She's the Man

Based off of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” the 2006 film “She's the Man” puts a modern twist on a classic tale. The film stars popular teen talents including Amanda Bynes and Vinnie Jones in a complicated plot filled with love triangles and cross-dressing drama. The story begins as Viola Hastings, a high school soccer player with a lot of talent, learns that her school, Cornwall, is going to cut the team. She attempts to join the boy’s team at Cornwall but is rejected. Soccer is incredibly important to her, so she devises a plan to play for Cornwall’s biggest rival, Illyria, by disguising herself as her twin brother, Sebastian. Sebastian was scheduled to enter the school; however, he was planning on ditching in order to go to London. Viola and Sebastian’s parents are both divorced, so they find it easy to lie and say that they are staying with the other parent.

Determined to win and show Cornwall that girls have game, she enters Illyria with the goal of defeating Cornwall, specifically her ex-boyfriend, who did not help her in joining the Cornwall boys' team. Viola is helped by her friends in becoming a male and is coached along the way, so she is able to cover her tracks.

The plot becomes thicker; however, as Viola’s attraction to her new roommate, Duke grows. Her new lab partner, Olivia, begins to develop a crush on Viola while she is dressed as Sebastian, who slowly becomes more and more popular as the movie develops. Unfortunately, Duke has a crush on Olivia and becomes upset with Viola as her and Olivia’s friendship grows. Tension rises as Olivia begins to date Duke in order to make the disguised Viola jealous. This comedic drama goes on as everyone practices for the big game against Cornwall.

The climax is the big game, when Viola finally comes clean about what she has done and then proceeds to lead the team to victory. Filled with awkward situations and tons of romance, “She's the Man” is a teen movie classic.