Whatever It Takes

Ryan Woodman is a high school student who longs for Ashley Grant, one of the most popular girls in school, though she barely notices him. Chris Campbell, a confident athlete, is drawn to Maggie Carter, Ryan's intelligent and kind friend, who does not return his interest. With graduation and the school dance approaching, the two young men make a deal: each will help the other win over the girl he wants. As their plan unfolds, both begin to question whether the girls they are chasing are really the ones they should be with.

Directed by David Raynr from a screenplay by Mark Schwahn, Whatever It Takes was released in 2000 and runs 94 minutes. It stars Shane West as Ryan, Marla Sokoloff as Maggie, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe as Ashley and James Franco as Chris, with supporting turns from Aaron Paul and Colin Hanks among a credited cast of twenty. The film was produced by Paul Schiff for Columbia Pictures and Phoenix Pictures.

Made for a budget of 15 million dollars, the film took in about 10 million dollars worldwide, less than its production cost. On TMDB it holds a rating of 5.8 out of 10 from 308 votes, indicating a modest response from viewers. It sits within the teen romantic comedy tradition of its era, built around a familiar premise of mistaken attraction and last-minute realizations.