The main point of this story is that a class nerd helps a cool guy in school romance the new girl by pretending to be him. This story is often told and has been inspired by various movies, including the Steve Martin/Daryl Hannah classic Roxanne. Do we really need another version of this oft-told tale?
The movie is largely predictable, but with sharp writing, a quirky cast, and a pointed look at teenage insecurity, it’s actually worth a watch. ..
Cy Berger is a high school student who has relatively low self-esteem because of his appearance. He hates his appearance so much that he wants plastic surgery to correct his ‘faults’ although some of the people in his life, including his two moms, try to make him reconsider. Cy is struggling with how to deal with his self-esteem and how to find ways to be happy and content with who he is.
Cy is an outcast at school and his life is a constant struggle. Things threaten to become worse for the unfortunate teen when a video of him standing with an erection goes viral. Still, his best friend Kat (Mikey Madison) does her best to infuse confidence in him and when Roxy (Aurora Perrineau), the new girl in school starts to take a liking to him, his life does start to improve. ..
Cy and Roxy are not interested in each other because Chris is in the way. Cy uses social media and speaking into the headpiece that Chris wears when taking Roxy on a date to try and win her over.
The first reason is that it’s well-made. The acting is good, the cinematography is beautiful, and the story has a strong emotional pull. The second reason is that it’s unique. There are few movies out there that are as dark and twisted as this one, and it’s a credit to the filmmakers for making it so.
Secondly, It Takes Three is a film about family. Cy’s relationship with his parents is the crux of the story and it’s one that is very touching. His father, played by Peter Dinklage, is a loving and supportive man but he also has to deal with Cy’s mental health issues. Cy doesn’t always understand or accept what’s happening to him but his father does everything he can to support him. This is something that will be familiar to anyone who has ever been in a relationship where one partner has mental health issues. It Takes Three does an excellent job of portraying this aspect of family life without being preachy or sentimental. Finally, It Takes Three is an excellent movie because it deals with important issues in a sensitive and thoughtful way. Cy’s struggles with body dysmorphia are realistically portrayed and this makes the movie relevant not only to teens but also to adults who have experience dealing with similar problems. The film also tackles the issue of family relationships head-on and this makes it an important watch for anyone who wants to learn more about how they can improve their own relationships. ..
Cy’s appearance issues are touched on in a sensitive way in the movie. This is a testament to the thoughtful writing provided by the screenwriters. ..
Roxy is a well-rounded character with more to her than just a nice face and body. She’s intelligent, creative, and not afraid to stand up for herself, so she is more than just a piece of meat for the two competing teens to lust over. The less-than-predictable ending highlights this as Roxy calls the boys out for their deception rather than just falling head over heels in love with one of them.
So, while It Takes Three is a movie that will prove familiar to you, it’s not just a simple carbon copy of what has come before. It deals with teenage issues in a respectful way and is less old-fashioned than other movies of its type when it dissects the ins and outs of high school relationships. Admittedly, this isn’t exactly ground-breaking. Lots of recent movies have explored teenage identity, love, and sexuality in realistic ways. But as this movie, on the surface at least, is a high school comedy hinging on an age-old plotline, it’s surprising that it pushes the envelope a little further than those incarnations that came before it.
