The meme originates from the 2016 film 'La La Land,' featuring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in a romantic musical scenario. In this specific scene, Ryan Gosling's character, Sebastian, leans in towards Emma Stone's character, Mia, with a charmingly confident yet slightly mischievous smirk, offering to show her something. The phrase "What? I can show you" has been pulled from its cinematic context to serve as a humorous setup for memes that revolve around overconfident claims, often with an undertone of reckless abandon. This scene's blend of charm and bravado makes it ripe for meme culture, as it allows for exaggerated and humorous interpretations of confidence, especially when it's undeserved or hilariously misplaced.