(Photo from the Midwest Trust Center’s website)

Disclaimer: This event has since been canceled.

If hearing the first notes of Sixpence None The Richer’s “Kiss Me” immediately makes you think of Rachael Leigh Cook as “The new, not improved … but different … Laney Boggs” coming down the stairs after her makeover, then you are not going to want to miss the upcoming “She’s All That” event taking place at JCCC. On Saturday, Oct. 18, join the stars of “She’s All That”, Rachael Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze Jr. for a live conversation following the screening of the movie.

We were able to interview Cook and Prinze Jr. a few weeks ago from their homes in California.

The live conversation is a 2-night special event, with the first stop in Overland Park.

“We were approached by a very cool company called Standing Ovations Live […] that holds screenings of movies people heard of, maybe a long time ago, nostalgia films, if you will, about doing some screenings and meeting people. And I thought, what an awesome idea,” Cook said. “You know, if I had a chance to go see people who were in the movies of my youth, I would certainly do it. So I just thought it seemed like a great opportunity.”

Speaking about what people can expect from the event, Prinze Jr. said that it is more than just a movie experience.

“They get a chance to rewatch the movie. They get the opportunity to ask us some questions, and interact with us and meet with us after the show as well,” Prinze Jr. said. “So it gets to be more than just a movie experience. You kind of get to see the movie through our eyes and our point of view while we made it.”

It will actually be the first time Prinze Jr. watches the movie.

“I still haven’t seen ‘She’s All That,’” Prinze Jr. said. “I’ve never seen the movie. I remember everything about it. Well, I don’t see anything where I know how it ends. So I don’t see anything that I’ve been in. […] So maybe I’ll actually get to actually see the film this time and watch it with some people and experience it with people who love it, hopefully. And hopefully they’re not hate watching, they’re love watching. And then get to experience it in a whole new way.”

To which Cook replied, “I’m so excited I get to watch our movie with you for the first time. You better not leave.”

Even 26 years after its release, “She’s All That” is still a huge part of Prinze Jr.’s life.

“It’s wild, like anytime my wife goes to get her nails done or her hair done, that’s the movie that’s on the TV, like in every hair salon that she goes,” Prinze Jr. said, before adding, “It doesn’t happen that often [to be in a movie that has a lasting impact]. And this is definitely the one [movie] that had the most impact that I’ve been in. ‘I Know What You Did [Last Summer],’ I guess had some [impact], but not like ‘She’s All That.’ I hear about this movie much more than anything else I’ve done.”

To which Cook jokingly replied, “I didn’t know that. In your face, ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer.’”

Talking about memories of filming the movie, Prinze Jr. said that he was scared he was going to get fired.

“I was shocked that I got it [the movie],” Prinze Jr. said. “And so, I remember kind of every step along the way, I remember thinking I was going to get fired over like the first four weeks. And it was like after week four, I was like, ‘We shot so much, they can’t fire me now. They’d have to reshoot the whole movie.’ So then I got a little more confident near the end.”

This was a sentiment Cook shared as well.

“Me too. Especially because I remember Rob Iscove, our director, apparently reported to my agents that I seemed very tired on a Friday,” Cook added. “I’m like, ‘What? Yeah, it’s, the schedule’s really hard.’ But my agents were mad at me. They’re like, ‘Were you tired? Were you not, were you not bringing it?’ I was like, ‘I thought I was bringing all of it. I thought I brought all of the things.’”

To which Prinze Jr. replied “You brought it every day.”

When asked about the evolution of romcoms, Cook shared that some of the messaging of the movie would not necessarily be well received in 2025.

“Some of the messaging, some of the things, some of the humor in the movie is definitely not something that would fly right now,” Cook said. “We did not write this movie. We don’t apologize for it. But yeah, sometimes an evolution is a little bit necessary.”

But she thinks that the movie still teaches some lessons that could be useful today.

“It’s a little bit corny, but ultimately this is a movie about people learning to change their minds,” Cook said. “This is a movie about people who are closed-minded at the beginning, who actually are brave enough to try and see someone in a different light and to become better people. And if that couldn’t be a better message for today, I don’t know what is.”

On top of reuniting on stage for this event, Cook and Prinze Jr. are set to share the screen once again in an upcoming Christmas movie.

“We’re trying [to get this movie made],” Prinze Jr. said. “It’s always a process, and it’s never done until the movie’s done and edited, cut together and has an actual release date. I don’t celebrate until that moment happens, but we’re working really hard to make this happen. It’s such a challenge to get any movie made in any time period of this business. So just to do that is a huge accomplishment and we’re working very diligently to make it happen.”

To which Cook added “Yeah, [the] script is in good shape. We’re getting it in great shape. And yeah, that is very much on track as I see it.”

Finally, as fans of the movie will gather to hear about their favorite romcom, we asked Cook and Prinze Jr. what their favorite romcom is.

“‘Say Anything,’” Cook said. “And everyone who hasn’t seen this, stop watching our silliness and go watch this movie. My favorite romcoms […] are movies about people who can’t get out of their own way, where they are the obstacle. You know, like ‘When Harry Met Sally’ is a good example.”

To which Prinze Jr. interjected, “That’s my favorite!”

A Live Conversation with Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook Following a Screening of ‘She’s All That’ will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Yardley Hall. Tickets are on sale right now, and $5 JCCC student tickets will be on sale starting Monday Oct. 13. You can buy your ticket by clicking here, or in-person at the Midwest Trust Center Box Office.