Whatever It Takes

Directed by David Raynr, Whatever It Takes follows Shane West’s Ryan as he attempts to land a date with Jodi Lyn O’Keefe’s Ashley – with complications ensuing after Ryan’s best friend, Marla Sokoloff’s Maggie, begins seeing high-school bad boy Chris (James Franco). It’s an exceedingly familiar premise that’s employed to watchable yet forgettable effect, as Raynr, armed with Mark Schwahn’s screenplay, delivers an unexceptional teen comedy that’s elevated considerably by the efforts of its talented, charismatic stars – with West, O’Keefe, Sokoloff, and Franco’s appealing lead work matched (and often heightened) by eclectic periphery players like Richard Schiff, David Koechner, and Colin Hanks. (It’s ultimately clear, however, that Aaron Paul’s scene-stealing turn as a larger-than-life figure named Floyd remains an ongoing highlight within the proceedings.) And while it lacks anything resembling a surprise or unexpected twist, Whatever It Takes builds towards a satisfying final stretch that confirms its place as a genial-enough endeavor with few overt missteps. (Notwithstanding the inclusion of a fairly sketchy, rape-focused subplot towards the end, that is.)

**1/2 out of ****