MYST Post #3: John Tucker Must Die

John Tucker Must Die is a comedy romance that takes place in high school and follows a group of four girls who devise a plan to break the heart of John Tucker, the hottest guy in school. Carrie, Heather and Beth found out that they were all dating John at the same time and decide to use Kate, a not so popular nobody in school, to get back at him. They planned to have John Tucker fall in love with Kate and then at his birthday party, expose him for who he is and break his heart so he would know what it felt like. Kate was hesitant at first but was forced to go along by Carrie, Heather and Beth. Kate joins the cheer leading team to get John’s attention and lures him in by acting exactly how the girls tell her to. John falls into the trap and Kate and John begin going on a series of dates. Kate begins to fall for John but is snapped out of it when Beth shows her a video of John bragging to his friends that he was going to “score” with Kate and the plan is set back in motion. Now dedicated to bring John down, the group sets up multiple embarrassing moments that back fire, ultimately making John more popular. Katie feels bad and decides to tell the truth to John at his party and everything works out. John is not mad and they remain friends.

       My favorite scene from the movie is when the group gives John estrogen pills in his Gatorade, trying to embarrass him and undermine his confidence. John becomes all soft and emotional at his basketball game and therefore doesn't play as well. The team loses the game and blames it on John, causing his friends to turn on him. The scene is hilarious and is a turning point in the movie because it is one of the first attempts at cracking John that the girls try, and it’s one of their only attempts that works in their favor. The scene is based on the dialogue because that is where the viewer sees the change in John’s attitude.

       The movie lacks technique/style and cinematography majorly. The film has no true plot line that it follows and the underlying message seems to be put out straight forward, yet everyone in the movie are hypocrites. The movie was definitely not made for the visual aspect, but instead for the comedy factor.

       I would give this movie a 3/5 because it is a classic comedy that makes me laugh every time I watch it, no matter how many times I see it.  However, it has no real cinematic aspect to it. The movie has classic lines that are still being said seven years later.