As with most feminine creations, chick flicks are often overlooked in discussions surrounding the film community, and I’m here to stop this travesty. Some of these movies are heartfelt, funny and bring far better entertainment value than Oscar-bait award-winners. Granted, not all chick flicks are the best, but some really stand out as having a film quality that must be appreciated.
“10 Things I Hate About You”
When misunderstood bad boy Patrick Verona gets paid to take out rebellious firecracker Kat Stratford, the pair ultimately fall in love. Navigating the politics of high school relationships and where one fits in societally, this movie seamlessly depicts the inner workings of an unconventional teenage romance.
This is every girl’s favorite movie for a reason. It’s perfect. From the acting to the writing, the viewing experience never ceases to amaze me. With a plotline beautifully recrafted to fit the high school narrative, this revival of The Taming of the Shrew is spectacular.
With the most beautiful high school I have ever seen as a backdrop, “10 Things I Hate About You” has been my ultimate comfort movie forever. I relate deeply to Kat’s untamed spirit and find the writing to be well-done and entertaining. And the “Letters to Cleo” cameo at the end feels like a little reward for watching.
“Drop Dead Gorgeous”
Full-scale drama unfolds leading up to a small-town Minnesota beauty pageant. Mysterious deaths, explosions and corruption in the pageant scene all point toward the beauty dynasty, the Leeman family, and Amber Atkins seems to be on the losing side of the midwestern war.
Brutally underrated, “Drop Dead Gorgeous” is by far the funniest movie I have ever seen in my life. No matter how many times I watch it, I laugh out loud at the absolutely insane antics writer Lona Williams was able to come up with in this movie. It impeccably blends the real and the fake in a satire of good ol’ American pageant culture.Â
Anyone, from my dad to my best friends, can watch this movie and quote it constantly, not to mention the star-studded cast featuring names like Kirsten Dunst, Ellen Barkin, Allison Janney, Brittany Murphy, Mindy Sterling and Amy Adams.
“Marie Antoinette”
Newlywed teenage Marie Antoinette learns to navigate the politics behind the royal court of Versailles.
When it comes to making chick flicks, Sofia Coppola’s got it. In this film, Coppola performs the impossible task of humanizing Marie Antoinette, one of the most infamous names in history. Aside from executing an impressive depiction of how a teenager would act if given all the money in the world, Coppola’s directing made this film visually stunning.Â
Somehow managing to make it seem like Converse belongs in the 1700s, Coppola toggles between the past and the present to create a fresh take on Versailles. On top of this, the soundtrack featuring songs by the Cure, the Strokes, and Siouxsie and the Banshees created a fun and rebellious environment in an unexpected way.
“Juno”
When quirky and convincing teen Juno MacGuff becomes pregnant, she decides to continue the pregnancy by carrying a child for people seeking to adopt from the newspaper. All while navigating the troubles of pregnancy, she deals with the complications of doing so in high school and falling in love.
On the edgier side, the film “Juno” explores complicated themes that most teenage girls don’t have to deal with, such as abortion, sexual assault and single-parenting. Still, the film has these lighthearted undertones, beautifully encapsulating very the normal struggles of high school life.
Shockingly, this film was Diablo Cody’s first ever screenplay, and it very deservingly won her an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. She masterfully wrote every character in the film, and Elliot Page and Michael Cera managed stellar performances that translated the quality of Cody’s writing in a way that no one else could have done.
There is a chick flick for everyone, no matter your mood. When you don’t know what to watch, and are interested in having a good time, I suggest picking up your favorite girlypop movie, because us women need to stand together in a world of film bros.