Review of:Love Don't Cost A Thing (2003)
Director:Troy Beyer
Rating:PG-13 for sexual content/humor
Starring:Nick Cannon, Christina Milian, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Kal Penn, Steve Harvey
In the world of romance the term “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” would be the truth to end all other truths. In reality‚ things don’t always move the way we have worked them out in our heads. In this unnecessary remake of the 1987 film Can’t Buy Me Love starring Patrick Dempsey we find this out rather quickly.
In the film a highschool loser (Nick Cannon as Alvin Johnson) has the opportunity to better what he thinks is a horrible life. You might remember Nick Cannon better as the slightly arrogant drummer in Drumline. In this newest film we are supposed to believe he is the social equivalent of a used Kleenex. Topped with an Afro that would make any 70’s pro basketball player envious‚ he goes through life invisible. To increase his popularity in school he decides to rent the services of the most popular girl in school (Christina Milian playing as Paris Morgan) for two weeks. He hopes that by doing this he will pierce the part of the social community that he has only been able to view from the outside. Paris Morgan‚ although at first hesitant‚ quickly decides to go along with the scheme for her own personal reasons. Together the two set out to increase his stature in the school.
The film‚ although funny at times‚ doesn’t bring anything knew to the table. It is safely formulaic‚ but it does have a few standout points. Anytime that Steve Harvey (Clarence Johnson) comes on screen the laugh meter jumps up a bit. He provides the comedy to the film‚ but also is the catalyst to some of Alvin’s behavior.
I almost had to turn my eyes at the character Nick Cannon was playing. Nick Cannon tried to act his way into the character of a nerd and couldn’t do it. Maybe the guy’s just to cool‚ but I didn’t buy the act for a minute.
All in all I actually enjoyed the film to a degree‚ but for your hard earned money it might be better if you catch it on video.
