"she's a pretty blonde, so inevitably she's an idiot"

Well she would have to be an idiot, not because she's a blonde, or because she's a nude model, etc. But because she worked and lived somewhere where they kick you out for turning 27, and yet the plot is predicated on her being taken surprise by being kicked out when she turns 27.

"Look at "Revenge of the Nerds" or "Old School." Those men didn't have to change who they were to win in the end."

They didn't find out, for the most part, that they were fine how they were until the end of the movie. This movie may go the same way or it may not.

"Sure, this movie is cheap summer fluff, but guess who's probably going to see it? A lot of college-aged women and men."

I doubt that this will be a substantial majority of the ticket buyers for this movie. Unless it has some really big name youth market talent attached or ends up being a lot more clever than you're evaluation is implying; and almost certainly not actual college students (maybe cosmetology college).

Now if there were a lot of boobs, sex jokes, making it the classic 1980's PG-13 movie then I would say it was going to be high school movie fodder, but the DVD has pretty muck killed that market.

I'm not saying this movie will be any good, odds are against is since most movies suck, but I think your observations comparing it to ROTN are jaundiced by your exposure to the total film in one case as well as it's long-term social impact compared to a brief trailer which was cut to appeal to the average viewer of Project Runway, which, I'm sorry, isn't generally perceived as an intellectual market.

Granted, I based my judgement of this film on a 2 minute preview. To be honest, for me it served to put a spotlight on the differences between movies of this genre which are made for men vs. ones made for women. In movies like "She's All That," the nerdy girl finds love by conforming to beauty norms (not that Rachel Leigh Cook's character was all that unattractive to begin with), and what about "Never Been Kissed," or "The Princess Diaries?" In these films a woman/girl overcomes adversity (spiting the mean, popular girl; winning the guy) by turning pretty and taming her individuality. Yes, often her other talents are showcased, but the focus is on the physical transformation. That's what seals the deal.

After reading your post I thought that this movie preview couldn't possibly be as bad as you said, so I watched the preview. My favorite line went something like "she's teaching them to be their BEST SELVES." Because our bests selves are more that intelligent and educated, our best self can get a superficial boyfriend, too.

"which are made for men vs. ones made for women"

I really don't think this movie was made for men. I would say made "by" men would be accurate, or made for a substantial female market that will pay to see this crap (there are crap movies that men pay to see too, Van Damme and Segal have big homes in Malibu because of them). But "men" meaning the majority of them/us who are straight and not POC won't choose to go to a movie about a woman who is not from a video game or a comic book. We may pick a "date movie" that is somewhat of a compromise, but those are usually your typical shitty Ro-Co, I don't know if this is a romantic comedy or not.

"The Princess Diaries":

The only thing I didn't like about that movie was the emphasis on her appearance. Things I did like was her relationship with her best friend and the eventual realization that changing her looks and getting the attention of the guy she lusted after was a folly. To me that did deflate, partially, some of the emphasis on look in that movie. I think you're being overly harsh on TPD, that was really a sweet movie and you could easily take away the positive messages from it and discard as typical Hollywood baggage the other crap.

I agree, I believe this movie was made for women. That's what I mean when I say that in movies of this genre which are made for women, the emphasis is on becoming beautiful vs. showcasing one's talents to come out on top.

Yah I've seen this preview a bunch of times before various movies this summer, and I have to say, I'm starting to hate Adam Sandler a little bit (this is a Happy-Madison Production if you didn't notice).

This flick is going to have to be vastly different from how it appears in the previews for me to be anything but disgusted.

whatsername: Sandler is/was a big Bush supporter. I have not spent a dime on a Sandler flick since I found that out.

I saw the preview and actually at first took your impression, but then I realized it was PROBABLY one of those movies where she makes them all over and then they realize it's what's on the inside that counts. Yeah, it's incredibly cheesy, but I want to see it! I'm hoping it will turn out to be a (sort of) feminist flick. She'll make them over and then they'll realize that they thought they wanted to be hot, but it turns out they were fine just the way they are. In the ad, Shelly meets a guy in college who "none of her tricks work on" and she learns that the real guys she should be interested in are interested in her personality and HER instead of her looks. Honestly, if that didn't happen, the movie would have no plot, no conflict, be wrongfully depicted in the trailer, and be completely uninteresting, so I'm really expecting it to happen that way. Maybe I'm completely wrong, maybe I'm seeing something that's not there, but I won't know for sure until I actually see the movie. Plus, I am in love with Anna Faris so I may just be a little bit biased.

Logrus
...and almost certainly not actual college students (maybe cosmetology college).

Not trying to start a fight but that was extremely disrespectful. I am a hairdresser and a feminist. Just because I try to make people look good/feel better about themselves does not mean I am a horrible person. Also, by saying "not actual college students" you're discrediting all of us that have gone to cosmetology school, because guess what? I have to have a license to do what I do. So do all of the other hairstylists I know. As do makeup artists. As do nurses, x-ray technicians, etc. Just because we didn't go to "typical" college doesn't mean we're stupid or ignorant.

And, no, I wouldn't watch this piece of drivel, nor would any of my co-workers or my friends.

It made my heart drop to see your comment. I guess that's what I get for assuming that feminists wouldn't judge us hairstylists as the rest of society does.

Lori: You're right. I was out of line, and I really didn't mean it, it was just one of those cheap shots that are mean to a small group of people meant to make the larger group chuckle at their expense.

I'm really sorry. I honestly don't think that cosmetology college means you're less intelligent, or less worthy of respect, than any other direction one chooses to take.

Please accept my sincere apology.

Leaving aside the actual content of the movie, its existence is more evidence, as if we needed it, that pop culture is obsessed with porn.

On the bright side, I cannot picture this movie getting good reviews, or doing all that well at the box office. I suspect it'll be forgotten in a few years.

Lorgus - Apology accepted and no hard feelings :] I just get a LOT of flak about this from my family, etc. so I am very, very sensitive to the topic.

When I saw this preview, my first thought was "How can movies like this even still get made?"

No, really.

Makeover movies are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, but as stated above, it's usually more about the other factors involved that make it a good movie. This preview didn't even try to pretend it was anything other than a "Let's see how we can make ugly girls pretty" movie.

Although admittedly it's better than: "Let's see how disgusting human beings can be to each other" in movies like Saw.