I Feel Pretty – A Solid Topical Comedy (Guest Review)

I am a sucker for romantic comedies. There is just something about them. Yes, they are mostly unrealistic in nature, but for some unseen reason, they are irresistible. Deep down it’s because rom-coms always contain some form of much needed closure, but I also very predictable.

Synopsis: In I FEEL PRETTY an ordinary woman who struggles with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy on a daily basis wakes from a fall believing she is suddenly the most beautiful and capable woman on the planet. With this newfound confidence she is empowered to live her life fearlessly and flawlessly, but what will happen when she realizes her appearance never changed? (eOne Films)

Starring: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, and Rory Scovel

Writers: Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein

Directors: Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein

Rating: 14A (Canada)/PG-13 (United States)

Running Time: 110mins

Trailer: 

For showtimes and more, check out I Feel Pretty on movietimes.com.

The surprising thing about I Feel Pretty was its ability to deliver a strong commentary on a serious issue while being cleverly wrapped in romantic comedy packaging. I Feel Pretty follows Renee (Schumer), an insecure woman working for a cosmetics company who continually feels out of place due to her lack of self-confidence. This all changes when she suffers a head injury that enables her to see herself as this amazingly beautiful person (SPOILER ALERT: She is looking at the same person who happens to already be beautiful). This is pretty much all you need to know containing the film’s plot.

The film does get heavy-handed with its commentary on inner beauty via silly situations that Renee keeps getting into, however, everything else is just extra that builds off of this main concept. Schumer does a good job of commanding the screen in both the comedic and dramatic moments. This was not only surprising but refreshing because not only does she carry the movie well, she does so effortlessly. Most of this naturally occurs during the funnier moments, and even during the serious and more emotionally weighted dialogue, Schumer makes it feel relatable and personal was engaging despite its predictable nature.

The film started to stall towards the end of its second act. Coming in a little under two hours, I Feel Pretty could have easily cut 10 minutes which would have resulted in a more tightly paced product. This was most noticeable at the beginning of the movie where it felt like they got their point across about Renee’s insecurity about her body by continually putting her in embarrassing or self-conscious situations. After the first three instances, their point was made and yet the movie chose to live in that space longer than needed before starting to move the plot forward. Once the movie gets into a rhythm, it settles into the story nicely, providing a decent balance of jokes mixed with drama that results in some truly hilarious moments.

I Feel Pretty is not going to win any awards or leave any long lasting impression on the average movie-goer as the year marches on, but if examined from a different perspective, it does bring something unique to the screen as it is a triumph in its attempt to break the Hollywood stereotype of certain types of beauty. This film felt as if Schumer was taking that closed door to her and drop kicking it wide open.

I Feel Pretty won’t offer much outside of its positive message, solid humor, and sense of closure but it doesn’t strive to. It simply wants the space to be able to tell its story in an effort to connect with every person that has struggled with this same issue and manages to do so in a funny and relevant way. People often get wrapped up looking for this amazing and life-changing experience at the theater and sometimes they forget that it’s alright to watch a movie that’s just okay once in a while. If you find yourself in this situation, I Feel Pretty can be that movie that meets that need.

Score: 6/10

Critics w/o Credentials

Trying my best to get all thoughts about TV and Film out of my head and onto the interweb.