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What elevates She's All That above the realm of standard teen fare is its mixture of good-natured fairy-tale romance and surprisingly clear-eyed view of high school social strata. The lines of class are demarcated as clearly as ! if in a Jane Austen novel, but the satire is equally deflating and affectionate. Sure, high school could be bad sometimes, but it was lots of fun too; this is a movie good-natured enough to take time out for an extended hip-hop dance number at the prom. Director Robert Iscove (who also helmed the Brandy-starring TV adaptation of Cinderella) has also assembled a great young cast, including a scene-stealing Anna Paquin as Zach's no-nonsense sister, Kieran Culkin as Laney's geeky brother, and a stupidly goofy Matthew Lillard as a Real World cast member whose arrival shakes things up a little too much. And amidst all the comedy and prom drama, you'd be hard-pressed to find two teen stars as talented, attractive, and appealing as Prinze and Cook. Prinze is an approachable and sensitive jock, though it's Cook who's the true star, investing Laney with confidence, humor, and heart. Like Zach, you'll be hard-pressed not to fall in love with her. By the story's e! nd, both Cook and the film will have charmed the socks off of! you. --Mark EnglehartHot screen favorites Freddie Prinze Jr. (SHE'S ALL THAT, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER) and Julia Stiles (10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU) sizzle in a fun and sexy comedy where the magic of first love collides with the challenges of real life! From the moment they meet amid the chaos of college in New York City, Al (Prinze) and Imogen (Stiles) begin a romantic journey where true love often competes with the temptation to stray from commitment! As time passes and an outrageous array of friends enter the scene, they'll celebrate all the highs and confront all the lows that greet their passionate affair. Also featuring Henry Winkler (THE WATERBOY), Selma Blair (CRUEL INTENTIONS), and Shawn Hatosy (OUTSIDE PROVIDENCE, THE FACULTY) in a stellar cast -- you'll want to join this irresistible couple as they face the future ... with some wildly unexpected results!Al (Freddie Prinze Jr., from She's All That and I Know What You Did Last Summer) and Imog! en (Julia Stiles from 10 Things I Hate About You) take turns narrating the story of their college romance. Al has a celebrity chef for a father (an amusing turn from Henry Winkler) and a rising porn star for a best friend (Zak Orth). The dialogue is stale, the story flounders, and the movie can't seem to decide whether it wants to be a sweet romance or a social satire. Down to You keeps dropping into odd fantasy bits that have nothing to do with, well, much of anything. But all the stars--including Selma Blair (Cruel Intentions) and Shawn Hatosy (Outside Providence) are pleasant and well groomed (well, except for Hatosy, who bears the brunt of being the poster boy for every fad of the '90s), and the soundtrack (featuring Cibo Matto, early David Bowie, Yo La Tengo, and others) is excellent. --Bret FetzerAl (Freddie Prinze Jr., from She's All That and I Know What You Did Last Summer) and Imogen (Julia Stiles from 10 Thing! s I Hate About You) take turns narrating the story of thei! r colleg e romance. Al has a celebrity chef for a father (an amusing turn from Henry Winkler) and a rising porn star for a best friend (Zak Orth). The dialogue is stale, the story flounders, and the movie can't seem to decide whether it wants to be a sweet romance or a social satire. Down to You keeps dropping into odd fantasy bits that have nothing to do with, well, much of anything. But all the stars--including Selma Blair (Cruel Intentions) and Shawn Hatosy (Outside Providence) are pleasant and well groomed (well, except for Hatosy, who bears the brunt of being the poster boy for every fad of the '90s), and the soundtrack (featuring Cibo Matto, early David Bowie, Yo La Tengo, and others) is excellent. --Bret FetzerIn this hilarious new HBO comedy series, Kenny Powers, a washed-up former Major League Baseball star, is forced to return to his hometown to teach P.E. at his old middle school. While preparing for his triumphant return to the big leagues, Ken! ny moves in with his brothers family and proves adept at burning every bridge he crosses.Stepping up to the plate in this six-episode HBO series, comedy's newest It Boy, Danny McBride (The Foot Fist Way, Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder), hits it out of the park as Kenny Powers, a former baseball phenom, who, after spending his millions and burning all bridges, returns to his high school to teach physical education. The delusional Powers (he still wears a mullet!) insists that he will return to the majors. Until then, he makes a play for his former high school flame (Katy Mixon), now an art teacher who is engaged to the boring, by-the-book principal (Andrew Daly). He runs roughshod over his brother and his disapproving wife (John Hawkes and Jennifer Irwin), who allow Powers to live with them and their children. He lures the idolizing nerdy band teacher to the dark side. Eastbound and Down has an odd sense of humor. To say that the foul-mouthed,! substance-abusing Powers is "inappropriate" is an understatem! ent. He makes Billy Bob Thornton's Bad Santa look like Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street). When one of his students repeats his father's claim that Powers ruined baseball, Powers tells the class, "Anybody want to pick on anybody in class, aim for him, because I ain't watching."

Eastbound and Down benefits from some big league talent. Will Ferrell, who helped get The Foot Fist Way into theatres, appears as a car salesman who wants to exploit what's left of Powers' celebrity with predictably disastrous results. Episodes were directed by McBride collaborator Jody Hill (Observe and Report), David Gordon Green (Superbad), and Ferrell's partner in comedy, Adam McKay (Talladega Nights, Anchorman). There are other obnoxious characters on television, but Kenny Powers is in a league of his own, and he may take some warming up to. But McBride imbues this extreme character with an uncompromised integrity that is oddly admirable. D! espite what his brother tells him at one point, Powers is someone you like being around. --Donald Liebenson

Stills from Eastbound and Down- The Complete First Season (click for larger image)