AboveDeepBuggy Some things I liked some I did not.

Inclubabu Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

Rijndri Load of rubbish!!

Keira Brennan The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

Steve Pulaski Whatever it Takes is a walking, talking, full-motion cliché built on other scenes taken from movies like It's a Wonderful Life, and a direct remake of the play Cyrano de Bergerac. Besides the respectable performances of the four leads and the catchy soundtrack, whatever small redeeming factors Whatever it Takes had quickly diminished after the first twenty minutes.I'm known to like a lot of high school movies where dorky teenagers lust after the girl of their dreams, and Whatever it Takes almost lured me in until it started walking into every cheap little trap. Right off the bat, anyone who thinks the dream girl is perfect and that the popular kid is going to follow through with his promise clearly hasn't seen any teenage movies.The plot: Nerdy kid Ryan (West) is desperately trying to get a date with Ashley (O'Keefe), the school dream girl. Jocky Chris (Franco) is trying hard to score a date with Maggie (Sokoloff), the school geek. Chris offers to help Ryan with his date if Ryan helps Chris with his. The two agree and venture out through double dates and each others' "smart" advice to win over their love interests.What bothers me is Whatever it Takes does nothing to change the formula. The characters don't act like real-life teenagers at all, they act like poorly created, dim shadows of who they should be playing. West and Franco are not to blame. They are just playing the characters. They didn't write the material they are saying. Both, at that time small, actors do what they can with the paper thin material they have, and needless to say, it all goes in a fair matter.My favorite character was Marla Sokoloff's who played the rebellious teen girl Gia in the nineties sitcom Full House. Years later, she is playing a totally different role, still with her beauty and wit taking a front row seat in the ride.The most frustrating scene in the film, besides the end scene that is abysmal, is the scene in the nursing home. Besides thinking flatulence will get you a cheap laugh, Whatever it Takes spits the few moments in a film I'll never understand; the "I take it back" moments.In this skit, Chris is talking to Maggie in the nursing home discussing her role in theater. Chris says "We have a theater club?" when Maggie brings up that she's in it. Maggie replies with the I-can't-believe-you-just-said-that "what?" as anybody would. Chris says something like "I mean that's cool." The rest of the scene flows as if he never just insulted her hobby like it was unimportant.Why are movie characters so natural and so not concerned when someone just asks a stupid question that insults them. Once he/she reminds themself that what they just said was idiotic, they say something that sounds nothing like what they just said and continue as if it never happened. Just arbitrary.While scenes like that are unnecessary and an insult to the actors and filmmakers, some little moments make Whatever it Takes watchable. It certainly is forgotten, but it might get some sort of revival now that James Franco is making it in the world of acting. Though that may happen, it certainly is likely, that the only recognition he will get from this is the "oh wow, he used to do crappy films" response from many.Starring: Shane West, James Franco, Jody Lyn O'Keefe, and Marla Sokoloff. Directed by: David Raynr.

wes-connors Hunky, handsome Shane West (as Ryan Woodman) thinks he's a "nerd". Mr. West persuades popular James Franco (as Chris Campbell) to help him get into sexy Jodi Lyn O'Keefe (as Ashley Grant); in return for Mr. Franco's assistance in seducing West's sweet 'n' sexy neighbor, Marla Sokoloff (as Maggie Carter). Think… "Cyrano de Bergerac!" Eventually, Franco strips to his thong, and gets tied up. All of these characters act like they are in high school… and they ARE in high school. Obviously, they have been kept back a few years. You could laugh along with them, if they did anything funny. So, how is West able to sleep at night with someone like Ms. Sokoloff that close? And, visa versa...I'd be up all night.** Whatever It Takes (3/31/00) David Raynr ~ Shane West, Marla Sokoloff, James Franco, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe

mycatslyone WHATEVER IT TAKES could have been a better teen film. LOVE James Franco but I did NOT like his character, Chris Campbell. His only decent scenes were on the stage with his (real, at the time) girlfriend spouting off lines from the other guy who was actually sincere & secretly in love with her. I did NOT like the school nurse's prop! It was so inappropriate! I cannot believe any school would allow such a thing! I cannot believe any PARENTS would allow it, either! I also can't believe all the kids who went to a hotel after the prom! Do high schools & parents really ENDORSE such a thing?!? Stupidity! These were all rich & snooty-type high school kids who just didn't have a clue. I have to say - I'm sorry I bought this one.

Kis2c2h This movie was just awful! It was just about the worst movie I've ever seen. It's up there w/ Win a Date w/ Tad Hamitlon & In Good Company. This movie had absolutely no point. The had Shane West as the "geek"! How could you put someone that gorgeous as a geek?!?! HONESTLY! I really hated the movie, it was cheesy lame & should have never been made. Don't watch it b/c those are important minutes of your life that you will never get back! I mean Shane goes to all these attempts to get a girl who only seems interested b/c he treats her badly. I don't understand if a guy pushed me in my pool there would be no more speaking between us! This movie is a rip off & boring. I actually might have fallen asleep a few times. The ending was just awful, and his friends were complete and total fools! I've never seen any movie so strange. The prom being themed Titanic was just insane. I really can't even put into words how badly I hated this movie. DON'T GO SEE IT. Believe me i'm helping you out!