Breaking the (Autistic) Code: Laney Boggs from She's All That (1999)

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed medical professional and this series is not about diagnosing the character(s) with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This series is a personal examination of the film/TV show's plot, the character's traits and personality and how they relate to me as an Autistic woman. I would encourage my readers to seek out different perspectives on disability representation especially from BIPOC disabled creators who are often ignored in the disability discourse. I will also try to avoid giving away any spoilers for those who have not seen the film/TV show but if I have to give context for my arguments, this will be a likely occurrence so please be forewarned.

She's All That is an American Teen drama that was released in 1999 to mixed reviews from critics but still was a major hit in the box office. I was about 7 years old when this film was released, so I had no idea this film even existed because I was too young and focused on Pokémon and anime to even care about teenage things.

From the first few moments we see that Laney is very socially aware from her comments to Simon regarding Mexican children making clothing for "corporate America." to her social conscious art about the Mogadishu riots. Her teacher compliments her piece but asks her which part of the art "represents" her. Socially conscious art is, obviously, her special interest and it is evident throughout the film. Autistic people have difficulty viewing themselves through their own “lens” due to stigma and being forced to “mask” their symptoms.

Two classmates approach her about her art and how no one seems to truly appreciate her art due to it's dark nature. They talk about other artists with a similar style and the common pattern of their art being respected after they have passed on from suicide. They go on to suggest that Laney should do the same in order for her art to be truly understood. After researching the artists mentioned in the film, Van Gogh and Basquiat, it really solidified, for me, that Laney is neurodivergent since both of the artists mentioned were neurodivergent/disabled. Van Gogh being a confirmed schizophrenic and Basquiat being a black man and being a trauma victim would certainly have inspired his art. This scene also points to a common phenomenon of neurodivergent artists taking their lives due to the stigma they face in society.

We meet Laney's love interest, Zack Siler, who is the popular guy at school but is faced with a dilemma when his girlfriend breaks up with him. Through a bet with his friend, he goes out to prove that he can turn any girl in his school into a prom date. His friend Dean picks Laney as the "girl" he can turn into a prom date; Zack protests this choice and says that Laney is "scary and inaccessible." When Zack approaches Laney and greets her little brother, Simon, as "Spaz", Laney plainly says that "Spaz" is not Simon's name. Autistic people are often wary of strangers, and this is due to Autistics/disabled people being treated as charity cases by the popular people in an effort to look like a "nice guy". "Spaz" is also a term that often refers to those who are "inept" which leads me to believe that the Boggs are a neurodivergent family. Simon also seems to enjoy his SEGA and in one scene is bullied by some kids at their school with one of them calling Simon "Rainman." Zack defends Simon from the bullies, when Laney sees this she is amazed by the fact that he was willing to defend members of her family. This is very reminiscent of my childhood because I was also considered "scary" or "intimidating" by my peers.

Laney is also very direct in her interactions with Zack and rejects his advances. Despite her reluctance, Laney invites Zack to an art show. Zack is invited to perform and improvises with a hacky-sack routine. Laney is impressed that Zack was even willing to carry on a performance. After the show Zack and Laney are walking home, when Zack compliments her eyes, she gets offended and storms away. Laney goes on an angry info-dump and describes the situation between her and Zack as like a form of "surrealism." Autistic people will often make references to their interests as a way of connecting with the world and the people in it. When Autistics include others in their special interests, please consider this a great thing because we do not often share our special interests with anyone.

Zack seeks out Laney again and this time it is to invite her to the beach with his friends. She is still suspicious of Zack's true intentions but relents and Zack and Laney are at the beach but Laney is dressed "inappropriately." When Zack tries to get Laney to enjoy the beach, she does another "info-dump" about chemicals that are spilled into the ocean and Zack views this as her "not having fun." Laney also socializes with Zack's friends in a "non-typical" way. When one of the girls makes a comment about Laney "running like a girl", Laney responds "I am a girl." Most Autistic people will not get figures of speech and take it literally instead, it's important to ask the Autistic person what their way of communicating is to avoid confusion.

It is revealed that Laney is the one who "runs the household" even though their father is present in their lives and owns a business. How Laney interacts with her family is from a direct and honest place. Near the end of the movie, where Wayne, Laney’s father, is trying to give advice, he does it in an awkward way by warning Laney about taking on adult responsibilities at a young age. Laney is very adamant about sticking to a particular set of rules for herself, which is why when she is offered a makeover, she is uncomfortable with the idea of changing her appearance. The idea of makeup, tweezing the eyebrows and other grooming methods are so foreign to her because she has been focused on caring for her family. Autistic people are usually more focused on presenting themselves in their own way instead of conforming to societal pressure.

When Laney and Zack get to the party, she is clearly uncomfortable with the noisy, chaotic environment of the party. But when she finds Misty in a vulnerable state she tries to help her and Misty makes a disparaging remark about her "cleaning up her puke", a gesture of kindness. Laney decides to humiliate her by painting her face in clown makeup. Laney is treated poorly by Zack's ex and runs away. Laney does not take the rejection well and gets emotional about the humiliation. As stated in both my Carrie article and Matilda article, Autistic people are very hyper aware of how they face rejection from others. Which is why they would often avoid social environments like parties because of the overstimulation and humiliation they will likely encounter. While Autistic people may, generally, treat others with respect, Autistic people can also return when they have been wronged by others - As evidenced by Laney’s actions against Misty.

After the party, Laney is suddenly met with the news that she is being nominated for Prom Queen and there is an army of people who are willing to vote for her. Dean, Zack's former friend after they had a falling out over Dean's interest in Laney, tells Laney about the bet between him and Zack. Laney is extremely upset over this revelation after Zack confesses to it and storms away. When we meet Dean in the men’s bathroom during the prom, he reveals his true intentions and he says that Laney is “eating up every word that I say.” Jesse and Mackenzie, warn Zack about Dean’s plan. Most Autistic people judge others on a surface level because they believe that others can be good people or bad people. Thus, they will often believe people when they have “told the truth” about something important to them. Autistic people can also feel a deep sense of betrayal when they are told that the people they trusted have been using them for nefarious purposes.

So, in conclusion, most romantic comedies featuring a “dorky” character are actually showcasing an Autistic person being successful in finding a relationship. These romantic comedies do have their own issues regarding gender ( the fact that the woman is the one changing herself for a man.) These teen movies also show a “coming-of-age” when young, spirited people become adults and forget about the very thing that inspired them to want to change the world, and conform to society’s standards. Laney Boggs is a character that goes through “transformation” in order to be accepted by her love interest but most Autistic people should be aware that they do not have to change in order to be accepted.

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