Every film relies on visual and narrative references to the iconic movies of yesteryear, but it takes real guts to make those subtle nods so brutally explicit. I'm talking, like, showing a clip of the movie you're ripping off in your movie. James Mangold somehow pulled it off in Logan, going beyond a blunt and obvious callback and weaving the story of Shane into the fabric of Hugh Jackman's tragic last ride as Wolverine. But when your movie doesn't work, reminding the viewer of something better that came before is......well, it's a pretty big risk. Speaking of big, I Feel Pretty literally shows its protagonist, played by star comedian Amy Schumer, watching Tom Hanks' Big at one point. Get it? Because this is another movie where a character gets to experience something extraordinary after they wish to have a different body. I almost want to applaud the filmmakers for being so on-the-nose with this nod, but the truth is that the reference just serves as a reminder of the staleness and familiarity of this concept.
I Feel Pretty is a deviation from Schumer's previous works, in that it's a relatively teen-friendly empowerment story rather than a raunchy study of sex and modern relationships. This is basically a fairy tale, told with a kind of easy-going whimsy and charm that makes the whole thing feel like a forgotten rom-com straight out of the 1980s. The film has likable characters and a positive message, and its intentions are so pure and noble that it's hard to completely despise it. But I Feel Pretty isn't funny. It's really as simple as that. I actively found myself questioning whether or not this was meant to be a comedy multiple times throughout, which I'm sure was not the film's intention. Littered with formulaic jokes and bottom-of-the-barrel humor and dragged down by Schumer's awkward shtick, I Feel Pretty grows tiresome almost instantly. And at a punishing 110 minutes, this cheery romantic comedy becomes downright tough to sit through.
Renee Bennett (Schumer) has one wish in life- to be undeniably, truly beautiful. She works in the grimy online department at Lily LeClaire, a posh and hugely successful makeup line, but she dreams of eventually being able to work in the company's downtown NYC headquarters. Renee has good friends (Busy Phillips and Aidy Bryant), a well-paying job, and a pleasant life, but she dreams of being as drop-dead gorgeous as her SoulCycle classmate (Emily Ratajkowski). After running out and making a wish in the middle of the night, Renee's fantasy ends up coming true in a very unexpected way. At SoulCycle, Renee slips off her bike and slams her head really hard. Like, concussion level hard. When she wakes up, she has all the confidence in the world. Her appearance hasn't changed in the slightest, but Renee suddenly believes that she's a supermodel.
With this newfound swagger, Renee turns her entire life upside down. She gets a job as the receptionist at Lily LeClaire, eventually working as the right-hand woman for fashion mogul Avery LeClaire (Michelle Williams). With the company's mainstream line in production, Avery begins to trust Renee's instincts, going to her for advice and even a little burst of confidence. Meanwhile, Renee finds a new love interest in Ethan (Rory Scovel), who is astonished by just how self-assured she is. But as Renee ascends to the top of the fashion world, accompanied by influencer status and lots of famous friends, will she forget who she really is at her core? And what happens when this magic spell begins to fade?
If I'm being honest, the whole thing plays out pretty much like you would expect. There are very few surprises along the world, as I Feel Pretty closely follows the old-school rom-com formula without missing a beat. And in a way, I respect that. Writer/directors Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein (this is their directorial debut, but they wrote How to Be Single and The Vow) are working from a template that we don't see very often in modern Hollywood, creating a family-friendly, kind-hearted film along the way. But maybe this predictable framework has been phased out for a reason. Maybe we don't see this kind of overly earnest, message-driven rom-com anymore because it only works in a retro context. I recognized what Kohn and Silverstein were trying to do by crafting this sweet, raunch-free comedy, and I wanted to like what they had put together. It's unfortunate that I Feel Pretty is just so rote, so utterly devoid of genuine charm.
Like many comedies in this day and age, I Feel Pretty's biggest problem is that isn't funny. I'm talking about virtually no laughs whatsoever. Its basic setup generates a few chuckles and the characters are generally sympathetic, but the film never actually succeeded in making me laugh out loud. The material feels recycled and one-note, and Kohn and Silverstein's execution is so repetitive that it all gets tiresome very quickly. The film's optimism and positivity is counteracted with deluge of fart jokes and assorted bodily humor gags that feel cheap and easy, never elevating the movie to any kind of comedic groove. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind a bit of bathroom humor or a good sex joke, but it all comes down to execution. And unfortunately, I Feel Pretty's brand of cringe humor is thoroughly exhausting, hitting the same note over and over until I just completely gave up.
Beyond the familiarity of the film's core idea and the relatively unfunny script, the performances do little to make things better. Schumer's Renee is sweet and likable, which is a refreshing change of pace in the often mean-spirited comedy world. But her character basically finds herself in the same situation over and over again, quickly spiraling the film into complete tedium. Renee doesn't know what to do, she does the wrong thing, she acts awkward, people are supposed to laugh, rinse and repeat. Renee has a decent enough journey, but there's just so much to dislike about how Kohn and Silverstein utilize Schumer's talents. And the problem is that this movie mainly revolves around her, as the supporting cast has little to do. Michelle Williams is a bit of a scene-stealer with a voice that sounds like a cross between Glinda the Good Witch and Lina Lamont in Singin' in the Rain, but her story feels forced and unsatisfying. Rory Scovel's love interest is strangely inconsistent, while Tom Hopper has maybe the film's most pointless subplot as Grant LeClaire.
I Feel Pretty ends with Renee making a passionate speech in support of loving yourself and your body, which is received well by the crowd after she, of course, stumbles and trips her way onto the stage. It's a nice sentiment, and generally speaking, Kohn and Silverstein have made an incredibly inoffensive movie. But this embrace of obvious, Big-inspired sweetness leaves the film without much of an emotional or comedic core, lacking a fresh hook or clever jokes to keep things chugging along. And at nearly two hours, that disappointing combination means I Feel Pretty ends up being borderline intolerable.
THE FINAL GRADE: D+ (4.6/10)
Images courtesy of STX Films
I Feel Pretty is a deviation from Schumer's previous works, in that it's a relatively teen-friendly empowerment story rather than a raunchy study of sex and modern relationships. This is basically a fairy tale, told with a kind of easy-going whimsy and charm that makes the whole thing feel like a forgotten rom-com straight out of the 1980s. The film has likable characters and a positive message, and its intentions are so pure and noble that it's hard to completely despise it. But I Feel Pretty isn't funny. It's really as simple as that. I actively found myself questioning whether or not this was meant to be a comedy multiple times throughout, which I'm sure was not the film's intention. Littered with formulaic jokes and bottom-of-the-barrel humor and dragged down by Schumer's awkward shtick, I Feel Pretty grows tiresome almost instantly. And at a punishing 110 minutes, this cheery romantic comedy becomes downright tough to sit through.
Renee Bennett (Schumer) has one wish in life- to be undeniably, truly beautiful. She works in the grimy online department at Lily LeClaire, a posh and hugely successful makeup line, but she dreams of eventually being able to work in the company's downtown NYC headquarters. Renee has good friends (Busy Phillips and Aidy Bryant), a well-paying job, and a pleasant life, but she dreams of being as drop-dead gorgeous as her SoulCycle classmate (Emily Ratajkowski). After running out and making a wish in the middle of the night, Renee's fantasy ends up coming true in a very unexpected way. At SoulCycle, Renee slips off her bike and slams her head really hard. Like, concussion level hard. When she wakes up, she has all the confidence in the world. Her appearance hasn't changed in the slightest, but Renee suddenly believes that she's a supermodel.
With this newfound swagger, Renee turns her entire life upside down. She gets a job as the receptionist at Lily LeClaire, eventually working as the right-hand woman for fashion mogul Avery LeClaire (Michelle Williams). With the company's mainstream line in production, Avery begins to trust Renee's instincts, going to her for advice and even a little burst of confidence. Meanwhile, Renee finds a new love interest in Ethan (Rory Scovel), who is astonished by just how self-assured she is. But as Renee ascends to the top of the fashion world, accompanied by influencer status and lots of famous friends, will she forget who she really is at her core? And what happens when this magic spell begins to fade?
If I'm being honest, the whole thing plays out pretty much like you would expect. There are very few surprises along the world, as I Feel Pretty closely follows the old-school rom-com formula without missing a beat. And in a way, I respect that. Writer/directors Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein (this is their directorial debut, but they wrote How to Be Single and The Vow) are working from a template that we don't see very often in modern Hollywood, creating a family-friendly, kind-hearted film along the way. But maybe this predictable framework has been phased out for a reason. Maybe we don't see this kind of overly earnest, message-driven rom-com anymore because it only works in a retro context. I recognized what Kohn and Silverstein were trying to do by crafting this sweet, raunch-free comedy, and I wanted to like what they had put together. It's unfortunate that I Feel Pretty is just so rote, so utterly devoid of genuine charm.
Like many comedies in this day and age, I Feel Pretty's biggest problem is that isn't funny. I'm talking about virtually no laughs whatsoever. Its basic setup generates a few chuckles and the characters are generally sympathetic, but the film never actually succeeded in making me laugh out loud. The material feels recycled and one-note, and Kohn and Silverstein's execution is so repetitive that it all gets tiresome very quickly. The film's optimism and positivity is counteracted with deluge of fart jokes and assorted bodily humor gags that feel cheap and easy, never elevating the movie to any kind of comedic groove. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind a bit of bathroom humor or a good sex joke, but it all comes down to execution. And unfortunately, I Feel Pretty's brand of cringe humor is thoroughly exhausting, hitting the same note over and over until I just completely gave up.
Beyond the familiarity of the film's core idea and the relatively unfunny script, the performances do little to make things better. Schumer's Renee is sweet and likable, which is a refreshing change of pace in the often mean-spirited comedy world. But her character basically finds herself in the same situation over and over again, quickly spiraling the film into complete tedium. Renee doesn't know what to do, she does the wrong thing, she acts awkward, people are supposed to laugh, rinse and repeat. Renee has a decent enough journey, but there's just so much to dislike about how Kohn and Silverstein utilize Schumer's talents. And the problem is that this movie mainly revolves around her, as the supporting cast has little to do. Michelle Williams is a bit of a scene-stealer with a voice that sounds like a cross between Glinda the Good Witch and Lina Lamont in Singin' in the Rain, but her story feels forced and unsatisfying. Rory Scovel's love interest is strangely inconsistent, while Tom Hopper has maybe the film's most pointless subplot as Grant LeClaire.
I Feel Pretty ends with Renee making a passionate speech in support of loving yourself and your body, which is received well by the crowd after she, of course, stumbles and trips her way onto the stage. It's a nice sentiment, and generally speaking, Kohn and Silverstein have made an incredibly inoffensive movie. But this embrace of obvious, Big-inspired sweetness leaves the film without much of an emotional or comedic core, lacking a fresh hook or clever jokes to keep things chugging along. And at nearly two hours, that disappointing combination means I Feel Pretty ends up being borderline intolerable.
THE FINAL GRADE: D+ (4.6/10)
Images courtesy of STX Films
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