I Feel Pretty

Kate Young
24th Apr 2018

“ No Matter how many times we hear “its on the inside that really counts”, woman know deep down its what’s on the outside that the whole world judges” and for Renee Bennett (Amy Schumer) she desperately wants to be one of the “pretty” girls. When Renee looks in the mirror at her self, she doesn’t like the person that gazes back her, she has a void inside of her, a feeling of never being good enough. She has a decent job but it operates out of a dodgy apartment in Chinatown, a semi decent apartment and friends who are great as they except her for who she is but not who she could be. Struggling with her feelings of invisibility, overlooked by bar staff, ignored by shop assistants (sometimes even mistaken for them) and constantly rejected by men on dating apps who want the model more then the ugly best friend.

One fateful rainy night, Renee inspired by the film “Big” heads to a local park, tossing a coin into a fountain, and asking the universe to grant her ultimate wish: to be beautiful.
However Renee’s dreams are shattered when she awakes the next day to find that her wish hasn’t come true, still stuck in her body she despises, Renee heads to Soul Cycle under the notion that she can motivate her self to become alter her body. Not giving into the intimidating bodies that surround her, Renee sets all her attention on the instructor. Having been so focused Renee doesn’t notice her bike shift and is sent crashing to the floor hitting her head not once but twice, before going unconscious.

As she awakes woozy and disorientated, it is only when she checks herself in the mirror that she realises her wish has been granted as the person staring back at her is picturesque.
However it seems that only she can see this extraordinary transformation, leaving those around her a little bewildered by her behavior. Still it is with new found confidence that the world opens up and she finds herself faced with endless opportunities, a chance at romance and a road paved with self-discovery.

Through out the film Renee’s consciousness battles between morals of the old her and being sucked into the toxic allure of the high-end fashion world. Here she alienates her friends, jeopardises her relationship and starts writing off those that she feels are no longer deemed worthy in her eyes of perfection. Proving that sometimes the one thing you’ve spent most of your life wanting to be in the end turns out to be your biggest demise.

Written and directed (both their debut in the role) by Abbey Kohn and Marc Silverstein best known for their romantic comedies such as Never Been Kissed, He’s Just Not That Into You and Valentines Day. The movie feels very much like a throw back to the switcheroo films like Big, Freaky Friday and even 13 Going On 30. The smartness however with this movie is that there are no “visual” tricks unlike all the other body swap movies. The only transformation that takes place is all inside Renee’s head.

Ever since the trailer was released earlier in the year, the film had already recieved quite a bit of flack due to Amy Schumer’s portrayal of the character of Renee Bennett. Most audiences not believing that her physicality and self assuredness right for the role. I understand that they could have used an actress that was “heavier” or a “less attractive ” than Schumer, but I think it says a lot that we as woman no matter what our size or physical exterior, are all insecure and feel like we aren’t good enough. She’s believable in this role cause shes all those things. The other criticism is of Schumer not being her normal “over the top” comedian. I for one am not that fond of Amy Schumer’s humour and times find it quite vulgar for no other reason but to shock her audiences. Here I found a more likable Schumer who was able to rely on her physical comedic talents not just using her sharp tongue.

Her supporting cast is not to be over looked either by any means. Aidy Bryant (SNL) and Busy Phillips play her two BFF’s who are just a fun loving, down to earth pair of friends who love her regardless. There’s Rory Scoval who plays her boyfriend Ethan who ‘s not afraid to show his more feminine side whether that be owning up to be a Zumba fanatic or that he cries when getting dumped. The stand out for me though was Michelle Williams as the “dead in the eyes’ CEO of the cosmetic company, armed with a Marilyn Monroe inspired voice she truly is bizarre and to me has to be the comic role of her career.

I Feel Pretty, doesn’t take itself too seriously even though the subject matter and the debates that surround it are important discussions to be had, instead it sets out to make one feel good about yourself and remind you that the only one that can truly make yourself feel validated, worthy, wanted and beautiful is yourself. We need to stop comparing ourselves to each other and recgonise that we are all beautiful .As the Wise RuPaul once said, “if you can’t love yourself, than how the hell are you going to love somebody else”.

I Feel Pretty is showing in Australian cinemas now