Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A high school outcast pays a cheerleader to pose as his girlfriend so he can be considered cool.
Love Don't Co$t a Thing is a remake of the 1987 film Can't Buy Me Love, which itself was a straightforward teen romantic comedy. The plot is entirely derivative, following the well-worn outcast-pays-popular-girl formula with predictable beats and a telegraphed resolution. Acting is serviceable but unremarkable from the young cast. Cinematography is competent but generic for early-2000s teen comedies. Novelty is low given it is a direct remake with minimal reinvention. The ending provides modest emotional satisfaction with its reconciliation arc, slightly above the baseline. Overall a watchable but formulaic teen rom-com.