Common Sense Note
Parents should know that as Viola pretends to be a boy, some situations arise where her male roommate's evolving affection for her borders on homoerotic. There are some sexual references (references to genitals) and mild language. There is some crass humor (one involves tampons) and some borderline jokes (divorced mom considers dating daughter's boyfriend).
Families can discuss gender roles and the limits of gender-based expectations. How are girls and boys trained to behave in specific ways? How does Viola come to see that lying to her mother, new friends, and eventual boyfriend is not the best way to make her point about gender equality? Families could also check out Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, upon which this movie is loosely based.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Cynthia Fuchs
Cute, crass, and happily unbelievable, SHE'S THE MAN is buoyed by Amanda Bynes' vivacious performance as a girl who pretends to be a boy.
Viola's vast love for soccer takes a hit at the start of the film, when she learns her high school girls' team has been cut for lack of funding. When she asks to try out for the boys' team, the coach tells her flat out, "Girls can't be boys." Worse, her for-a-minute boyfriend, Justin (Robert Hoffman) agrees with the coach, as does her mother (Julie Hagerty), too busy planning for Viola's debut to notice her disappearance for two weeks.
Viola manages to slip away when her twin brother Sebastian (James Kirk) heads to London for two weeks to play in his rock band. She takes his place at his new high school, Ilysia (named for Illyria, the country in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, the "inspiration" for Andy Fickman's film). Outfitted with a short wig and briefly trained on how to be a boy (she deepens her voice, slouches, and asks, "Whassup!?"), Viola-as-Sebastian rooms with Duke (Channing Tatum, who throws himself into sweet self-mockery with an energy that rivals Bynes') and makes the soccer team (coached by the intimidating former British football star Vinnie Jones).
Viola is soon distracted by a crush on Duke, who likes their conventionally beautiful classmate Olivia (Laura Ramsey), who in turn develops an interest in Viola-as-Sebastian. As the romantic confusion escalates, so do Viola's frantic efforts to maintain her masquerade. She sensationally rejects a couple of "ex-girlfriends" (played by Viola's friends) in front of very impressed teammates ("He's the man!"), keeps a distance from the gender-challenged Headmaster Gold (David Cross), and bonds with Duke during late night conversations.
The show comes to something of a frenzied climax at the local fairgrounds for "Carnival." Here she alternately plays Viola (working the kissing booth, where she and Duke share a moment) and Sebastian (advising Duke as he pursues Olivia). She manages these changes by switching her clothes in the Port-a-John or on a ride, looking approriately nauseous as she's whipped from side to side.
All the while, Viola-as-Sebastian avoids taking showers with her teammates, finagles her way out of a hazing ritual, and proves her worth on the soccer field (where the opposing team's goalie is none other than smug Justin).
Increasingly unwieldy as the plot threads must be sorted out, the film relies heavily on the delightful Bynes (when she's not on screen for a few minutes, the energy sags considerably). Once Viola absorbs her boy-lessons, she finds it hard to be a girl, in scenes that go overboard: She gnaws at her food, straddles her chair, fights with fellow debutantes in the ladies' room. Eventually, she learns to be "herself."
Families who like this movie should also see 1985's Just One of the Guys (which has a similar plot) or Mean Girls (which considers gender roles in high school). You might also see 10 Things I Like About You (a high school version of Taming of the Shrew) or read the Shakespeare play that inspired She's the Man, Twelfth Night.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentKissing; Viola sneaks showers (no body parts shown); discussions of sexual orientation and activities (not explicit); references to male genitals (in one scene, to prove he's a boy, Sebastian drops his pants on the soccer field and Viola proves she's a girl by lifting her shirt). |
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ViolenceSome slapstick and pratfalls; three girls fight in a bathroom, punching and slamming each other against walls (played as comedy); a soccer ball hits Viola's crotch when she's in drag, and she must pretend it hurts like it would for a a boy. |
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Language"Hell" plus some derogatory slang ("bee-yatch," "nancy boy," "playing like girls"); and sexual slang ("I'd tap that"). |
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Social BehaviorProtagonist lies to get what she wants. |
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