Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Movies/TV Shows with hot guys ending up with ugly girls?

  • 04-06-2011 02:38PM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,750 ✭✭✭


    So there's an incredibly wide variety of films/shows where the hot chick ends up with the less-than-conventionally-attractive bloke (e.g. every Seth Rogen film to date). But what about the reverse? I can think of loads of the first scenario off the top of my head but when I try to think of a film/show where a hot dude ends up with a less-than-attractive chick I'm left completely blank.

    The most I can come up with is when a guy falls for an "average" girl who wears glasses and her hair in a bun and by the end of it she's a swimsuit model lookalike (which is when he realizes he REALLY loves her or something.)

    Do you think this perhaps feeds into some men thinking it doesn't matter how they look or act, that they're entitled to a hot chick despite probably being average or less than themselves?

    Let's take my Seth Rogen example from earlier - think about the film Knocked Up. Let's face it, the guy's an immature, selfish twat through the majority of the movie and only really starts trying towards the end. I still can't comprehend why she tolerated him to begin with, other than the fact that it was a romcom and the 'average guy' (average for a 16 year old, maybe) needed to end up with a hot chick.

    This isn't to say that people should "know their limits," so to speak. I just think it's a fairly hypocritical attitude - when this scenario's put into the real world, they want to have their fantasy girl, get pissed off when she goes with someone presumably more attractive (probably calling her shallow/superficial along the way), while presumably ignoring all the 'average'-looking girls who are attracted to them because they don't match up to their standards.

    Obviously sometimes it does work out, the not-so-hot guy ends up with a super-hot chick, or the not-so-hot chick ends up with the super-hot dude, but if we're being realistic it's relatively rare to see such a dramatic difference between partners. Most people tend to pair off with people who are on a similar "level" of attractiveness as themselves.

    So are movies like Knocked Up and the hundreds (thousands?) of other average-dude-gets-hot-chick films causing some men to think about things a little less realistically than they perhaps should be? Are they perpetuating the whole "if you don't like me, you're shallow, even though I've probably turned someone down I wasn't attracted to before too" mentality which often leads to serious self-esteem issues and bitterness?

    Basically, are those films to lads what chick flicks are to girls in terms of what we come to expect from love/relationships/coupling? Are they learning to expect hotness regardless of how they act/what they look like/whatever else in the same way that we learned to expect grandiose acts of love and romance?

    (if there's any generalizations in there it's only shorthand; as a person who was never into chick flicks I'm not going to claim all women are, and I'm not going to claim all men think this way either. I am very aware people are different overall. :p)


«1345

Comments

  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 23,555 ✭✭✭✭Sir Digby Chicken Caesar


    uh, you only have to go outside for 5 minutes to see a load of pretty ugly men who are arm in arm with absolute stunners. confidence, power, great in bed.. *shrug*.. but it's very common.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,012 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    I always thought it was because its mostly men writing, directing, and producing those movies.

    It does seem to be simply. A reflection of what men want though. As for influencing men the same way chick flicks are supposedly influencing women though, who knows. It does also seem to happen often enough in real life though as women don't care about a man's looks as much as men do about women's.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,750 ✭✭✭liah


    uh, you only have to go outside for 5 minutes to see a load of pretty ugly men who are arm in arm with absolute stunners. confidence, power, great in bed.. *shrug*.. but it's very common.

    Thought it was clear enough that I'm talking about your average guy who won't have the large bank account/flash car/whatever else gold diggers are typically interested in.

    Again, it does happen, but it's rarer than people seem to expect.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,698 Mod ✭✭✭✭Silverfish


    It predates these movies though.



    Written in 1979.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 23,555 ✭✭✭✭Sir Digby Chicken Caesar


    .. i didn't even mention money. I live in carlow, I don't know if you've ever been here but it isn't exactly the vacation port of choice for d4 heads or Irelands elite.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,897 ✭✭✭Kimia


    I think that the movies where the nerdy ugly guy best friend ends up with his absolute stunner best female friend is unrealistic. And for some reason that dude from the Social Network is always the nerdy friend. :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 324 ✭✭nermal15


    The Way We Were. Barbara Streisand is with the more conventionally attractive Robert Redford. They break up, but still.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,750 ✭✭✭liah


    Silverfish wrote: »
    It predates these movies though.



    Written in 1979.

    Definitely agree, was just using them as an example.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,717 ✭✭✭✭Earthhorse


    Probably everybody rates themselves a little higher than everyone else does. Everyone thinks they're entitled to more pay, a "better" looking girl or guy, an easy ride so to speak. Does media help perpetuate such beliefs? Almost certainly. I don't know how much though and I don't think there are too many people out there with really unrealistic expectations of who they can be with. I can't really think of anyone I know who fits that bill.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,884 ✭✭✭Eve_Dublin


    I rarely see a dorky, nerdy, overweight guy like you see in those films with a truly stunning woman. I see guys that I wouldn't fancy myself (what I'd personally call plain) with good looking women but the really, really, really RIDICULOUSLy good-looking people generally stick with the really, really RIDICULOUSLY good-looking people in the real world.


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,750 ✭✭✭liah


    Eve_Dublin wrote: »
    the really, really, really RIDICULOUSLy good-looking people generally stick with the really, really RIDICULOUSLY good-looking people in the real world.

    And who could blame them, really? :pac: We'd be hypocrites if we said we'd be any different.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,884 ✭✭✭Eve_Dublin


    liah wrote: »
    And who could blame them, really? :pac: We'd be hypocrites if we said we'd be any different.

    Yeah....I sometimes get a little bit bitter about that though. I'm in a city with some serious hot people and you see a hot couple and you think, "Well of course. How predictable. You must have a lovely time just looking at each other admiringly. Good for you. Barf.". You don't see the good-looking woman, plain-looking man combo here so much generally. You see plain people with plain people...I suppose there's so many that no one feels the need to "settle".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,649 ✭✭✭Catari Jaguar


    Great topic Liah.

    Yea, the girls fall for the guys for so many reasons e.g. kind, sweet, attentive, fun, heart of gold... but the men only sought out the girl because she's pretty - sure she doesn't need any good personality traits, she's got a cheerleading outfit.

    But in general there are way more nerdy, funny, unconventional looking leading men in Hollywood at the moment (think Judd Apatow movies or anyone from the US Office). They're in.

    Who's offbeat for a female character - Ellen Page? Emma Stone? Quirky yes, but still extremely pretty. Tina Fey is the only "funny" dude female equivalent I can think of and as Liz Lemon in 30 Rock her love life is a disaster.

    Maybe the cast from the new Bridesmaids film would fall into that category (Judd Apatow again) Let's see them get with a hottie in that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,649 ✭✭✭Catari Jaguar


    Earthhorse wrote: »
    Probably everybody rates themselves a little higher than everyone else does.

    Maybe like 1 in every 100 women... Growing up, I knew one girl that was confident in her appearance. Even entered herself into a model competition and used her looks to get stuff. She's on TV now so she doesn't really count :p. That said, she only would go out with "trophy" men and complain if she was treated badly.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,305 ✭✭✭Chuchoter


    Every movie Michael Cera has every been in nearly does this. Like Scott Pilgrim, he's a selfish, irritating, unattractive twat and just demands the girls attention and she's all like ok I guess so. She has an incredibly small part in the actual relationship.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,150 ✭✭✭✭Malari


    Hmm, only one that comes to mind is Strictly Ballroom. She improves a bit by the end of the movie, but she's still not that attractive.

    Doesn't it just show that average, geeky girls who don't put a lot of effort into their appearance could get the hot guy if they just got their act together and got a make-over ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,305 ✭✭✭Chuchoter


    And glasses make you instantly hideous. No matter what. :P


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,750 ✭✭✭liah


    Malari wrote: »
    Hmm, only one that comes to mind is Strictly Ballroom. She improves a bit by the end of the movie, but she's still not that attractive.

    Doesn't it just show that average, geeky girls who don't put a lot of effort into their appearance could get the hot guy if they just got their act together and got a make-over ;)

    Breakfast Club is the go-to answer for this topic.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,649 ✭✭✭Catari Jaguar


    I was just thinking that females usually only win/ nominated for Oscars for films where they don't use their looks or get make up to look bad

    Nicole Kidman - The Hours
    Charlize Theron - Monster
    Hilary Swank - Boys Don't Cry
    Halle Berry - Monsters Ball
    Amy Adams - The Fighter

    Obviously without their beauty distracting you, their ability to act shines through...

    Hollywood loves it's "ugly girl (who gets a makeover!!) gets the guy" films, but won't use ugly girls. Even the plain Janes types are desperately pretty girls like in She's All That, Ugly Betty, The Princess Diaries/ Devil Wears Prada, Bridget Jones etc.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,325 ✭✭✭✭Dozen Wicked Words


    Couple of films that might fit the bill.

    First attempt, granted she is thin and "attractive" for most of the film, but Hal loves her in the end, regardless of her outward appearance. (Obviously Jack Black is no super model either)

    Shallow Hal


    Ben Chaplin goes out with Uma Thurman but ends up with Janeane Garafalo

    The Truth about Cats and Dogs


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,219 ✭✭✭PK2008


    "Nobody puts baby in the corner"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    Shrek


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,289 ✭✭✭parker kent


    Would Sex and the City count? SJP or Miranda Richardson are not the typical beautiful women you see on TV. Then Kim Cattrall would be older than the average woman on TV in a similar role to the one she played. Kristin Davis is pretty beautiful, so she doesn't count!

    On a sidenote, I think it is harsh to label either the men or women in those movies/TV shows as ugly. They are just not as ridiculously attractive as most men or women on TV.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,150 ✭✭✭✭Malari


    liah wrote: »
    Breakfast Club is the go-to answer for this topic.

    Can you clarify? I only saw the Breakfast Club once, years ago, in German (Das Fruhstuck Club!) and I can't really remember what happened!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    Malari wrote: »
    Can you clarify? I only saw the Breakfast Club once, years ago, in German (Das Fruhstuck Club!) and I can't really remember what happened!

    spoilering this in case anyone hasnt seen The Breakfast Club (if not why not?)
    Emilio Estevez's character falls for the previously kooky loner girl after Molly Ringwald gives her a makeover, she's still a kooky loner, but now a pretty one


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,540 ✭✭✭Giselle


    My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Nia Vardalos was the plump, plain, overlooked Greek girl who blossomed after falling in love with the rather tasty John Corbett.

    Of course, she looked ten times hotter by the end of the movie.:)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,154 ✭✭✭Dolbert


    Hollywood loves it's "ugly girl (who gets a makeover!!) gets the guy" films, but won't use ugly girls. Even the plain Janes types are desperately pretty girls like in She's All That, Ugly Betty, The Princess Diaries/ Devil Wears Prada, Bridget Jones etc.

    I loved this in 'Not Another Teen Movie'



    The only sitcom that I can think of that had an equally matched husband and wife looks-wise was Roseanne. In this case she was a stand-up comedienne using the show as a vehicle for her comedy, she definitely wouldn't have been cast in a sitcom otherwise!

    Is it partly to do with old advertising sensibilities I wonder? I mean this hot wife/ average husband is always seen in ads too. The idea that an attractive woman will appeal to men because she's hot, and to women because it's aspirational. Whereas an average 'everyman' bloke will appeal to men, as it's non-threatening.</conjecture>

    Nia Vardalos has spoken of how it was nigh on impossible for her to get any work in Hollywood prior to writing and casting herself in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. She was not drop dead gorgeous enough to get mainstream roles, and not quirky enough looking to get character acting roles. Simply put, average women just don't get a look in unless they actively create a series/ movie and put themselves in there.

    Will and Grace summed it up pretty well I think: :)
    KAREN: All right. Bring on the shows.

    JACK: Nope. [JACK CHANGES THE CHANNEL WITH THE REMOTE.]

    KAREN: Nope. [JACK CHANGES THE CHANNEL.]

    JACK: Fat guy, skinny wife. [JACK CHANGES THE CHANNEL.]

    KAREN: Fat guy, skinny wife. [JACK CHANGES THE CHANNEL.]

    JACK: Fat guy, skinny wife. [JACK CHANGES THE CHANNEL.]

    KAREN: Ugly guy, skinny wife? America is not ready for that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 470 ✭✭Mc Kenzie


    I think going by looks isnt always what it seems. a person could be not that great looking but two people could get on very well and sometimes you become attreacted to the person rather than what you see on the outside. i think it really depends on the kind of person.

    its funny when you become attracted to the person an then there appearence becomes attractive too because of who they are not what they are;)

    (ps i dont mean ha ha funny just ironic)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,905 ✭✭✭✭Handsome Bob


    It depends on what one perceives as attractive ain't it? Some people claim that Maggie Gyllenhaal is unattractive*, yet the character that she played in The Dark Knight was involved in a tug of love with two attractive male characters.

    *I disagree with the claim fwiw :)


  • Advertisement
  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,662 Mod ✭✭✭✭Faith


    Countless studies have found that men are mainly attracted to physical appearance, while women take things like status and financial situation into account a lot more, and are willing to compromise on physical attractiveness if the man has a lot to offer in other areas. So it would be quite unusual in every day life to see a guy going out with a woman significantly less attractive than himself, so I imagine that's why it's not a scenario often represented in films.


Advertisement