An enjoyable teen comedy!

She's the Man is the latest contemporary reinvention of a classic Shakespeare play. A few years before, the world witnessed the release of 10 Things I Hate About You which was ostensibly Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew updated and transplanted into a typical modern teenage society. In tradition with that successful film (that I have no shame in admitting I enjoyed), the screenwriter of She's the Man has taken the foundation of Shakespeare's The Twelfth Night and altered the setting to modern day teenage culture. In this day and age of Hollywood, original plots and concepts are few and far between. It now seems that filmmakers are revisiting Shakespeare's work because his plays have an outward show of convoluted dialogue; however the central plots are absolutely fascinating. Personally I detest studying Shakespeare in depth at school, but his plays have such a rich multi-faceted plot despite the dialogue that cannot be pleasurably interpreted.

Okay, so I admit that I expected something much less from She's the Man. Face it: Amanda Bynes has been inadvertently lumped together with all the other plastics of the industry like Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, etc. Personally my image of Amanda skyrocketed after I viewed this film. No longer was she a stereotyped plastic slut in my eyes. This is good - the lesser the better! In this film Amanda shows that she is capable of actually acting! That's a talent that the plastics of Hollywood would kill for.

She's the Man takes many of the fundamental plot devices of Shakespeare's The Twelfth Night, waters down the societal aspects of the time and substitutes a soccer rivalry between schools to broaden the appeal of the story.

Viola (Bynes) is keen on the sport of soccer. Unfortunately, at her school of Cornwall High the girl's team is cut due to unsatisfactory numbers from the female students. Viola wants to join the boy's soccer team; however this is met with laughter. This is such an emotional burden on Viola that she even ends the relationship with her boyfriend who is captain of the boy's team. Viola wants revenge on the team that rejected her, and forms a plan when she realises her brother Sebastian (Kirk) is secretly skipping the first 12 days of his new school to go to London in pursuit of his ambition in the music industry. Viola and Sebastian are twins and look alike, so Viola schemes to dress boyish and pose as Sebastian at his new school where she can join the soccer team that verses Cornwall High in just 12 days. During these 12 days Viola falls in love with soccer captain Duke (Tatum) who is in love with Olivia (Ramsey) who is falling in love with Sebastian (who is really Viola)...romantic chaos ensues. This complicated love triangle reminds us that this is Shakespeare we're viewing.

The filmmakers have struck success in breathing new life into the Shakespearen play. The screenplay has a few moments of comedy genius. Witty dialogue delivery, amusing lines, etc. On the whole, it felt like there could have been a whole lot more gags included here. In all fairness, most of the film's laugh value is based solely on complicated situations regarding the love triangle. Not really my kind of humour...but I did laugh at times.

Amanda Bynes gives a solid, albeit histrionic performance as Viola. She had a challenging job of pulling off a girl and a guy. She handled the role with great determination. Amanda is really likable in the title role. She's also incredibly cute at times. I don't understand how she is hated and grouped with the Hollywood plastics. Channing Tatum is just another Hollywood pretty boy included for interest from the girl audience. Amanda is included for the guys but at least she can act! A special mention about Vinnie Jones as the very cool soccer coach (Vinnie was formerly a soccer star).

Overall, She's the Man is a welcome surprise that is surely worth viewing. I enjoyed the film. Aside from being clichéd and predictable, it was fun and bright. I'd recommend it for a simple night of fun and laughter.

6.4/10