‘I Feel Pretty’ – Review
Amy Schumer is one performer to be all kinds of excited about and her latest comedic outing, I Feel Pretty, is pure laugh out loud goodness.
Starring Amy Schumer, I Feel Pretty centres on Renee, who struggles with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy on a daily basis. Then one day, she wakes from a fall believing she is suddenly the most beautiful and capable woman on the planet. With this newfound confidence, Renee is empowered to live her life fearlessly and flawlessly. But what will happen when she realises her appearance never changed?
All I can say about I Feel Pretty is PLEASE GO AND SEE THIS MOVIE!
I didn’t really know what to expect with I Feel Pretty, but it’s a piece of cinema that’s completely off the chain, and it all comes back to Amy Schumer. This comedy queen really pulls out all the stops here, and her journey from ugly duckling to out of this world confident chick is freaking hilarious to watch. I’ve also got to give it to her that she really plays into the film’s structure, and her character’s arc is very impressive from a narrative point-of-view.
While the film’s narrative relies heavily on her reverse body-dysmorphia ability, wherein only she can see that she’s the most beautiful woman in the world, it’s a great way for Schumer to comment on our society’s obsession with appearance and status. While Renee is essentially the type of character who you want to be your best friend, her journey to complete positivity also has a dark side as she becomes obsessed with her own social status, and here the film asks it’s audience to make a deeper commitment to look for something more than just the outer appearance.
The comedy in I Feel Pretty is out of this world and I was in stitches the whole way through. Whether it’s situational comedy, slapstick or Schumer’s talent for improv, all of it comes into play here and draws on both her own ability to laugh at herself, while also laughing at her hilarious journey to self-love. Some of the best laughs come from her interactions with her co-worker Mason (Adrian Martinez) ‘who just writes code’ and who is absolutely oblivious to her desire to be beautiful. Their interactions are pure gold and definitely lead to some of the film’s biggest laughs.
There are also plenty of laughs when it comes to Michelle Williams as Renee’s beautiful, yet plastic boss Avery LeClaire, who is as thick as two planks and just as dull, but who chimes in with some great comedic timing. The characters of Avery and Renae couldn’t be further apart and that’s what makes it so appealing. You’ve got Avery living in her superficial, size-0, veganized world, and Renee, who well, likes to eat ‘animal products’, wears the diffusion line of make-up and who couldn’t be more normal. The collision of these two personalities is pretty fun to watch, and I was glad to see a different side of Williams realized up on screen.
However, while this film is all about the comedy, and it certainly delivers on that, it does have a deeper meaning about beauty and acceptance. While Renee does undergo a ‘remarkable’ transformation it does eventually lead her to completely turn her life upside down and become a far shallower and superficial person. Her journey back to the light leads her to discover that it’s not about how much make-up you wear, but who you as a true person that really counts in the end. It’s a message that is delivered with real positivity and warmth, as well as a good dose of out there comedy, and it really makes an impression on you.
If you’re looking for that perfect Friday night movie then I can definitely recommend I Feel Pretty. Get your tickets, sit back and enjoy because sometimes you just need some big laughs.
Image: EOne Films
