Shes the Man

Shes the Man

In yet another teen-flavoured Shakespeare adaptation, SHE'S THE MAN takes an even lighter approach to TWELFTH NIGHT than the bard himself, but throws a curve ball by mixing its inherent gender-switch romance with a feel-good, 'girl power', sports element. Amanda Bynes (WHAT A GIRL WANTS) is Viola, a high school student who just wants to play soccer, even though her mother (Julie Hagerty) is prepping her for a debutante ball. Just as the girls' soccer team is eliminated from her school, Viola discovers that her brother - also a keen soccer player - is ditching the beginning of the semester to go to London with his band. Disguised as 'manly' as she could possibly be, Viola decides to go in his place and prove that she can make it on the team. However, she doesn't count on falling for the dashing Duke (Channing Tatum, SUPERCROSS), whom she befriends and is forced to reluctantly aid in his wooing of the beautiful and popular, Olivia (Laura Ramsey). Bynes leaps into her role with a broad comic style that works well with this bright, colourful film. The adult roles are handled deftly by Hagerty and Vinnie Jones (SNATCH), as well as David Cross (Arrested Development), who makes the most of his clueless headmaster role with the help of a cavalcade of ridiculous hats.