Ugly Ducklings in Film
Why do we all have the ugly duckling syndrome? The scenario is basically the same : Nerdy girl/ boy in awkward pants , clumsy but beguiling gets taunted by the coolest kids/ mother/ pretty sister. Nerdy character gets a fairy godmother/ cute boyfriend/ computer class which changes their lives drastically and they are miraculously transformed in a week!
So what's the appeal? Maybe we all have that insecure part of us that love to see the heroine transform into a beautiful swan. Or perhaps we just love good makeovers! And there is always something fun about watching people become something completly different...
On a personal level, I always felt that identified with those characters. People were always trying to give me makeovers growing up, but i was far too clumsy to care. Ah now that I am old I see the wisdom in finding the beauty within yourself.
What makes a good makeover film? When the protagonist becomes beautiful and confident and realizes there was nothing wrong with them after all. Somehow becoming comfortable in your own skin is sexy.
There has been many makeover films over the years but here are some of my best and worst makeovers :
Death Becomes Her
Goldie Hawn
Watching Goldie Hawn transform into a fat miserable spinster to a hot red haired tamale with the help of a magic potion? Genius. Watching Meryl Streep's butt get perkier? Even better. Ah but the best part is watching both of them become decrepit corpses ? Even better(
Princess Diaries
Now this was one makeover which really was believable. The girl had bushy hair, huge eyebrows and plucky personality. Somehow she had to become a princess...and boy did she end up becoming one. However how to keep her artistic spirit? in the end she came to the ball wearing sweats but still looked way hotter than before. ( Damn her porcelain skin)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
She never became a conventional beauty but by getting a computer class, a good haircut and makeup she landed herself a nice big wedding. Go figure
Clueless
Brittany Murphy is a hopeless pothead, who gets funky late nineties clothes to fit in with Alicia Silverstone's crew. ( Ah who can forget Rolling with the hommmieees) . However , she still remains a hopeless pothead with a better sense of style. Maybe it was a failed attempt but it is nice to see someone not completly losing her sense of self in the process.
The Breakfast Club
O.k. so Ally Sheedy got a pretty lame makeover ( a frilly headband and some lame eyeliner doesn't really cut it). However, watching her reemerge confident and smiling, instead of being Emo ( before we even knew it existed) is pretty cool. And the kiss was pretty awesome too.
Never been Kissed
From watching her awkward teenage egg thrown years, to her bland editorial girl to a gorgeous confident high school senior. Somehow regression does work. And to become a nerdy ( albeit prettier) in the end? Great stuff.
Pretty Woman
Who can forget " Big Mistake. Huge.?" All because of a hat, good sex and really big shoulder pads.
Grease
Who can forget the moment when Sandy becomes a leather wearing slut? I still think she looked better as sweet sandy though.
What are the lamest makeovers?
The Mirror has two faces
Ah is it wrong that I don't see much change other than a really bad dye job? I mean maybe it's me. ( crickets)
She's All that
Ah, the girl takes her glasses off. That's about it. And before and after she still looks like Winona Ryder's sister.
Beauty and the Beast
I know we should love the prince in the end, but the beast was way cuter ( and fluffier). The prince seemed kinda lame...
What do we learn from makeover movies? That being yourself is the best revenge known to man. Some good lovin' can transform you. And really, don't try this at home folks because a different kind of lipstick won't change your life. And apparently bushy eyebrows and glasses are so not cool. Ah well there goes my invite to the prom...
So what's the appeal? Maybe we all have that insecure part of us that love to see the heroine transform into a beautiful swan. Or perhaps we just love good makeovers! And there is always something fun about watching people become something completly different...
On a personal level, I always felt that identified with those characters. People were always trying to give me makeovers growing up, but i was far too clumsy to care. Ah now that I am old I see the wisdom in finding the beauty within yourself.
What makes a good makeover film? When the protagonist becomes beautiful and confident and realizes there was nothing wrong with them after all. Somehow becoming comfortable in your own skin is sexy.
There has been many makeover films over the years but here are some of my best and worst makeovers :
Death Becomes Her
Goldie Hawn
Watching Goldie Hawn transform into a fat miserable spinster to a hot red haired tamale with the help of a magic potion? Genius. Watching Meryl Streep's butt get perkier? Even better. Ah but the best part is watching both of them become decrepit corpses ? Even better(
Princess Diaries
Now this was one makeover which really was believable. The girl had bushy hair, huge eyebrows and plucky personality. Somehow she had to become a princess...and boy did she end up becoming one. However how to keep her artistic spirit? in the end she came to the ball wearing sweats but still looked way hotter than before. ( Damn her porcelain skin)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
She never became a conventional beauty but by getting a computer class, a good haircut and makeup she landed herself a nice big wedding. Go figure
Clueless
Brittany Murphy is a hopeless pothead, who gets funky late nineties clothes to fit in with Alicia Silverstone's crew. ( Ah who can forget Rolling with the hommmieees) . However , she still remains a hopeless pothead with a better sense of style. Maybe it was a failed attempt but it is nice to see someone not completly losing her sense of self in the process.
The Breakfast Club
O.k. so Ally Sheedy got a pretty lame makeover ( a frilly headband and some lame eyeliner doesn't really cut it). However, watching her reemerge confident and smiling, instead of being Emo ( before we even knew it existed) is pretty cool. And the kiss was pretty awesome too.
Never been Kissed
From watching her awkward teenage egg thrown years, to her bland editorial girl to a gorgeous confident high school senior. Somehow regression does work. And to become a nerdy ( albeit prettier) in the end? Great stuff.
Pretty Woman
Who can forget " Big Mistake. Huge.?" All because of a hat, good sex and really big shoulder pads.
Grease
Who can forget the moment when Sandy becomes a leather wearing slut? I still think she looked better as sweet sandy though.
What are the lamest makeovers?
The Mirror has two faces
Ah is it wrong that I don't see much change other than a really bad dye job? I mean maybe it's me. ( crickets)
She's All that
Ah, the girl takes her glasses off. That's about it. And before and after she still looks like Winona Ryder's sister.
Beauty and the Beast
I know we should love the prince in the end, but the beast was way cuter ( and fluffier). The prince seemed kinda lame...
What do we learn from makeover movies? That being yourself is the best revenge known to man. Some good lovin' can transform you. And really, don't try this at home folks because a different kind of lipstick won't change your life. And apparently bushy eyebrows and glasses are so not cool. Ah well there goes my invite to the prom...
Film & TV on DVD
Am I the only one who found Ally Sheedy more attractive before the Breakfast Club makeover?
I actually hate this trend in films where the most interesting ands unique person in the film has to be transformed into a superficial bimbo who ignores their true self and is forced to conform with boring ideals. Its like a form of fashion communism.
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Wingy's Youtube
ThirtyInMotion
But it could go both ways
Yeah devil wears prada...accessory overkill! Fashion communism hahaha or is it fashion fascism? Maybe that's too cutesy.
There is a deeper meaning to all these makeovers , which are detrimental to girls. I like the Lindsay Lohan makeover when she goes back to being her real self