The Top 5 moments I liked from “He’s All That”

He’s All That was not only a great remake; it hinted at a few things from the original film She’s All That. While both films are somewhat similar, they have a few differences. Not only that, but viral TikTok star Addison Rae did a great job for her first acting gig. Here are the top five moments I liked from He’s All That.

1. The respect for parents is well awarded. Unlike Zack’s clueless parents in She’s All That, He’s All That respected parental figures pretty well. Padgett’s mother is a supportive person and cares for her. Anna isn’t afraid to challenge Padgett, but does it with grace. “It’s only a mistake if you don’t learn from it,” she says in one scene. While many teen movies portray parents as clueless people, it’s nice He’s All That doesn’t follow the formula.

2. The main characters/love interests have an innocent romance. The romance in the film isn’t based on looks or sex appeal. Instead, both characters get to know each other, suggesting that there is a better way to go about relationships. Padgett and Cameron ask questions and learn a bit more about themselves, all without relying too heavy on their hormones. I like that because it’s a realistic view of how relationships should be.

3. Cameron defends his little sister Brin. When Jordan (Padgett’s ex-boyfriend) tries to take advantage of Brin, she hits him (the scene is implied, not shown). Cameron and Jordan then enter a brawl where Cameron uses karate moves to win it. The scene shows Cameron as a pacifist who isn’t willing to let Brin be screwed over by some jerk. It’s a scene that made me like the film even more.

4. Padgett denies the Prom Queen crown. When finding out she won Prom Queen, Padgett gracefully takes to the stage. But instead of a self-absorbed speech, she tells her classmates that being real is more important than how you look on social media. This scene touched my heart because Padgett has learned the value of honesty and is sharing it with her school. She doesn’t want to be rich anymore, but desires to live a life that focuses on helping others. That is truly a praiseworthy scene.

5. Some actors from She’s All That appear here in the remake. Rachel Leigh Cook who portrayed Laney Boggs is back. In He’s All That, she plays Anna, Padgett’s loving and supportive mother. Matthew Lillard (who played Brock Hudson in the original) even shows up as the high school principal. Indeed, those two actors did bring back some good old memories in the remake.

He’s All That is in some ways, an improvement over the original. As mentioned, parents come across well, some actors return, and great chemistry ignites between the two main leads Addison Rae and Tanner Buchanan. Please look out for my review of He’s All That, coming your way soon!