Whatever It Takes is a teen comedy starring Shane West, Marla Sokoloff, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, and James Franco. It was first released in America on 31 March 2000. The film is based on the play Cyrano de Bergerac.

Ryan (Shane West) is a bit of a geek with eyes for the school sex bomb, Ashley (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe), which induces cringing in his neighbor and best friend, Maggie (Marla Sokoloff), a cute intellectual girl. But popular jock Chris (James Franco) has his eye on Maggie, and he offers to help Ryan win Ashley if Ryan will help Chris with Maggie. So begins a two-headed variation on Cyrano de Bergerac; Ryan composes soulful e-mails for Chris, and Chris advises Ryan to treat Ashley like dirt, which seems to be the only way to get her attention. At first, neither finds it easy to change their ways; Chris comes on too strong, and Ryan is too nervous to be a jerk. But as they start to succeed, Ryan begins to see Maggie in a new light and wonders if he's pursuing the right girl. He realizes Ashley is not meant for him, and tries to convince Maggie about Chris's affection for her.

Whatever It Takes may refer to:

In film, television, and theatre:

In music:

James Edward Franco (born April 19, 1978) is an American actor. His first prominent role was a lead part on the short-lived cult hit television program Freaks and Geeks; he later achieved recognition for playing the titular character in the TV biographical film James Dean (2001), for which he was awarded a Golden Globe Award. He achieved international fame with his portrayals of Harry Osborn in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy.

Franco has won or been nominated for a number of awards. He has done both dramatic and comedic work in projects and has appeared in an eclectic range of films since the 2000s, ranging from period to contemporary pieces, and from major Hollywood productions to less publicized indie films, as well as fantasy films to biopics and soap operas. Other notable films include Pineapple Express, a 2008 stoner comedy that earned him his second Golden Globes nomination; the 2008 Harvey Milk-biopic Milk; and Danny Boyle's 2010 drama film 127 Hours, about real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston's struggle to free his hand from a boulder. His performance in 127 Hours earned him nominations for many high-profile awards, including the Academy Awards, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2011, he starred opposite Andy Serkis in Rupert Wyatt's successful science fiction film Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a reboot of the Planet of the Apes franchise. Since 2009, he has played a recurring role in the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital.

Marla Lynne Sokoloff (born December 19, 1980) is an American actress and musician, known for playing the part of Lucy Hatcher on the TV show The Practice, and Gia Mahan on the ABC sitcom, Full House.

Sokoloff was born in San Francisco, California, the daughter of Cindi (née Sussman), a former caterer, and Howard Sokoloff, a podiatrist. Her family is Jewish, and originates from Russia and Germany. Sokoloff graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.^{[citation needed]} In 2004, she began dating composer and Deadsy drummer, Alec Puro. Sokoloff and Puro were married November 7, 2009. On August 1, 2011, it was announced that the couple was expecting their first child. On September 19, 2011, Sokoloff confirmed that the child would be a girl. On February 8, 2012, she gave birth to her daughter, Elliotte Anne.

Sokoloff began acting at age 12 (1993), when she was cast as Gia Mahan in the sitcom Full House. She played Stephanie Tanner's arch enemy, but later became her best friend. Sokoloff also had a three-episode stint as a nanny in Desperate Housewives.^{[citation needed]} Along with other popular appearances, she is well-remembered as Joey's pregnant sister, Dina, in season 8 of Friends.^{[citation needed]} She also played Imogene O'Neill in the mini series, "Meteor".^{[citation needed]}

Shane West (born Shannon Bruce Snaith; June 10, 1978) is an American actor, punk rock musician and songwriter. West is best known for portraying Eli Sammler in Once and Again, Landon Carter with Mandy Moore in A Walk to Remember, Darby Crash in What We Do Is Secret, and Dr. Ray Barnett in ER.

He is currently portraying Michael in The CW action drama television series Nikita.

Shane West was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the son of Leah Catherine (née Launey) and Don Snaith (a drugstore owner who was born in Jamaica), both of whom were musicians. He has a younger sister Simone and a much younger half-sister Marli Ann. His parents divorced in 1982. At the age of 10, West moved to California temporarily with his mother and Simone. He is of Cajun French descent through his mother.

West has had regular roles in the television series ER as Dr. Ray Barnett and Once and Again as Eli Sammler and had a small appearance in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the episode "Go Fish" and a leading role as Landon Carter opposite Mandy Moore in the film A Walk to Remember.