Rarely has a title promised so much, and delivered so little. John Tucker Must Die is toothless, gormless, witless, and, worst of all, deathless.
John Tucker Must Die (2006)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:89
Fresh:22
Rotten:67
Average Rating:4.3/10
Consensus: This derivitive teen comedy tries to go for cute when it could use more bite.
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: If hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, just think of the damage three teenage girls could to do if pushed to their romantic breaking points. Okay, now, take whatever you’re imagining, and... If hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, just think of the damage three teenage girls could to do if pushed to their romantic breaking points. Okay, now, take whatever you’re imagining, and triple it. That’s how much havoc a band of resourceful high school girls end up wreaking on the triple-timing campus stud in the comedy John Tucker Must Die. The destruction begins when three gorgeous, popular girls from competing high school cliques discover that they’ve each been dating the same guy: the school’s smooth and hunky basketball team captain, John Tucker (JESSE METCALFE). After comparing notes, the fuming trio – reporter-wannabe Carrie (ARIELLE KEBBEL), head cheerleader Heather (ASHANTI), and vegan activist Beth (SOPHIA BUSH) – conspire to teach Tucker a lesson he’ll never forget. They decide to attack his game and make this guy, who is never without a date, “undatable.” Unfortunately, every wacky, grossly embarrassing scheme they hatch to undermine “Tuck” backfires and only makes him more popular than ever. Desperate, the girls realize they’ll have to step up their assault. There’s only one way left to take: to break his heart…the same way he’s broken theirs. Carrie, Heather, and Beth then recruit a pretty, but anonymous school newcomer, Kate (BRITTANY SNOW), to get the hot jock to fall for her, so she can ceremoniously dump him. Kate’s hesitant to play along but, desperate for new friends and a chance to finally be “visible,” she agrees to help the girls execute their dastardly plan. The trio soon turns Kate into the girl of John Tucker’s dreams and, right on schedule, he falls head over heels for the attractive blonde. At first, Kate plays hard to get, which completely confounds Tucker, a guy who usually has women falling at his feet. But, despite her best efforts to resist him, Kate finds herself drawn to Tucker, and gets caught between her loyalty to her new gal pals and her unexpected attraction to John. Meanwhile, Kate’s struck up a friendship with her chemistry lab partner, Scott (PENN BADGLEY), who just happens to be “Tuck’s” younger brother. Scott, who’s used to taking a backseat to his sibling, can’t let Kate know how he really feels about her, especially as he sees her falling for John. Even Kate’s single mother, Lori (JENNY McCARTHY), who’s on her own dating merry-go-round, tries to warn Kate against her mission to dupe the unsuspecting John Tucker. But Kate’s in too deep – there’s no turning back now. Or is there? Can Kate keep her romantic wits about her and pull off the ultimate revenge against a girl’s worst enemy: the serial dater? Can fantasy guy John Tucker possibly change his ways and become a one-woman man? And can Carrie, Heather, and Beth actually stay friends with Kate – and with each other – or will they eventually end up back in their respective cliques, never to cross over into such “uncharted” social territory again? John Tucker Must Die is the wild movie comedy that proves, when it comes to high school, dating is still the hardest subject of them all. -- © 20th Century Fox [More]
Starring: Arielle Kebbel, Jesse Metcalfe, Ashanti, Penn Badgley
Starring: Arielle Kebbel, Jesse Metcalfe, Ashanti, Penn Badgley, Brittany Snow, Sophia Bush, Jenny McCarthy
Director: Betty Thomas
Screenwriter: Jeff Lowell
Producer: Karen Lunder, Bob Cooper
Composer: Richard Gibbs
Director: Betty Thomas
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for John Tucker Must Die
A load of formulaic nonsense that should still turn a few young heads thanks to its fantasy plot and Jesse Metcalfe's chest.
Not the worst of its kind, but few over the age of 14 will find it worth forking out for.
Not quite in the league of Mean Girls but this is still an enjoyably silly teen revenge comedy with strong performances and a witty, likeable script.
A slightly warped edge keeps us engaged with the simplistic characters and goofy situations.
Designed as an ultimate revenge fantasy "John Tucker Must Die" is a moderately funny teen comedy with a few flashes of bawdy humor.
A high-school revenge comedy that aims at a teen audience yet manages to be witty without being snarky or sophomoric.
Betty Thomas's sloppy storytelling and comic incompetence can be forgiven but to portray young women as flighty airheads obsessed with boys over all else is downright offensive.
Buoyed by its good looking cast and entertaining script, John Tucker Must Die is witty and funny, as it reminds us that it is cool to be yourself - whoever you are.
Had it mined edgier territory and stuck to its guns, it would've proven a more engaging vehicle than the mild laugher we have here
It functions well as a guilty pleasure that has some smile-worthy gags alongside the occasional Farrelly Brothers style gross-out moment.
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