Whatever It Takes plot recap, spoiler-light
In Whatever It Takes, geeky teenager Ryan Woodman harbors a crush on popular girl Ashley Grant, much to the dismay of his intelligent neighbor and best friend, Maggie Carter. Meanwhile, football jock Chris Campbell, who is Ashley's cousin, is interested in Maggie. The two boys strike an unconventional deal to help each other win over their respective crushes.
Ryan begins writing soulful emails for Chris to send to Maggie, while Chris instructs Ryan to act like a jerk toward Ashley to grab her attention. Initially, both struggle with their new personas, but as their plans start working, complications arise. Ryan begins to notice Maggie's qualities and questions his infatuation with Ashley.
Concurrently, Maggie grows skeptical of the narcissistic Chris and disapproves of Ryan's shifting, meaner behavior toward his geeky friends. The tension peaks when Ryan discovers Chris's malicious plan to abandon Maggie after the prom, setting the stage for a dramatic final act involving deception, broken trust, and emotional realizations.
What happens at the end of Whatever It Takes?
Key takeaways
- Ryan realizes his pursuit of Ashley is misguided while helping Chris woo Maggie.
- Maggie turns the tables on Chris at the afterparty after discovering the truth.
