While the film contains romantic subplots, the emotional anchor remains the platonic love between Mandy and Ben. Their "pact" to avoid high school clichés is tested, forcing them to learn that growing up sometimes means allowing each other to change. Visual Style and Cultural References
Initially, Graham appears to be an arrogant athlete using his privilege to slide through school. As Mandy peels back the layers, she finds a young man dealing with immense parental pressure. This subverts the classic "nerd vs. popular kid" dynamic by humanizing the popular antagonist. The Platonic Soulmate Prom Pact