On Aug. 27, 2021, Netflix released a new movie called “He’s All That,” starring TikTok star, Addison Rae. The movie is a remake of the 1999 hit film, “She’s All That” but with a gender-swapped and Gen-Z modernized appeal. Other starred actors in the film include “Cobra Kai’s” Tanner Buchanan, “Girl Meets World’s” Peyton Meyer and surprisingly, Kourtney Kardashian.

Setting aside the cringe acting, the film had many issues even prior to its release. For one, many pointed out how Rae, an individual known for her fame on TikTok, is not an experienced actor. I’m no acting connoisseur, but watching someone try and act with very minimal acting experience did not feel right for me. Personally, I think the role was given to Addison Rae because of the personality type the main character has: bubbly and preppy.

Moreover, there have been occasional circumstances where someone with minimal acting experience carries out excellent acting, but this was not the case for Rae. Just about all of the scenes of the movie were not coached and natural, rather coming off as awkward and uncomfortable. I feel like a lot of the shots and scenes taken were designed to just make the actors look good rather than focusing on appearing authentic.

Also, the film is categorized as a “romantic comedy,” but where’s the sense of humor and talent with executing comedy in a movie like this? The movie focuses on giving someone a “makeover” and using a bet to make the goal of having him/her/them win Prom Court. I wish I was able to take this movie seriously, but it just seems like it’s an excuse for a satirical comedy. The film also attempts to execute romance more than just from the protagonist. One of Padgett’s friends, Quinn, openly talks about her attraction towards another girl in her grade, including minor interactions with LGBTQ+ characters. However, nothing else is shown since that conversation Quinn has with Padgett.

Despite the public’s and my criticism, I will give the movie one thing: a good portrayal of the realities of someone’s life behind closed doors, family relationships and dealing with a harsh breakup. The protagonist, Padgett, lives a seemingly glamorous life with having perfect grades, a happy relationship, no financial worries and living in a big house. When a video of Padgett is released that presents her in an unflattering state, things begin to change. She loses a gigantic amount of followers, her best friend and her sponsors for college scholarships. Then on, Padgett has to focus on rebuilding her reputation and the relationships with people around her.

To be completely honest, I don’t think the movie is all-around terrible. I would probably rate it a 6.5 out of 10. The film simply feels rushed, unauthentic and not coached at all. The movie does explore important themes and life concepts too, which I think add a bit of value to the plot. I feel like if some of the actors were swapped out with individuals that are experienced and are more passionate about acting, the film could have some potential to be a good remake of “She’s All That.”