Tanner Buchanan doesn't need anybody's help to look handsome or tough, but in "He's All
That," his character Cameron Kweller still gets a bit of a glow up.
In the film, Cameron doesn't know that he's the subject of a bet, with Padgett vying to
turn him into the prom king to settle some personal scores of her own.
All he knows is that the popular girl at school suddenly took a liking to him.
And against all odds, he starts falling for Padgett, too.
So, after a bit of skepticism, he goes along with Padgett's request to join her for a 1920s
"Great Gatsby"-themed birthday party.
His dazzling new look takes everyone by surprise, and Cameron is equally stunned by all of the
sudden attention from some of the most popular kids from his school -- kids who always ignored
or taunted him before.
"Hi, I'm Alden...birthday girl."
"Yeah, we've met."
"Oh.
OH."
With Padgett by his side, encouraging him to let loose, Cameron almost finds himself
having a good time at the swanky soiree.
But like being snatched from a good dream, reality sets in when someone he loves is hurt
at the party, and Cameron has to face the truth that he isn't -- and doesn't want to
be -- part of this world.
Tanner Buchanan's performance is amazing throughout all of "He's All That," but there's one scene,
when he finally stops playing along with the big makeover game and faces down his rival,
that really makes us love the actor even more.
Even before he gets close to Padgett, Cameron already has a bit of a rivalry going on with
her ridiculous ex-boyfriend, Jordan.
In flashbacks, we see Cameron constantly antagonizing Jordan for his terrible music and fashion
sense, along with his incessant need to be the center of attention at school.
"Well I may have occasionally been a little provocative."
The fact that Jordan has publicly humiliated Padgett doesn't factor at all into Cameron's
disdain for the guy.
What does make Cameron sour on Jordan even more than before, though, is when Jordan tries
to take advantage of Cameron's little sister, Brin, at the party.
Brin has always been a fan of Jordan's pop songs, so she's happy enough to join him in
a sudden smooching session.
However, when Jordan tries to take things further, Brin has to fight him off and turn
to her brother for help.
For Cameron, that's the last straw.
But even so, before the physical altercation starts, Cameron gets the upper hand the way
he always has: through his brains and mouth.
"You want to go, man?
Let's go.
Let's get it."
"Why'd you take off your shirt?"
"I don't know.
That's for me to know and you to find out."
"What?"
Up to this point, Tanner Buchanan is playing Cameron the way audiences have probably come
to expect.
He's not the physical guy -- he cuts with scathing sarcasm and wit.
As Cameron confronts Jordan at the party, Buchanan plays him like someone ready to defend
his sister to the death, but still hoping to settle the argument without violence.
Unfortunately, it's not enough.
"Cameron, come on.
He is not worth it."
"No, not this time."
This time, Cameron isn't going to just take his licks from Jordan.
Not with his sister's dignity on the line.
This is where Tanner Buchanan really starts to surprise the audience with his performance,
even while sticking to Cameron's self-proclaimed philosophy of pacifism.
He never throws a blow, and still takes Jordan down without breaking a sweat.
It ends up making the fight even more thrilling to watch.
"Yes!"
"Classic Johnny Wang move."
"What the hell was that?"
"I'm pretty sure that was me kicking your ass."
As Buchanan's fans know, the actor is trained in taekwondo.
His fighting skills have become something of a centerpiece in "Cobra Kai," the hit "Karate
Kid" sequel series featuring him as Robby Keene.
So it's only fitting that "He's All That" features a few of his celebrated maneuvers.
Like Robby Keene, Cameron has clearly adopted the Miyagi-Do philosophy of letting his nemesis
strike first and then striking back harder.
Unlike Robby, though, Cameron hasn't learned to fight in a dojo.
He's picked up his moves from martial arts movies.
"Right, sounds like more sweaty dudes kicking each other in the nads."
There's a lot to love about what Buchanan brings to the role of Cameron Kweller in "He's
All That," from his poignant line delivery during moments of drama to his sheer swoon
factor in the more romantic scenes.
But when his character steps up to defend his sister from the school's self-absorbed
bully and manages to keep his composure and the upper hand throughout the confrontation,
it's an absolutely unforgettable moment in Buchanan's performance.
Thanks for watching.
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