIII AM PRINCESS VESPA; DAUGHTER OF ROLAND, KING OF THE DREWS!! space (Imp)
I'm mayor Ed Koch... (Theodoric)
I AM KIROK! (Bickle)
I'm on Ameritrade trading stock Off the beach (Mr-Mucus)
Know your role and shut your mouth, Mucus! (Bickle)
I AM YOUNGER THAN SPRINGTIME... (blue-collar_chick)
I AM GAYER THAN LAUGHTER (blue-collar_chick)
I'm on the drug..... (Throwing_Muses)
I am Connor Macleod of the Clan Macleod... (Theodoric)
I AM YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE!!!!! (lurker)
Well, I'm your Venus, I'm your fire... Shocking Blue (Theodoric)
Greetings, I am Lothar of the Hill People! (Mr-Mucus)
I'm Orgazmo! (Parca_Mortem)
I'm gay! Channeling X-MAN, (Parca_Mortem)
I'm John Carter... Fighting Virginian (Wulfgar)
Good show, Parca... (Lionel_Cosgrove)
I'm Ben Stein... (Lionel_Cosgrove)
I AM CTHULHU!!!!! Great Old One (Wulfgar)
I am the MAXX....... (pipe)
Re: I don't know if Skilly=glutes or Richard=Bib but... (psychoboy_jack)
what the fuck are you ppl on about (psychoboy_jack)
Sexual encouragements, offers, solicitations, invitations and enticements (Thomas_A_Carder)
Badtz_Maru (Throwing_Muses)
Marla Sokoloff (Bibliographer)
One pathetic connection (Veruca_Salt)
Well, what DOES it take? (Jack-Em-Up_JACKAL)
It's a shame... (Amok)
The only "geek-to-chic" teen movie I've ever liked... (Bickle)
For the Love of God, Cranky . . . Shrieking-with-pain (Hairhead)
With all due respect, HH (convenor)
you're both right, but - (Bibliographer)
There's nothing you can do about it (Nick-The-Knife)
I'm pretty sure... (Amok)
Nick-The-Knife (grundle)
What Nick-the-Knife meant (Bibliographer)
as I've said before... (mendo)
mendo, you're looking more and more like a troll every day (Nick-The-Knife)
Damn people, thats harsh (Kalanaf)
Kalanaf (Bibliographer)
I would second....... (Shakesmear)
I would point out... (Bickle)
Bickle (Bibliographer)
Now just wait a minute! (grundle)
It's so strange, Bibliobitch (Pat-The-Bunny)
Pat-the-Bunny (Bibliographer)
You said "months", bitch (Pat-The-Bunny)
And, by the way, Richard. . . (Pat-The-Bunny)
Bibliographer... (mendo)
mendo (Gnick-The-Gnife)
Pat-the-Bunny learns arithmetic (Bibliographer)
Once again, Professor (Pat-The-Bunny)
Someone is obsessed with someone. That's for sure. (Bibliographer)
Bibliographer/Richard/Antichrist (Pat-The-Bunny)
And now I'm the Antichrist? (Bibliographer)
You prefer "Satan's Spawn"? Ok. (Pat-The-Bunny)
Mary, Mother of God... (Bibliographer)
What the fuck are you doing? (Pat-The-Bunny)
PAT-THE-BUNNY (God_Almighty)
Oh God (Pat-The-Bunny)
making just one brief last post in this Godforsaken hell hole (Richard_Bruce_Bernstein)
"Equally intelligent" meaning. . . (Pat-The-Bunny)
oh, wow, man (Bibliographer)
Quit trying, Bibliobitch (Pat-The-Bunny)
Frozen into place, Bunnykins. (Bibliographer)
Oh, I'd love to put you out of your misery! (Pat-The-Bunny)
Stop it! Stop it!! STOP IT!!! (Nick-The-Knife)
Oh, my God ... YOU'RE RICHARD! PAT-THE-BUNNY IS RICHARD B. BERNSTEIN!!!! (Bibliographer)
Nick-the-Knife (Bibliographer)
Thanks, Bibby (Pat-The-Bunny)
You're welcome, but - (Bibliographer)
Stalemate. (Pat-The-Bunny)
Oh. (Bibliographer)
Bibliographer (Amok)
Nick-The-Knife... you stink... (mendo)
mendo is not a troll (James_Duckworth_IV)
Is "Bruce" really Richard's middle name? That's so queer. (nt) (Technomage)
Amok (Bibliographer)
Queer? (Bibliographer)
Biblio, for christ's sake.. (speaker4dead)
A comment and a question. (Lionel_Cosgrove)
Lionel. (gnosticdogma)
I've figured it out! (spektre)
Ah, God... Heh heh heh... (Nick-The-Knife)
Gdog (Lionel_Cosgrove)
And lo, it shall come to pass . . . (convenor)
Upon further translation . . . (convenor)
Bibliographer (Amok)
Amok.... Lord High Druid Pope (Wulfgar)
Wulfgar (Amok)
So, Amok . . . (convenor)
epiphany... I figured out who Bibliographer is... (mendo)
convenor (Amok)
While everyone else is fighting (white-heat)
brief comments (Shakesmear)
My chariot's in the shop... Hierophant Druid Pope (Wulfgar)
I figure if I keep repeating this... (Chica)
Bibliographer (Technomage)
hi ho, hi ho, its off to play we go... (Earth_First)
I told you already .. (spektre)
mendo (jen)
Technomage (Bibliographer)
Right on, sister. (gnosticdogma)
Well... (skilly)
A theological question (EmperorSeth)
Re: A theological question... (Wulfgar)
Bibliographer (Technomage)
God, Techno.. (Wulfgar)
Technomage (Bibliographer)
jenny... (mendo)
Wulfgar (Technomage)
mendo (jen)
You know what, jen? (Throwing_Muses)
Richard has told me point-blank... (Wulfgar)
Lionel Cosgrove (Pat-The-Bunny)
For the Love of God, Pat.. . (Wulfgar)
Always look on the bright side of life. . . (Pat-The-Bunny)
If you give a God a cookie... (Lionel_Cosgrove)
Pat (Lionel_Cosgrove)
Sometimes . . . (convenor)
jenny... re: email addys + "elitism" the resident hippie, (mendo)
Hmmm... (skilly)
Sweet skilly. . . (Pat-The-Bunny)
Damn, Pat... (Wulfgar)
Epiphany... (Wulfgar)
Don't worry, Pat... (skilly)
Oh God oh God oh God The fearful (Pat-The-Bunny)
Pat... (Wulfgar)
Pat... (Lionel_Cosgrove)
Okay, enough of this mysterioso bullshit... (Bickle)
Odd co-inkeedink... (mendo)
I know the answer to two of your questions. (Bickle)
Bickle... the easily impressed (mendo)
I'm going to play the statistics here... (Technomage)
I once thought I knew who I was (Amok)
Actually, Pat (Technomage)
Oh big deal (X-MAN)
OH NO BITCHES YOU DID! (Pat-The-Bunny)
Speaking of bitches... (geodesy)
One thing, Pat... (Wulfgar)
Actually . . . (convenor)
Wulfgar (Pat-The-Bunny)
Ah, yes! (skilly)
Skilly... (Ringo_ate_my_baby)
OK, Pat... "Two-Swallows" (Wulfgar)
Phew! (Pat-The-Bunny)
Pat, all I have to say is... (geodesy)
I bet. (gnosticdogma)
Don't flatter yourself (convenor)
Actually, convenor, you flatter YOURself (Pat-The-Bunny)
Did somebody say rabid bunnies? (Hot_Babe)
I've posted my guess... (geodesy)
"Mr. Bunny" (X-MAN)
geodesy, X-MAN (Pat-The-Bunny)
Cranky's review (Nicky)
Note to Mr. Cranky (bored)
Thirdsies (Hairhead)
Whatever it takes to get Firsties! (Bureaucrat)
Hey. (gnosticdogma)
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