iTunes Exclusive Episode I Feel Pretty
Rob, Don, Alex, and General review the Amy Schumer film I Feel Pretty, directed by first-time directors Abbie Cohn and Mark Silverstein. The story follows Renee Bennett, a woman with self-esteem issues who, after a cycling accident, sees herself as conventionally attractive and gains confidence to pursue new opportunities. The hosts found the film's message about self-acceptance resonant but criticized its length, unnecessary subplots, and repetitive comedy that didn't always land.
About this episode
Key takeaways
- The film's core message about self-worth and surrounding yourself with supportive people works well for its PG-13 target audience of teenage girls and young adults
- The script runs about 20 minutes too long with at least one completely unnecessary subplot involving Michelle Williams's brother
- Michelle Williams delivers strong acting and is underrated as an actress; more screen time with her character and with Lauren Hutton would have improved the film
- Some jokes, particularly Amy Schumer-specific comedy and raunchy material, felt out of place and were repeated multiple times throughout the film
- Amy Schumer has expanded her range as an actress in other projects like Thank You for Your Service
Q&A
What is the premise of I Feel Pretty?
Amy Schumer plays Renee Bennett, a woman with self-esteem issues who works in the basement office of a cosmetics company. After a cycling accident, she sees herself as conventionally attractive and gains the confidence to pursue new opportunities, including a job as receptionist at the main office.
What did the hosts think of the film's message?
They appreciated the message about being happy with who you are and surrounding yourself with supportive people, especially for the PG-13 target audience of teenage girls and young adults.
What were the main criticisms?
The film is too long, contains unnecessary subplots like Michelle Williams's brother, repeats the same jokes multiple times, and includes raunchy Amy Schumer-specific comedy that doesn't fit the overall message.
Read Transcript
or Greetings, Empire member and our members. If you're hearing the sound of my voice it means the following conditions have been met at least once in your life You checked out the clubhouse podcast live every Sunday night seven Eastern for Pacific your one-stop shop for all things pop culture Means you also like to check us out in your favorite podcast app because it is time for another iTunes exclusive. It's an iTunes exclusive.
It's an iTunes exclusive. iTunes exclusive. It's It's pretty obscure.
You'll figure it out eventually Welcome. My name is Rob. I am the executive producer of the clubhouse podcast.
This is iTunes exclusive number 371 and I can't think of what we're going to talk about today and I think of West Side Story You'll figure that Hanging out in the co-host share for this particular episode is the newest member of the crew and a man Who's highly fashionable whether he wants to admit it or not. He is Alex. Welcome sir.
Well, it's hard work being this pretty Get you through the night. Also joining us is the official fact checker of this show and a man Who has fashion sense it may be his own, but he has fashion sense You may know him as fond on go, but his mom and I'm down for it. I'm gonna call him down for it Welcome, sir.
At least I don't wear the wife beat or t-shirts and the oily jeans and the flip flops By the way in eighth grade we did West Side Story in the orchestra and I had the viola ripping on that one I Blame myself. I I blame you as well. I blame myself Rounding out the day.
This is the lady of a house and someone who's fashion sense is more than all three of the rest of us combined She is general welcome friend. Hello. I do what I can.
I Let's see the numbers of people that are punched out by now. I Just want to know how much time we lose the done stories I make it interesting. I think we may have a new drinking game We would all die of alcohol poison every time I say something weird.
You have to take a drink whatever we have God I was going with the word a name, but Whatever we do what it is to review something and this is no different We got one wheel left. Let's do this. We've never had any wheels Just I can't I just can't today It is a brand new film from a couple of first-time directors Abbie Cone and Mark Silverstein direct I feel pretty for this whole thing Yes, we got to think Bianca and her best friends Alive integrated marketing.
Thanks for the invite guys. I like so much They let us see movies in advance so that we can talk to you guys about them And you can hear our opinions and then you can make the best decisions possible for your entertainment dollars So here's what you need to know The Amy Schumer She's back is the star of this playing Renee Bennett. She lives in New York City.
No, we are standing and She works into what they call a remote office of a cosmetics company Which means she works in the basement of a Chinese restaurant With with the guy that runs the website location location and she's she's got some issues She's some self-esteem issues. She hangs out with her two best friends We have busy fellows plays Jane and then 80 Bryant from SNL plays Vivian and So she goes to Soul Cycle and yes, it is Soul Cycle. They put their name on it One day and her her cycle collapses on her and she cracks her head and when she wakes up She sees herself as just super Smoking hot Nothing's changed, but the way she sees herself Which gives her confidence in things like that and so she decides that she's going to go outside of her comfort zone And ends up as the receptionist for the cosmetics companies that she works for and Her boss Avery LaClaire is played by the Michelle Williams the fantastic Michelle correct You also have Tom Hopper in this love him Lauren Hutton is in this Naomi Campbell is in this Emily right at right at Kowski.
I believe it's how you say that. How you doing? She is in this as well Runs about an hour fifty I don't know what to say about this film.
I Can't say I didn't oh no, I've read your review currently located WWW dot the clubhouse podcast dot com. That's our website. So I know what's coming, but I can't say I didn't like this film.
I can't say that I Can I can't say it either so to against one. I didn't see it. So I can't say it either No more words of Ross for oh can't finish can't finish.
Go ahead I can't say that I was Completely jazzed walking out of the theater, but I can't say I didn't like this film. It's just kind of there I Feel like the the script kind of kareens out of its own control at a certain point It's definitely 20 minutes too long There is at least one subplot that was completely unnecessary But I think it's got a really good message And that it's target audience because this is PG 13. So your target audience is going to be teenage girls And young 20s and I think that the message that this this film gets about being happy with who you are and surrounding yourself with people that support you that message is there And I love that message, but there's just certain ways that we got to it That was weird for me and I was gonna say being a female who's lived some of these things.
I mean there's a scene where she's in a store and a clerk Does something with her? I've lived that moment and it's horrifying now I took a different approach wouldn't happen and got her manager called on her, but It's gonna say what are the authorities brought him close to it Because the clerk was wrong with what she said about me, but it I've lived it. So it hit a nerve I mean, I hit one of my goals.
We're almost at the one year since I've made changes and I've almost hit one or I did hit one of my goals. We spoke about that on this week's weekly show Yes, yes, so I've been pretty excited about the changes. I'm seeing But to have to relive some of these memories and it's like, you know people do Treat you differently, but it's also how you carry yourself It's not just the look.
It's the how you act that feeds into that and the writers are also the directors too Yes, so this is their directorial debut, but they also they also wrote never been kissed So this is just a film I enjoyed me. This is a genre. They're good at um, you know, I like that it was Amy Schumer But there were some Amy Schumer moments in there that didn't really add to the film But because it's Amy Schumer.
They put it in there. Of course like the first class she goes to that's a very Amy Schumer thing Of the very very beginning. Yes, and we have a similar as a model who used to be on snl.
She's in this as well Yes, but that scene didn't need to be in the movie. It didn't help the movie any It didn't help move the story along to me, but it was an Amy Schumer thing. So she's a mod I apologize as we did that wrong So I got a lot out of the movie and you know, maybe my gender and my Bringing back into a different view on it than the probably Don or I would have had on this film I agreed to there are certain scenes in this that are are in there because it's Amy Schumer.
Yeah, yeah and very few other actresses Could go to some of the places she went to oh, yeah bikini contest She was amazing and you know what I'm looking for to the day that I'm that confident to do that. I did that yesterday And you didn't film it and share it was it was in them. I was in the moment.
Okay, I get it. I get it I have a minimum for prize money But and then of course the one who plays Ethan that would be Roy Scoville. I really liked his character I really liked the way he did the character I like the way he played the character and I want to find that person to be in my life He thought he was also in the house with Polar.
Yes, they'll little Pharaoh and The blonde I can't think of a name now Amy bull. Thank you. I didn't hear it.
But no, I thought their chemistry was really good in this It just I don't know at certain point. I feel like it just kind of lost in itself And that and that kind of took me out of it a little bit. I again, I love the message to this film And I think it's a great message for people to be a part of but it just It felt short for me Don't let's get to Don Don's waiting patiently He is tapping his fingers Are we ready?
Yes, okay I agree on a lot of what you said The point like we're talking about with the brother. I understand why they did it But they didn't have to now that that's what I'm referring to when I say there's a there's a couple of subplots like yeah Michelle Williams's brother who was played by the aforementioned Tom Hopper or or I saw it's a column the fake Tom Brady How dare you sir that dude looks like Tom Brady seriously he does Some of the fact that his forms are the size of my leg. I'm just saying You could have taken that subplot out of it and it the movie doesn't change I I understand and I'm not saying that they didn't need to put it in or didn't need to but I understand the point and why they put it right and I'm not saying I agree with that Um Don't get me wrong.
I really like the movie snatched. I really liked I was out last year with with Injure and Goldie on very enjoyable film and the great Christopher Maloney. So don't you know, I mean, I really like Shuma And I like some of her work But this is kind of like the ab fab film for me That we saw a couple years ago.
Mm-hmm. I didn't see the funniness in it some people loved it Because it's a genre and I like different kind of commas and I could go to women's film like the other woman and love it You and I both love that movie very much. It's not for my genre, but still I keep going with the open mind on this You're not the target audience.
Yeah, yeah, I get it and I have no problem going in trying to know this is not my target audience But see the movie for what it is On this film here, there's a lot of comedy that did not work and they tried to press the comedy One of the big sins that they did was do a joke about four or five times and that's when she realizes who she is and she does something You know She hides is what I'm gonna say. Oh, okay, and she does in the third act in about three or four times So it's the same joke over and over and over This movie is a reverse shallow how meets devil's where there's product put together in one film Because you see her how she grows as a person and when she thinks she's now attractive she even changes a little bit So I do like the message that they tried to say I like the message that they gave in shallow how But the comedy on this was not funny. It did not work right the film is too long There were times where I sit next to our great friend of the show Marcus Blake And we're both looking at each other going oh god.
They did that. They're doing this and we're just both put her heads down going I don't know that I felt that way. I just did I the comedy just did not work for me and they tried to press jokes Okay, all right, and I'll say one thing on the shallow how that's how he saw This is about how she sees herself But that's why he's saying it's a blend of the I know but I just I want to make the point of it's how she sees herself It doesn't have anything to do without she says to anyone else her opinion of everyone else has not changed It's just how she sees herself and some of the jokes were raunchy that did not need to be in a film Which did not fill well that would be the Amy Schumer stuff right that that'd be part of the Amy Schumer stuff But it's also a matter of it's a female doing raunchy versus a male doing raunchy Well, it's not to think because there was raunchy stuff in this natch which I really like but some of this comedy Did not fit the movie or the message that's fair Yeah, and it is what this film did one of the things this film did do for me is Reinforce to me that Michelle Williams might be one of the most underrated actresses of this generation.
Oh my gosh She was amazing. She is great great acting she is amazing in this And I would have liked to have seen more with her character I think I would have liked them also seen more with her interactions with Lauren Hutton too That would have been wonderful Lauren Hutton is just like Living breathing wedged. Let's just say it for what it is and she was perfect I mean, I don't I can't think of anyone we know of that she plays the part better Williams characters grandmother Who's the actual owner?
Well, she is Lily. She is the little Claire Again, I can't say I hated this film, but I can't say I love this film. I mean that weird in the in between area It's kind of a middle for me Alex and he thoughts I actually because I'm the one that didn't see it.
I have seen the trailer and Full disclosure I'm not a huge Amy Schumer fan, but I wish her well There is something and I love the idea of it's how you view yourself. It's the confidence. I like that idea However, I feel like they might have botched that and some of the trailers where they make her look more obnoxious From what she sees does that level of that there is a level of that okay And did they try to play that as it's a it's own funny part or is it just kind of one of those where she wears on you It didn't wear on me.
I mean it didn't do well for Don but it didn't wear on me and I think they did the extreme Carcature version of it So it would carry in the movie because if they downplayed it you wouldn't totally catch how much of a change there was So I think they just pushed the limit probably past where it needed to be But to make the point so you caught on to that's what was going on and I want to make sure people understand too There's gonna be a lot of people that are gonna see this and they're gonna They're going to do. Oh, this is like, you know, can she do anything else? She absolutely came.
Oh, yeah, she did a film last year called thank you for your service that she has a very small role in But it's very pivotal and she absolutely crushed it So this is just one this is probably one of those projects like you know what I can have some fun with this Let's do this but she is expanding herself as an actress as well So don't let this keep you away from other films like that Right now it's 33% on Rotten Tomatoes. We still got time But there is also a lot that Amy Schumer has done for charities So we're like anti-bullying in this same vein So this really does fit her Emma when she wants to do She really she did want to work on this project and they found a way to make it work in her schedule They had to kind of Squeeze some things together to make it happen because she was getting ready to go on Broadway So she had to finish tv series and then put this in and they were able to just get all the piece They were saying that the puzzle piece is just fell into place. This was in the right of materials Just fell into place to make it happen and it was just one of those Kudos things.
You guys know that I'm also a good fan of 80 Brian Oh, yeah, I don't know why to see 80 Brian I like both of those actresses. I like her as an actress but this one Anything else like this is filing analysis. I want an apology for your opinion of Tom Hopper Looks like Tom Brady.
You want to know you you want to see great work from him go see black sales I'm not saying he's bad. I'm just saying he's to fake Tom Brady All right, let's get to the final analysis. Maybe the final analysis on this show we're not going to give you thumbs up thumbs down We're not going to give you numbers letter grades magazines anything like that.
Here's what we're going to do We're going to ask up to two questions question number one is would you see this again if the answers know then we're done here But if the answer is yes, the question becomes how far are you willing to go to see it from the best of the best of the worst of the best Here's the spectrum full price at the theater down to a twilight showing down to a matinee showing down to an early morning On a weekend down to second run at the dollar theater down to actually leaving your house to get it from red box down the streaming it on Netflix Down to watching it on cable general. Would you see I feel pretty again. Yes.
How far you want to go matinee there enough Don't Have it snow. Okay, no So don has said no so we'll move on I can't say I wouldn't see this again, but I don't know that I would go farther than red box Kind of I'm I'm flirting with red box Netflix in there. It's again.
I didn't hate it. I just didn't love it but First time directors and co-writers Abby Cohn and Mark Silverstein. It's called I feel pretty bro.
This whole thing again. Yes, sir We got to think our best friends The whole crew thank you guys so much for letting us come see this and we love the fact that they they love us And out that we get to give our honest opinions on things go that we can help you guys decide What best to do with your entertainment dollar that be and said let's do the plugs Visit our website you can find our or written reviews there. It's www.theclubhousepodcast.com find out everything You need to know and some stuff you don't You can follow us on social media if you'd like Twitter is at clubhouse show everything else is the clubhouse podcast all three words in that order Or you will wind up somewhere different you can follow me on social media if you'd like everything is yes That Rob Irvin and it's gonna be our VIN my normal co-host for this show is Chad Womack you can follow him at chatton pg6 9 I am bexplit on all social media.
A general home on Instagram and my twitter at fawn dongle two easy Begging threeos in email me at dawn at the clubhouse podcast dot com email dawn for information how we can come to a live show for you We love hanging out with with the empire and doing live shows live remote shows You can email me questions comments concern or something to go pound sand I am rob at the clubhouse podcast.com. Chad is Chad at the clubhousepodcast.com Charlotte Parker's on Pinterest goes to remorally obligated to say that Jules hanging out with Chad faith waiting on dawn our normal show every Sunday night seven eastern four pacific Is your one-stop shop for all things pop culture or just keeps describing on your favorite podcast that you get all the cool stuff like this So for general for dawn for Alex and the empire. I'm rob clubhouse is closed.
It's modeling Britney Palmer like seriously do I have to think of everything for you people