“Love Don’t Cost A Thing” (Warner Brothers)
Who knew that the 1987 Patrick Dempsey film “Can’t Buy Me Love” was such a hit that it would warrant a re-make after only a few years. Well that is the case because the new movie “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” is the same story told with a different cast. This time out Nick Cannon plays the “loser” who hires the most popular girl in school to pretend to be his girlfriend. The result is the same; the movie is a so-so success thanks to the charm of its leads.
Cannon is Alvin Johnson, a geeky high school senior who is being pressured by his father (Steve Harvey) to get a girlfriend. He says his son has to uphold the Johnson family name and not be a loser with the women. Alvin wants to be popular but he just doesn’t know how to be. He envies Paris Morgan (Christina Milian) her easy ways in the popular world.
One day Paris crashes her mother’s car and is in a panic. Alvin says he can get it fixed if she will act like he is her boyfriend for two weeks. A deal is made and soon Alvin has a new set of best friends, much to the chagrin of his old buddies.
The movie makes its point about popularity not being the end all thing in high school, and about staying true to your friends. Still it does look like Alvin is a happier soul once he has gained acceptance to the “in” world of the most popular kids.
The subplot about Alvin’s dad giving him advice on women is the weakest part of the movie. Harvey overdoes the moan, groan and leer part of his role. Vanessa Bell Calloway is only a little better as Alvin’s mother.
The standout in the movie is Milian. She is a beautiful young woman who can act. She also makes one heck of a cheerleader. It is hard to believe that her character could even consider being with a dufuss like Cannon’s Alvin.
Cannon never is convincing in making Alvin a cool guy. He always makes him look foolish instead of hip, cloddy instead of smooth. There should be some sort of transformation in order for the movie to work but Cannon never delivers it.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and sexual situations.
“Love Don’t Cost A Thing” is a remake of a movie that didn’t warrant a remake. Enough was enough the first time. But it is worth watching just to see Milian do her thing and steal the movie.
I scored “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” a free ride 4 out of 10.
