Amy Schumer has made a pretty solid career being the “real woman” who has to deal with all the real things we “normals” do, because she doesn’t fit the standard actress mold. In her new comedy, I Feel Pretty, a regular girl suddenly sees her self-worth after an injury, thus everything she’s every wanted comes true, until it doesn’t. Through comedy and heartache she learns a valuable lesson. This isn’t a new story: we’ve seen this story many times before, and done better.
Renee Barrett is an ordinary woman who struggles with the same feelings we all do: low-self esteem, body issues, and feeling inadequate when it comes to her life/job. She wakes up after taking a terrible fall believing she is the most beautiful and valued woman in the world, despite looking exactly the same way she always has. With this newfound confidence she is now empowered to live her life to her fullest: new job, finding love, etc. But after another head injury she thinks she lost her beauty, and then goes on a personal journey to see that her real self was always there, she just had to believe it.
The movie is funny and has many funny parts, but overall, it’s not THAT funny. A movie starring Amy Schumer should be laugh out loud hilarious the entire time. I should have left the theater with my face hurting. I did not. The movie is kind of an editing nightmare. There are clearly two movies that were smashed together. One about a woman who hits her head and finds love, the other about a woman who gets her dream job and is amazing at it. Both are not very interesting, but when you put them together: boom! You get a rather disappointing average flick we’ve already seen. Shame too, there are moments in the movie where you think, “oh this is where it gets good/funnier.” But it doesn’t.
The message behind the movie is that you don’t need anyone but yourself to be the best you. Yes! In that the filmmakers are correct. It’s just that message gets lost in all the standard film tropes. The filmmakers could have made it unique and not stuck to the same story model too. They could have done something different and beautiful with the story: they chose to stay safe. Which is more of a statement on current filmmaking, where filmmakers are being told to color within the lines because of box office performance. Little movies like these that used to be able to say something, now have to say the same thing with just a newer and younger cast.
Some of the best parts in the movie are when we get to see the characters interact in the most “real” way: feeling fat in a new outfit, so they change before leaving the house. Having a store clerk let them know that “larger” sizes can be found online, or being nervous about taking off your shirt in front of a new lover due to insecurities. These are all real problems that all people deal with. They spend very little time on these issues. Maybe cause they’re not funny, but they are real, and the writers could have found the comedy within if given the chance.
But enough of the negative. The positives of the film are worth talking about. Mainly the cast: besides Schumer, who delivers her normal brand of comedy (slightly toned down due to the PG-13 rating) she is joined by Michelle Williams, Busy Philipps, Aidy Bryant, Rory Scovel and Lauren Hutton. All turn in solid comedic performance. I would have liked to spend more time with those characters, especially Michelle Williams. Who knew she could be funny! She plays Schumer’s supermodel boss who has a very high-pitched voice. Yes, sounds annoying, and it is, but in the best way for a movie like this. It was nice to see Lauren Hutton (look her up, kids) who, at 74, looks great and hasn’t lost her edge at all.
I would’ve enjoyed spending more time with Renee’s BFFs in the movie: Philipps and Bryant. They are way underused. The actresses are seriously funny and don’t get a chance to shine at all. Another victim of editing is funny man Rory Scovel. His character has glimpses of a third dimension in the movie, but maintains his average-guy two dimensions. It’s a shame, he could have brought to the movie the male version of “normal guy” insecurities, which would have been nice to bounce off of Schumer’s female fears. That would have been more interesting than the basic story being presented.
Due to plot there is a great speech at the end about loving oneself, because of course there is. Can’t have this kind of movie if we don’t hit home with the message about everyone should just be happy with who they are and don’t worry about all the crap the world piles on you. Yes. It’s a great message and it should be said. And the movie does have its very inspirational moments, but a day late and a dollar short. By the time it gets there, meh.
Not a bad movie at all. It’s very charming and you may even leave the theater feeling great about yourself and this could be the reason you change your life. And if that’s the case, great. Whatever gets you there, use it to be the best you that you can be. The movie hurts from being way too derivative and gives nothing new to this type of movie. It just seems to suffer from a fundamental lack of conviction.
