Love Don't Cost a Thing [WS]

Director: Troy Beyer Troy Beyer

Overview

"Nick Cannon and Christina Milian star in this urbanized update of the 1987 teen comedy Can't Buy Me Love. Directed by Troy Beyer, Love Don't Cost a Thing centers on a nerdy high-school student who gets a chance to become popular when he strikes a deal with a cheerleader in need. The film is presented in widescreen with the original English soundtrack mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. There's also a dubbed French track in Dolby Digital Stereo and English, Spanish, and French subtitles. Along with the film itself, the disc features a selection of bonuses, including an alternate ending, a behind-the-scenes documentary, two music videos, and the original theatrical trailer. A full-screen edition with the same features is also available."

Product Details

Release Date:	04/27/2004
UPC:	0085392468027
Original Release:	2003
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:41:00

Special Features

Closed Caption;Additional scenes; Paris takes center stage in a surprise alternate ending; 2 music videos: Murphy Lee's Luv Me Baby and Shorty (Put it on the Floor) with Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Chingy and Nick Cannon; The making of Love Don't Cost a Thing; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Nick Cannon	Alvin Johnson
Christina Milian	Paris Morgan
Steve Harvey	Clarence Johnson
Kenan Thompson	Walter,Ted
Kal Penn	Kenneth
Kevin Christy	Chuck
Nichole Robinson	Yvonne Freeman
Melissa Schuman	Zoe Parks
Sam Sarpong	Kadeem
Gay Thomas Wilson	Judy Morgan
Imani Parks	Mia,Singer
Ian Chidlaw	Eddie
J.B. Guhman	J.B.
Russell Howard	Anthony
Elimu Nelson	Dru Hilton
Stuart Scott	Himself
Vanessa Bell Calloway	Vivian Johnson
Ashley Monique Clark	Aretha Johnson
Michael Davis	Junior
Nicole Scherzinger	Champagne Girl
Peter Siragusa	Ben
Maria Carmen	Chemistry Teacher
Damon Butler	Martial Arts Mambo Instructor
Shani Pride	Jasmine
Raistalla	Drill Team Member
Kelly Becerra	Drill Team Member
Lindsey Blaufarb	Drill Team Member
Crystal Colar	Drill Team Member
Rocio Mendoza	Drill Team Member
Ben Stephens	Jock No. 1
Dante Basco	Spoken-Word Artist
Charles Owen	Jazz Musician
Mayte Garcia	Dancer
Ralph Scherer	Poetry Reader
Shvona Lavette Williams	Guitar Playing Vocalist
Reagan Gomez-Preston	Olivia
George Cedar	Old Man
Jackie Benoit	Old Lady
Jordan Burg	Little Boy
Howard Russell	Anthony
Richard Gibbs	Composer

Technical Credits

Troy Beyer

Michael Swerdlick

Troy Beyer	Director,Screenwriter
Michael Swerdlick	Screenwriter
Mark Burg	Producer
Reuben Cannon	Casting,Producer
John Hartigan	Special Effects
Broderick Johnson	Producer
Andrew A. Kosove	Producer,Producer
Oren Koules	Executive Producer
Kim Williams	Casting
Keith Woulard	Stunts
Ralph Scherer	Key Grip
Steve Tibbo	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

It has the misfortune of being named after a Jennifer Lopez song, but otherwise, Love Don't Cost a Thing is a tight little urban remake of Can't Buy Me Love. In fact, certain lines of dialogue are cut and pasted word for word, but that just increases the positive associations for those fond of the original. Though the intended audiences don't overlap, the teen-movie truths are universal -- whether it's Patrick Dempsey or Nick Cannon, they both need to check themselves before they wreck themselves. Love Don't Cost a Thing is as joyful as it is because of Cannon's charismatic performance as Alvin Johnson. He's affectionately geeky at the start, and his caricature of the bling-bling "playa" stops just short of offensive stereotypes. The same can be said of Steve Harvey as Alvin's father. Capable of really grating, here Harvey finds just the right pitch for the role of Alvin's overzealous sex coach, including a scene in which he humorously outlines the potential usage scenarios for a shoebox full of prophylactics. Jokes about condoms notwithstanding, the film takes a sweetly optimistic view of modern teenagers, racially integrating their social groups wherever possible (Alvin's three best friends are white, black, and Indian), and rarely offering any hint of real violence. What's more impressive is that director Troy Beyer goes well beyond the minimum competence required of her. She sets her camera up in ways that challenge the norm, including filming a conversation among popular kids by placing the camera inside the microwaves and pantry cabinets they open during home ec class. Love Don't Cost a Thing is no classic -- in fact, it's not even as good as the guilty pleasure that inspired it. But it's a lot better than it needed to be, and paints outside the numbers enough to seem pretty satisfying.