John Tucker Must Die

An unlikely sisterhood plots a girl-powered revenge in John Tucker Must Die. When the class-overachiever (Arielle Kebbel, Aquamarine), the head cheerleader (Ashanti, Coach Carter), and the vegan alterna-girl (Sophia Bush, One Tree Hill) discover they're all dating the same guy--namely, star basketball player John Tucker (Jesse Metcalfe, Desperate Housewives)--they recruit a bashful new girl named Kate (Brittany Snow, The Pacifier) to become the ideal girl to break Tucker's heart. But as Kate uses the gang's combined wiles to lure Tucker, his interest gives her a social standing she's never had before...an intoxicating experience that may cost her a chance at honest love with another boy. John Tucker Must Die contrasts male and female behavior to cunning comic effect. The portrait of high school life is typically absurd, but the engaging cast, sprightly plot, and crisp dialogue will draw you in. It's a testament to the smooth guiding hand of director Betty Thomas (The Brady Bunch Movie, Private Parts) that ex-Playmate Jenny McCarthy's performance can genuinely be called understated. One of 2006's best teen comedies. --Bret Fetzer