Remakes have always been a staple in the film industry, but modern-day Hollywood has relied more and more on reviving past hits as a reliable way to appeal to audiences. He’s All That continued the practice by being a modern adaptation of the 1999 film She’s All That, with both films targeting a teenage demographic in their tales of high school love.
He's All That isn't the first comedy remake nor will it be the last. From 1991's Father of the Bride to 2018's Overboard, these films have had varying degrees of commercial and critical success. As their wildly divergent Rotten Tomatoes scores indicate, these movies can win over fans with their fresh take on an old premise or repel new viewers who find the plot or characters stale and uninspiring.
I Think I Love My Wife (2007) - 19%
A remake of 1972’s French film Love in the Afternoon, the original was more of a drama that critically examined relationship dynamics. The American remake is about Richard (Chris Rock) is a man frustrated with his married life and craves something exciting. Once old friend Nikki (Kerry Washington) tries to get involved with him, Richard tries his best to convince himself that he’s still in love with his wife (Gina Torres).
The Chris Rock version could only garner a handful of good reviews due to the uneven balance between drama and comedy that didn’t allow its premise to shine. The film was bogged down by cliches of the genre, such as the power of love motivating Rock's character to be faithful despite spending the whole film pining after Nikki, and the years' worth of problems with his wife being solved simply through one conversation.
Overboard (2018) - 24%
A remake of the 1987 movie of the same name, Overboard switches things up by having the male character suffer through amnesia instead of the original spoiled female heiress. After realizing the vain rich man Leo (Eugenio Derbez) lost his memory, his former cleaning lady, Kate (Anna Faris), decides to get back at him by convincing him they’re married to make Leo work to provide for the family.
Much like the original Overboard, the remake suffered from the problematic premise of taking advantage of a person suffering from amnesia. The lack of creativity in the adaptation was also a common criticism as the movie is fairly formulaic and predictable. It's entirely obvious that Leo will be a changed man even after regaining his memories as the intended love story with Kate wouldn't work otherwise. As the film copied the original from start to finish, it meant that viewers would know the ending would be the same as well.
He's All That (2021) - 32%
1999’s She’s All That was always one of the teen romantic comedies fans wanted to see remade. He’s All That follows the same premise as the original but swaps the genders of the two leads. Padgett (Addison Rae) decides to turn the unpopular student Cameron (Tyler Buchanan) into the prom king on a bet and ends up falling in love with him.
The 2021 remake hasn’t fared too well with critics much like the original, although it has received even fewer positive reviews. Most of the criticism singled out the lack of chemistry between the two lead actors and copying too much of the same plot of the first movie without any interesting innovations.
Guess Who (2005) - 42%
In the remake of 1967’s Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, the movie flips the story to have a white man show up at a black family’s house as their daughter’s boyfriend. The story is about his attempts to impress his girlfriend’s father to allow her to marry him.
Although Guess Who means well, it didn’t win over critics due to the lack of social and cultural relevance the original movie had. The remake was also a more broad comedy as opposed to having more genuine dramatic elements like the original, which took away from the intended heartwarming nature of the movie.
Fever Pitch (2005) - 65%
The American remake of the original British movie released in 1997, Fever Pitch has the same plot of a man obsessed with his favorite sports team and nearly losing his love interest due to placing his love for the game over their relationship. However, the sport in question is switched from English football to baseball to accommodate American audiences.
The movie was praised for the chemistry between Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore, with the simplistic storyline seen as a good setup for a romantic comedy. Although not exactly among the best sports movies ever made, Fever Pitch still has enough charm for it to still be considered a quality rom-com.
About Last Night (2014) - 66%
The remake of the 1986 film, About Last Night’s story has to do with Danny (Michael Ealy) beginning a relationship with Debbie (Joy Byrant) but finding silly reasons to break up with her due to his lack of commitment. It’s after seeing his ladies man friend Bernie (Kevin Hart) fall in love that Danny realizes he’s made a mistake.
The balance between the love story and comedic elements was the major reason why About Last Night fared well. Critics generally approved of the change in the story compared to the original, which was more risque and tonally serious than the remake.
Father Of The Bride (1991) - 70%
The Steve Martin version is so well-received that the movie is still as popular as ever. Its premise is the same as the 1950 original, with the main character having to come to terms with his daughter’s impending wedding and making arrangements for the momentous occasion.
The remake spawned a sequel like the first one and fans continue to appreciate Father of the Bride for being a cheerful movie of the feel-good variety, with a third entry released as a short film in 2020. The family-friendly presentation is credited as its main appeal along with the comedic duo of Steve Martin and Martin Short, who share an antagonist relationship as the beleaguered dad and the aggressively peppy wedding planner Franck.
The Parent Trap (1998) - 87%
While it might seem hard to believe for fans that the Lindsay Lohan version is more than two decades old, it’s equally as surprising that the original Parent Trap turned 60 in 2021. Both stories have separated twin sisters devising a plan to switch places and convince their parents to reconcile.
The 1998 remake is notable for having the twist of international settings as the girls are of different nationalities. It was well-received largely for Lindsay Lohan’s convincing portrayal of the twins and for Nancy Myers’ direction that appealed to both children and adults.
Freaky Friday (2003) - 88%
Anna (Lindsay Lohan) is a rebellious teen who gets into an argument with her mother Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis). The two find out they’ve swapped bodies through unknown magical means the next day, which ultimately helps them understand each other better.
Freaky Friday was a remake of Disney’s own well-received 1976 movie, with the result being just as successful the second time around. Reviews praised the duo of Lohan and Curtis, as the two were noted to have copied each other’s mannerisms to maximum comedic effect. Jamie Lee Curtis, in particular, was considered a stand-out of the movie, garnering a Golden Globe Award nomination and receiving significant Oscar buzz for her committed performance.
Hairspray (2007) - 91%
The case of Hairspray is an adaptation of the 2002 Broadway play, which in turn had been based on the 1988 movie of the same name. The story is about teenager Tracy Turnblad who seeks to find stardom as a dancer and becomes a driving force in rallies against racial segregation in 1960s Baltimore.
The 2007 movie received plaudits from critics and was a hit with audiences, grossing over $200 million worldwide. It garnered unanimous praise for touching on the serious topic of racism prevalent during the time period. Hairspray was also well-received for its offbeat comedic elements that blended well with the infectious musical numbers, such as the hilariously over-the-top falling-in-love montage of Tracy and Link and the showstopping finale number "You Can't Stop The Beat."