Amy Schumer is no trainwreck

I FEEL PRETTY (2018)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

The Social Justice Warriors attacked the trailer to Amy Schumer's empowering romantic comedy "I Feel Pretty" prior to its theatrical release, criticizing the movie’s alleged message that if you are not a pencil-thin female model then you cannot possibly be confident. Well, seeing the movie now, the assumption is that Schumer's character is not confident of her looks until she hits her head while using an exercise bike and then, like magic (inspired by the Tom Hanks movie "Big"), she is more confident than ever that she is beautiful. Not because she thinks she is thin but because she thinks that she is a knockout, a sexy, upbeat woman that everyone is dying to know. That is the movie's joke on itself, she loves herself and thinks she is amazing. Without the resolute spunk and attitude of Amy Schumer, this movie might have been a disaster.

At first, uptight Renee (Amy Schumer) feels she has zero beauty and could never find a man. When she goes out to the bar with her devoted friends, Renee has trouble ordering a drink. At work in a Chinatown office where she helps manage a website for Lily LeClaire, she wants to communicate with her male worker but it is all work and no play. However, after she hits her head, she examines her belly at the gym, looks at herself in the mirror and says, "Wow! Look at me!" Renee's life turn around completely as she fulfills a dream job - working as a receptionist for fashion designer and CEO Lily LeClaire (played in an all-too-brief performance by Lauren Hutton). Lily's granddaughter is played by Michelle Williams who befriends Renee and asks for tips on their product line. So Renee wants to be a receptionist who just gives makeup tips? Oh, no, is this what supreme confidence does for Renee?

Of course, let's not forget what genre we are talking about here. There has to be a meet-cute of some kind, and that is demure Ethan (Rory Scovel, a brilliant stand-up comedian) whom she picks up at the dry cleaners. Ethan is stricken with love at Renee's confidence and self-esteem, especially when she decides to dance at a bikini contest. Scovel shows such uncommon sensitivity that I was floored by his performance.

"I Feel Pretty" is not the standout comedy that "Trainwreck" was (Amy Schumer's best film by far). The writers have changed since one of them is Abby Kohn (who also co-directed the film), and her past credits include "Never Been Kissed" and "Valentine's Day," not the greatest bedfellows. Why Amy did not write this film is beyond me but so it goes. In terms of its story, I would have preferred if it followed a different path than the whole cosmetic line subplot at a Fifth Avenue fashion company. I am not sure what plot I would have preferred but perhaps Renee could have discovered the real Renee some other way. Her friends (Busy Philipps, Aidy Bryant) are given short-shrift and I would have liked them to have had more screen time - the fact that they love Renee no matter what she looks like is a relationship aspect that deserved more depth. Still, it is fun seeing Amy and Rory together - their relationship has real spice and charisma. In fact, Amy Schumer seems to really sparkle in any shared scene with Rory.

Uh, oh, yes it has happened again. I really enjoyed the heck out of "I Feel Pretty," a movie that was universally dismissed by critics (this ever growing list of heavily underrated movies may depict me as a contrarian but far from it). There is nothing in the film you can't anticipate and the cliches come flying in overtime to be sure. Despite some shortcomings with Michelle Williams' one-note characterization (an actress I usually love), the movie is often diverting enough and has sufficient engaging dialogue to warrant more than a mild recommendation. And when Renee realizes her self-worth, well, eyes will get misty. It is that kind of cute rom-com movie that Amy Schumer can knock out of the park. It's just not a home run.