Whatever It Takes 2000

Featuring performances by Shane West and Marla Sokoloff, this teen romantic comedy follows Ryan Woodman, a bit of a geek with eyes for the school’s most popular girl, Ashley Grant. His neighbor and best friend, Maggie Carter, is a cute, intellectual girl who sees the world a little differently, while Ashley’s cousin Chris Campbell—a football jock—moves through the school with a blend of charm and ambition. The dynamic triangle heats up when Chris offers a deal that could change everyone’s social standing: he’ll help Ryan woo Maggie if Ryan helps him win over Maggie’s sister-turned-friend, the elusive Ashley.

The plan kicks off with a practical arrangement: Ryan crafts soulful emails for Chris to use in his pursuit of Maggie, while Chris counsels Ryan to adopt a tougher attitude with Ashley to draw her attention. At first, neither guy finds it easy to switch gears. Chris comes on too strong for Maggie, and Ryan stays too nervous to be harsh toward Ashley. Yet as they begin to see some early success, Ryan discovers a shift in his own feelings. The lines blur as he starts to question whether Maggie might be the right girl for him, even as he helps Chris win over her.

Meanwhile, Maggie starts to question her interest in Chris, a narcissistic jock who thrives on attention and popularity. Ryan’s transformation — which involves belittling his geeky friends —Backs Maggie further away, undermining the credibility of his earlier affections. When Ryan learns that Chris plans to “nail and bail” Maggie on the night of the school prom, a cynical strategy he’s used with others before, he tries to intervene, insisting Maggie deserves more than a one-night ploy. But the warning comes too late, and Chris remains determined to press forward.

The truth finally comes out: Ryan confesses that it was he, not Chris, who wrote Maggie’s romantic letters. The revelation stings Maggie, who feels betrayed by the deception and doubtfully weighs whether to reciprocate his feelings. She ultimately chooses to attend the prom with Chris, while Ryan finds himself going with Ashley, a decision that feels more like a backup plan than a true match.

An afterparty at a hotel becomes the setting for a dramatic moment of comeuppance. Before Chris can secure Maggie’s favor, she asserts herself, tying him to a fixture and blindfolding him as a bold, boundary-setting move. She snaps a Polaroid of him in the humiliating setup and leaves him to face the taunts of partygoers who circle the room. It’s a blunt reminder that popularity isn’t the same as respect.

Watching from afar, Ryan chooses to leave Ashley behind and pursue Maggie. Back home, he finds a moment on the balcony to apologize for the deception and to speak plainly about what he feels. Maggie, still hurt by the dishonesty, voices how the deception pulled her into Chris’s glossy clique, making her feel as if she belonged somewhere she wasn’t sure she did. In a turning moment, Ryan tells her that she does belong with him, and the two reconcile, sharing a hopeful kiss that signals the beginning of a more genuine connection built on honesty rather than games.