Review #45 - Something Borrowed

Release Date: May 6, 2011
Writer: Jennie Snyder Urman, Emily Griffin (novel)
Director: Luke Greenfield

Logline: Friendships are tested and secrets come to the surface when terminally single Rachel falls for Dex, her best friend Darcy's fiance. (IMDb)

Comedy, Romance. 112 minutes. 

Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review

Is it just me or is Something Borrowed always playing on TV? I honestly can’t remember the last time I was scrolling through the channel guide and didn’t see it listed somewhere. This has resulted in it becoming a sort of fixture of background noise in my house. Cleaning out the fridge? I bet Something Borrowed is playing on W, I’ll put that on. Painting my nails? Something Borrowed is on TBS, the perfect companion. Need something to do while I eat an entire bag of Cool Ranch Doritos? I’ll switch over to the French network – an educational way to view Something Borrowed!

If you’re thinking that all of this leads up to a grand declaration of love for this movie, you thought wrong. I HATE this movie. So much. Why do I keep watching it? I have no idea. I just can’t say no – it’s like some kind of form of self torture.

The characters aren't likable and the dialogue is far from charming but the real reason I can't stand this movie is because why would anyone pick Dex (Colin Egglesfield) when they could have Ethan (John Krasinski)? This is just too big of a plot hole to ignore and it makes me rage every time I think about. Although I generally try to avoid judging a movie solely on a plot decision I don't agree with, I can't help myself with this one. On the other hand, Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) is boring as hell so her and Dex probably deserve each other.

If you're still upset about the ending of Pretty in Pink, skip this one.

Portrayal of Women: The women in this movie take on so many sterotypical traits that they become caricatures. Rachel is the modest, meek girl who lives to take care of everyone else. Darcy (Kate Hudson) is the bitchy life of the party who is too self absorbed to have any kind of depth. Claire (Ashley Williams) is the crazy single girl who will stop at nothing to get her man.

Unfortunately, these one dimensional women are also defined by their relationship to men. Their value goes up when they have a significant other which makes having/keeping a boyfriend the most important goal in their lives. Lifelong friendships are tossed aside, honesty is completely disregarded, and lying is considered an absolute essential - all in the name of finding love.

We are tricked into thinking this movie is about a woman finding her voice and fighting for what she wants. In reality, it's about women being horrible to each other while using manipulation and deceit to get what they want. And what is it that our 'hero' is rewarded with? The opportunity to pick up dry cleaning for her basic bitch boyfriend. What a dream come true.

Sisterhood Moment: I'll admit that the choreographed dance to Push It is everything I've ever believed in. It's magical. 

Rating: 1 dropped pencil

IMDb - Something Borrowed (5.9)

Wikipedia - Something Borrowed

Rotten Tomatoes - Something Borrowed  (15%)

What to see this weekend?

Movie lovers and summer blockbusters. A match made in heaven. Are you interested in...

A female lead?
Inside Out
Jackie & Ryan
Spy

Written by a woman?
Inside Out
Jackie & Ryan
Jurassic World
Terminator Genisys

Directed by a woman?
Jackie & Ryan

Trailblazer Appreciation: Amy Schumer

Ever hear that women can't be funny? Ever hear that women can't be on late night TV? Ever hear that only certain kinds of women can be sexy?

Amy Schumer doesn't give a fuck.

This week the third season of Amy Schumer's sketch-comedy show called Inside Amy Schumer premiered on Comedy Central. Lets be honest, that in itself is an achievement worth celebrating, since the prevailing theory is that women aren't funny. Amy's comedy is provocative and pushes the limit's of what can be shown on TV.

The Inside Amy Schumer premiere included the viral sensation "Milk, Milk, Lemonade" and the epic collaboration of Julia Louie-Dreyfus, Patricia Arquette, and Tina Fey celebrating their "Last Fuckable Day." Her show takes a massive undeniable stand against the physical standards that Hollywood has set for women. A fantastic season opener to a show that often takes a critical eye to the way women are treated in society.

Amy's hilarious comedy also lead her to this year's MTV Movie Awards as the host. Between Shailene Woodley winning literally every award, and buff action movie stars standing in front of pyrotechnics instead of speaking, Amy stood out for her hysterical monologue.

Amy also wrote her first feature film called Trainwreck,  a romantic comedy that she is starring in along with SNL alum Bill Hader. The movie was directed and produced by star maker Judd Apatow. The trailer is up, and with such a funny, talented cast, it looks like it will be a hit this summer.

Are you exhausted yet? You should be. Amy Schumer has been paving the way for women in comedy, and isn't slowing down now. She's been able to take the stereotypes that hold back women, and use them to push herself forward. For her inspiring perseverance and fearless comedy, we are grateful to have such outstanding idol carving her own path. 

Review #44: Little Miss Sunshine

Release Date: July 26th 2006
Writer: Michael Arndt
Director: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

Logline: A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus. (IMDb)

Comedy, Drama. 101 minutes. 

Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review

How many screenwriters get nominated for an Oscar for their first produced movie? Michael Arndt is in that club. It's no fluke either, the guy is incredibly talented. He has gone on to write for movies like Toy Story 3, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Little Miss Sunshine is peanuts compared to those big budget franchises, but it's easy to see that he is a fantastic storyteller because Little Miss Sunshine is a fantastic story.

With an all-star cast of characters, Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of one family trying to get the youngest daughter, Olive Hoover (Abigail Breslin) get to California for a beauty pageant. Along for the ride comes her overworked Mom, Sheryl (Toni Collette) and her Dad, Richard (Greg Kinnear) who is a life coach and motivator chasing a book deal. Olive's step brother Dwayne has taken a vow of silence until he can join the Air Force, a career making performance by Paul Dano. Rounding out the trip is Sheryl's brother, Frank (Steve Carell) a gay scholar who is at the bottom of a downward spiral, and Richard's Father Edwin, played by the outstanding Alan Arkin, who both antagonizes Richard with his free living philosophy and coaches Olive in her pageant. 

The effect created is this endearing train wreck of a dysfunctional family. There is so much depth to the characters and their journeys, that the superficial goal of getting to the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant is a delightful contrast. It's a little bit funny, and a little bit nostalgic with some heavy emotional punches, and memorable capers along the way.

A family road trip movie might seem predictable and tired, but Little Miss Sunshine is anything but. It's a modern feel-good movie that gives quirky indies a good name.

Portrayal of Women: While it's not necessarily the point of the film, there is definitely an interesting commentary on how gender impact's family roles. Sheryl is really the glue that keeps everyone in the family together. She is constantly being railroaded by everyone else's problems, leading to a secret smoking habit. Part of the condescension and arrogance that comes from Richard is the pressure to be the breadwinner for his family, while Sheryl has to deal with the fallout of his failures.

And then there's Olive. This sweet little girl who the audience falls in love with over the course of the movie. The moment of her walking into the beauty pageant dressing room for the first time brings such an incredible sense of levity to the film. Olive became this beacon for innocent sincerity throughout the rest of the movie, and the reality that she came to compete with these hyper-sexualized and experienced young girls is so distressing. The knee jerk reaction that the boys in the family have to pull Olive from the competition makes so much sense, and yet this is Olive's dream, these are the girls Olive idolized.

Whether that's an intentional criticism of the way young women are sexualized or just a commentary on pageants, I'm not sure. The effect is an emotional punch that resonates with the audience and brings the family closer together in the end. 

Sisterhood Moment: Olive's Superfreak superstar moment. If you don't want to dance with them, you might not have a soul. 

Rating: A crown, scepter, sash, bouquet of roses, and a standing ovation. 

IMDb - Little Miss Sunshine (7.9)

Wikipedia - Little Miss Sunshine

Rotten Tomatoes - Little Miss Sunshine (91%)