Better than most in the genre, but I had one problem with it.

Rating: 6/10 (25 March 2006)

Amanda Bynes stars in "She's The Man", a teen comedy of gender role reversal. Bynes shines as Viola a girl who pretends to be her brother Sebastian. She does this because her school recently disbanded her all female soccer team, and he plans to take a secret vacation in London. Since his new prep school has never seen the actual Sebastian, Viola assumes her brother's identity and heads to school. There she joins the boy's soccer team and meets her fellow teammates with whom she wants to defeat her former school's boys team. Once at her new school, she makes quiet a splash with the student body. This paves the way for romantic triangles as girls fall for her, and she falls for her teammate Duke.
In a movie like this, the lead will make or break it. Here, Bynes proves that she is a young up and comer that can do comedy. As a boy, she is convincing enough to make the movie work. Her comedic timing, voice, and mannerisms make for an enjoyable viewing. Once seeing his (her) skill with picking up girls, Duke asks of her to set him up with the hottest-girl-in-school Olivia. I particularly liked how as her feelings for Duke develop, she then has to turn away the very likable Olivia. Turns out that the "guy" Olivia wants is our protagonist. Oh what is Viola to do? For the most part, this movie succeeds because of the characters. For example, Olivia is a popular girl that isn't shallow. Same goes for Duke, who despite being a stud, is actually shy around girls. The fact that it is based on Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" doesn't hurt. I can't wholeheartedly recommend it because of the poorly handled way a scene below is done, and up till that point I was very much enjoying this picture.
*(Spoilers)* I was really enjoying this movie, until the soccer game exhibitionism. Maybe since Sebastian wants to be a rock star, he's OK with pulling his pants down in front of a stadium full of people. However, I think it was really uncalled for that Viola has to prove that she is a girl in a similar way. It doesn't even make sense. Why would she need to prove that? She is on the guy's soccer team. Flashing everyone wasn't necessary. If she just said that she's a girl, and took off the wig, then it is clear enough. It seems out of character for her to do that, especially since she goes to lengths to take showers very early. Just as strange is the fact that no one even talks about it afterward. Her parents aren't even mad. Duke doesn't strike me as a guy that would go out with a girl that did that. I'm disappointed that the filmmakers decided this was necessary, because it doesn't fit nor seem appropriate for the characters or the genre.