It's hard to imagine what William Shakespeare would make of this contemporary take on his gender confused romantic farce Twelfth Night. The fact that his story fits seamlessly in with Hollywood's love of high concept is further testimony, not that any more were needed, that the Bard was ahead of the game. One advantage of aligning a film with Shakespeare is that it is imbued with a certain reverence and afforded a little more forgiveness. Some credit is due for aiming high, even if the result falls a little short.
She's The Man is a harmless enough romantic teen comedy with some cute moments, mostly thanks to the plucky efforts of Amanda Bynes. Bynes plays Viola who pretends to be her twin brother Sebastian in an effort to secure a spot on his school's soccer team. The deception's motives are somewhat less critical than in the original, but the outcome is equally confusing.
One identifiable reference to She's The Man's origins lies in the names of the central characters. As well as Viola, there's Duke (Channing Tatum), her brother Sebastian (James Kirk) and her friend Olivia (Laura Ramsey). For a novel touch the school is Illyria Prep, named after the country in Twelfth Night. There's even a tarantula with an irritable bowel called Malvolio, which is apt considering the tangled web of romances.
I'll write slowly so you can keep up: Viola, disguised as Sebastian, falls for her jock roommate Duke, who in turn fancies the school beauty Olivia, who has a crush on Sebastian who is really Viola. Although there are some peripheral figures to add to the equation, it's not really as bewildering as it appears. It's certainly not as puzzling as why anyone for one second thought Viola as Sebastian looked convincingly like a boy, even with a pageboy haircut and a dubious low voice.
Inevitably the deceit offers some comic moments and it's only thanks to some close calls, chest bandages and a reluctance to take a shower, that Viola's true identity remains a secret. Bynes does a spirited pass at affecting a Y chromosome, though she's in need of more than an infusion of testosterone to match Vinnie Jones' sergeant majorish Coach Dinklage. The film's surrealist quotient comes courtesy of David Cross as the barking mad Principal Gold.
Although She's The Man is unlikely to have Shakespeare writhing in his grave, he might have objected to the tampon jokes. "Is there no respect of place, persons, nor time, in you?" Not in Hollywood, Bill. Not in Hollywood.
Kevin Murphy
