| Love Don't Cost a Thing | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster |
|
| Directed by | Troy Beyer |
| Produced by | Andrew Kosove Broderick Johnson Mark Burg Reuben Cannon |
| Written by | Michael Swerdlick Troy Beyer |
| Starring | Nick Cannon Christina Milian Kenan Thompson Kal Penn Vanessa Bell Calloway and Steve Harvey |
| Music by | John E. Rhone Richard Gibbs |
| Cinematography | Chuck Cohen |
| Editing by | David Codron |
| Studio | Alcon Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Release date(s) | December 12, 2003 |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $21,924,226[1] |
Love Don't Cost a Thing, stylized as Love Don't Co$t a Thing, is a 2003 teen comedy film written and directed by Troy Beyer and starring Nick Cannon and Christina Milian It also stars Steve Harvey, Kenan Thompson and Kal Penn. The film is based on the 1987 film Can't Buy Me Love.
Contents |
Alvin Johnson (Nick Cannon) is an extremely intelligent nerd under consideration for a General Motors scholarship, as he is skilled in designing engines. However, he's always dreamed of hanging out with the popular kids, especially Paris Morgan (Christina Milian), a beautiful, popular cheerleader dating NBA star Dru Hilton. When Paris crashes her mother's expensive SUV during an argument with Dru, Alvin agrees to repair the car in return for two weeks of dating. Alvin uses money he had saved for his project, jeopardizing his scholarship.
After a few missteps, Alvin begins to integrate himself with the popular crowd. He and Paris grow closer as she shares with him her secret love of music, but Alvin misinterprets her feelings and stages a break-up at the end of two weeks. Alvin continues to grow in popularity, alienating his former nerd friends and dating Paris's friends. At the end of year Senior Ditch Day, Dru returns, but leaves after he finds out Paris had been dating Alvin. In an attempt to get him back, Paris exposes her deal with Alvin to the whole school, returning him to mediocrity.
Alvin's father (Steve Harvey) agrees to pay for the part, explaining to Alvin that he'd supported his sudden transformation because he wanted him to have some of the same experiences he did in high school. At the basketball game, Alvin stands up for his nerd friends against the former jocks. As Paris follows him out, she is stopped by Dru, but Paris blows him off for Alvin; and they kiss.
The film opened at #4 at the U.S. Box office raking in $6,315,311 USD in its first opening weekend behind Stuck on You, The Last Samurai, and Something's Gotta Give.
The school scenes were filmed at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California.
A soundtrack containing hip hop music was released on December 9, 2003 by Hollywood Records. It peaked at 22 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and 14 on the Top Soundtracks.