SHE'S THE MAN

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Should you bring the kids? Not unless they're 13 or older. For more on particular age groups, see "Bringing the Kids" below

THE STORY: In this modern take on Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," Amanda Bynes plays Viola Johnson, who disguises herself as her twin brother, Sebastian (James Kirk) and enrolls in his place at boarding school, while he tries to break into the music scene in London. Viola's reasoning: she's a star soccer player at her own school, but when they cut the girl's team, she decides to be a boy and play on the boy's team at her brother's school.

But Viola doesn't count on falling in love with her brother's hunky roommate, Duke (Channing Tatum), who in turn only has eyes for the beautiful Olivia (Laura Ramsey). To make matters worse, Olivia is starting to fall for Sebastian (in reality, Viola), who – for reasons Olivia couldn't begin to guess (i.e. he's a woman!) – appears to be the sensitive type of guy she'd always dreamed of meeting. If things weren't complicated enough, the real Sebastian returns from London two days early and arrives on campus having no clue that he's been replaced...by his twin sister.

THE WRAP-UP: This high school soap opera is surprisingly entertaining. It's both a goofy caper and a good commentary on not judging other people. Amanda Bynes, who came to fame in "The Amanda Show" on the Nickelodeon network, is adorable in her first semi-grown-up role. Not many kids her age could pull off this part with the same physical comedy and great timing, with a few really sweet moments thrown in for good measure.

My biggest complaint with this movie is that her divorced parents are caricature stereotypes. Her mom is a snooty preppy type who wants her daughter to attend the debutante ball in pink ruffles. She has no clue that her daughter's main reason for living is soccer. And her dad is a snooty preppy type who apparently spends most of his time playing golf.

BRINGING THE KIDS:

PRESCHOOLERS (ages 2-5): Nothing about this movie is appropriate for preschoolers!

GRADE-SCHOOLERS (ages 6 - 10): While there are plenty of action-packed soccer scenes that grade-schoolers would probably love, there are also too many sexual references. There's a lot of talk about "hot" babes and guys, and a few locker-room scenes where Viola the "boy" has to look the other way. Also, she tries to explain to her boy roommate why she carries tampons by sticking one in her nostrils to demonstrate how it stops nosebleeds. And when the moment arrives for her to reveal her true identity, she does it by lifting her shirt in view of a crowded soccer arena. Her brother does the same thing by dropping his pants. Although no nudity is shown, it's still borderline exhibitionist.

TWEEN/TEEN (ages 11+): Because of the innuendos, this movie is inappropriate for kids under 13, but ok for older teens starting to eye the opposite sex. This movie has an up-and-coming cast, and also incorporates a few lessons on how to treat other people. It's also a good reminder about how crafty Shakespeare was in his storytelling -- in a goofy, Elizabethan kind of way.

 SCORE: 3 out of 4 Reels.

Jane's Reel Rating System:
One Reel: Pathetic. Even The Force can’t save it.
Two Reels: Tolerable. Coulda been a contender.
Three Reels: Thought-provoking. Something to talk about.
Four Reels: Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

E-chat with me at jane@reellifewithjane.com - I LOVE to talk about movies!

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