We all have had moments when we feel like we are not good enough and we unnecessarily compare ourselves to our friends and even strangers. Body image and self confidence is still an issue for some because of the pressures of society such as the thought that women should be thin, polite, and perfect. But slowly, society’s ideals have been changing and things seem to be getting better especially with the release of a movie like ‘I Feel Pretty’ which is all about encouraging women to be confident no matter what they think they look like.
Last week the movie titled ‘I Feel Pretty’, starring Amy Schumer, was released in theaters. The general storyline of the movie is revolved around this girl’s body image and how what she thinks of herself affects what she does. In the beginning of the movie, there are scenes of Renee, played by Schumer, doing her regular everyday activities such as going to work and meeting up with her friends. From the very start we see that Renee is insecure about doing things she would like to do but doesn’t because she feels like she can not compete with the supermodels of the world.
Somethings she feels like won’t have a good end result is first, making a group dating profile with her friends. When her friends suggest to her to make a profile, so they can all go on a group date together, Renee immediately says no one will ask them out because ‘they do not look like supermodels and all guys care about is the picture and they don’t read the actual bio description’. But despite Renee’s opinion, her friends convince her to make the profile with them anyways and they have a lot of fun doing it.
The second thing that Renee is insecure about, and almost doesn’t do, is apply for a receptionist position at a famous and popular cosmetic company called Lily LeClaire. She feels like it is no use to even apply for the position just because she is not pretty or confident.
Later, after a bad day, Renee is watching a movie one evening while it is thundering and raining outside. After a particular scene in the movie she is watching she runs outside and makes a wish at a fountain.
“I wish to be pretty.”
The next day at a SoulCycle spinning class she falls off her bike and hits her head.
She passes out but when she regains consciousness later, something has changed… she feels pretty.
The movie overall was better than I expected. I personally felt like a lot of girls, not only myself, could relate to how Renee feels. There is a scene in the movie where Renee is looking at herself in the full body mirror in her room and even though she is not saying anything you can just tell that she does not like they way her body looks. I think many girls and boys probably have looked at themselves in the mirror and thought the same thing.
Before watching the movie, I had only seen the preview of it probably one time and I had not read anything about the movie and I also had not looked into what people thought about the film. But before writing this article I thought I should look and see other people’s thoughts on the movie. The movie trailer by itself seems to have received a lot of judgment.
Many people thing that Schumer IS pretty, thin, blonde and therefore should not be insecure about her looks and someone else a bigger size should have played the part. In my opinion though I think these people are missing the point. We all know a friend that is pretty and thin but is still insecure. This is not about how someone looks, it is about how someone feels inside their own heart. I see what people are saying when they think a larger woman should have been cast for the part of Renee but I personally think Schumer did a fantastic job and she was great for the part. Schumer does admit though that the movie is not perfect and could be better in an interview for Time Magazine.
“It’s not a perfect movie,” Schumer said, “It would be great if my role had been played by a woman of color and there were more trans people in it, more people with disabilities. But it’s a step in the right direction, I hope.”