With the recent explosion of movies such as “Superbad,” “Knocked Up” and “Accepted,” washboard abs are out and individuality is in. The nerds of Hollywood are having their revenge and finally reeling in the chicks.
But wait, when was the last time we saw a woman in a role where she could belch, smoke pot and not weigh more than 125 pounds, but have a fabulous personality while still holding a certain sex appeal?
Awkwardly thin and nerdy males like Justin Long and Michael Cera are fame-ridden through quirky roles in teen-fueled cult classics. Curly-haired, thick-bodied and gut-busting males such as Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen make their debut as the cuddly, yet slightly grimy, underdog who gets the girl with his humor and wit.
While the typical perfect male physique is getting pushed to the back burner of hit comedies, where are the ‘hot chicks’? Right up front, like always. Tall, blonde, large breasted females are still reigning high and mighty over the everyday female’s self esteem.
The only time Hollywood really presents their audience with the non-typical actress is when they are portrayed as one of the guys or only a friend. As if these women are not capable of having feelings, or rather feelings that matter, they are constantly on the sidelines.
Even the females who break through gender stereotypes would still make any fashion magazine’s top 100 sexiest women. From Sarah Chalke making commercials about picking wedgies to Sarah Silverman singing about her bodily functions, these women know how to push the buttons on socially acceptable female behavior while still maintaining physical sex appeal.
Even if the social outcast heroine scores with the football captain, more than likely she would be rated a perfect ten. Movies such as “She’s All That,” “Clueless” and “House Bunny” show the less-attractive girl who gets the guy – after she’s had a magical make-over. These movies are directed at a younger audience, telling them “Yes! You too can get the partner of your dreams – if you’re pretty.”
Recent commercials celebrating a woman’s natural beauty try to focus on letting women know that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. However, Hollywood remains a self-esteem-eating predator, shoving the stereotypical super model down young girls’ throats.
To be fair, some movies do broadcast the nerdy girl and keep her nerdy. In “American Pie,” Michelle, a die-hard band geek, gets to go to prom after Jim runs out of date options. In “Never Been Kissed,” Josie, a fully-grown nerd who goes back to high school for a newspaper story doesn’t have friends until her brother puts in a good name for her. These characters are blatant nerds throughout the movie who only achieve social acceptance after receiving help from outside characters.
It is good to see the atypical male hero in the spotlight without being duck taped to a tetherball pole. While I commend Hollywood for giving hope to the male peon, the less socially attractive female should also receive a few rewards without having to sacrifice either her personality or her looks.
While we are making progress on the societal front, it is time the physical side gets a boost. I, for one, would love to see a movie where a female with an appetite for onion rings and mad tuba-playing skills still manages to hook up with the dim-witted Hottie McHot.