Okay, so y’all probably heard about Netflix’s He’s All That—the TikTok-era spin on the classic She’s All That from waaaay back in ’99. Honestly? I wasn’t sure how they’d pull off a reboot without it feeling like a cringe fest. But the cast of he’s all that surprised me. Seriously, I didn’t expect to care about a TikTok star playing lead. But here we are.
Meet the New Faces (and a Few Old Ones)
First up: Addison Rae as Padgett Sawyer. Yeah, that Addison Rae—the queen of TikTok, who went from lip-sync videos to… acting in a full movie. Her debut role had folks divided. Some fans cheered; others rolled their eyes so hard, I’m surprised their eyeballs stayed put. Padgett’s your typical influencer-turned-high-school-queen who’s gotta transform the school’s biggest weirdo into prom king. I mean, talk about a makeover cliché, right? But Addison’s charm (and a little awkwardness) somehow made it work. The cast of he’s all that needed that mix of authenticity and fresh-faced energy.
Tanner Buchanan Steals the Show
Now, Tanner Buchanan as Cameron Kweller? That dude was the surprise MVP for me. You probably know him from Cobra Kai—and if you don’t, where’ve you been hiding? His grunge, brooding vibe perfectly balances Addison’s glitzy Padgett. Cameron is the anti-social kid with a hidden soft side, and Tanner nailed that vibe without overdoing it. Honestly, I was half expecting a cheesy “bad boy” act, but nah, he brought some real feels. The cast of he’s all that shines most when these two share the screen.
Throwback Alert: The OGs Crash the Party
Hold up—y’all remember Rachael Leigh Cook? Yeah, the original Laney Boggs from She’s All That (1999). Instead of reprising her role, she plays Padgett’s mom here. I swear, spotting her felt like getting a warm hug from the ’90s. And Matthew Lillard! Yes, the same guy who was Brock Hudson in the OG movie (and Ghostface in Scream). Here, he’s the quirky principal. I had this dumb grin when I saw him pop up. The cast of he’s all that is like a little reunion for those in the know.
The Supporting Cast: More Than Just Background Noise
Madison Pettis plays Alden, Padgett’s jealous bestie. Think Regina George vibes but with more sass and less mercy. She’s the kind of friend who’ll smile in your face and throw shade the next second. Then there’s Myra Molloy as Quinn, Padgett’s ride-or-die. I kinda related to Quinn’s loyalty—I mean, who hasn’t stuck with a friend through some embarrassing phases? Like that time I texted my crush a meme… meant for my bestie. Cringe. But I digress. Both bring depth and realness to the cast of he’s all that beyond the typical high school drama.
Social Media Culture Is the Real Star
Here’s the thing: this movie gets the social media game better than most. Padgett is an influencer. The film shows us TikTok dances, hashtag madness, and online “cancel culture.” Addison Rae’s real-life TikTok fame makes the whole thing feel less fake. You get the sense they weren’t just trying to cash in—they actually tried to capture what being a teen online is like today. BTW, I swear the prom dance-off was inspired by every viral dance challenge I’ve seen this week. The cast of he’s all that nailed those moves.
Chemistry or Chaos?
Rom-coms live or die by the leads’ chemistry. Addison and Tanner’s on-screen vibe? Surprisingly good. I was bracing for awkward pauses and forced smiles. Nope. They pull off the classic opposites-attract trope with a little modern spin. Padgett’s all glam, flashing cameras and all. Cameron? The brooding musician who probably listens to some emo band nobody’s heard of. Anyway, their awkward first encounters and gradual melt-downs made me root for them—even if I knew exactly where it was heading.
Fun Cameos (Because Why Not)
Oh, and guess who shows up? Kourtney Kardashian plays Jessica, Padgett’s brand sponsor. Not gonna lie, that was meta as heck. Addison and Kourtney are IRL friends, so it felt like a low-key flex. Plus, a bunch of TikTok dancers crash the dance scene. It’s like a mini viral video fest inside the movie. Perfect for the digital natives binge-watching Netflix right now.
Behind the Scenes Drama (Kinda)
Not gonna sugarcoat it—the casting of Addison Rae was controversial. Some folks were all “Why cast a TikTok star instead of an actor?” To which I say, calm down. Sometimes the best way to capture youth culture is to cast youth culture. Tanner Buchanan’s solid acting helped ease doubts. Plus, the vets like Rachael Leigh Cook lent some credibility. The cast of he’s all that might’ve been an experiment, but it worked better than I expected.
Did It Actually Work?
Netflix doesn’t spill all their secrets, but the film was everywhere on social media after release. It cracked the Top 10 in multiple countries and spawned thousands of memes. My neighbor Tina—total skeptic—actually said her binge-watching cured her work-from-home blues. I’m not saying the movie is life-changing, but the cast of he’s all that definitely made a splash.
Weird Fact Break
Did you know? Victorians thought talking to plants could keep you sane. Yeah, I talk to my succulents just in case. The cast of he’s all that might not have a fern to chat with, but they’re keeping the rom-com genre alive in 2024. That counts for something, right?
Final Thoughts: A Wild Ride Worth Watching
So, yeah. The cast of he’s all that isn’t perfect. There were a couple of cheesy moments (and one or two typos in the script—accidents happen, their/there mix-ups? Guilty as charged). But the movie’s heart is in the right place. It’s a snapshot of what teen life looks like now, not 25 years ago. Fast forward past my grumbling and hesitation, I’d say this reboot was a wicked good time. And hey, if Addison Rae’s TikTok stardom helped, no complaints here.
