Beauty is Changing
Amy Schumer’s latest comedy, I Feel Pretty, is a charming and authentic depiction of women’s struggles with body image and self-esteem in a world where you can never be too skinny or too pretty. From green juice to Soul Cycle, our culture is constantly manufacturing more opportunities for women to improve their appearance. I Feel Pretty highlights the emotional and psychological toll this takes on the contemporary woman through humorous and exaggerated fiction. Although Renee Bennett (Amy Schumer) must suffer a head injury in order to gain the confidence she needs to thrive in the corporate beauty industry, we see a real side of femininity — no size 00, no face caked with overpriced makeup, no extreme dieting rituals. There is something refreshing and thought-provoking in seeing such a celebration over the realism of the female body freed from retouching and photo-shop.
The movie’s examination of the beauty/fashion industry and its subsequent scrutiny over women was reminiscent of the comedy-drama, The Devil Wears Prada. Similar to Miranda Priestly’s (Meryl Streep) dependence on her “smart, fat” intern, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), Renee’s boss, Avery LeClaire (Michelle Williams), also finds herself turning to Renee for support and advice on her company’s new diffusion line. This film is a comical, but truthful portrayal of how there is a real need in society for more unity and inclusion in the beauty industry but also in many other industries as well. As the movie validates, women have many differing perspectives and ideas based on their individual experiences. This diversity in ideas is what creates a more productive and likable service and/or product for consumers. I walked away from the movie feeling certain that greater diversity and inclusion equates to greater innovation in our society.
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Schumer’s character, Renee, has the same spunky, unruly, and light-hearted persona that we’ve seen in many of her previous roles, particularly in her character, Amy, from Trainwreck. There is also a stubborn determination in her character, Renee, to shatter the detrimental stereotypes which exist against heavier women in the beauty/fashion industry. The fearlessness and humor of Schumer’s characters is what makes her films so entertaining and authentic. The uplifting message to all women in I Feel Pretty is delivered flawlessly with Amy Schumer as its purveyor. When you mesh together a rom-com, Schumer’s lively spirit, and her characters’ humorous energy, you’ve usually got a film primed to warm the hearts of its audiences.
