“I Feel Pretty” (PG-13)
After an impressive supporting turn in the military drama “Thank You for Your Service,” Amy Schumer has returned to comedy territory with “I Feel Pretty,” a mildly entertaining, light fantasy that’s far from the sort of raunchy humor that Schumer has come to be known for with her stand-up act and in films like “Trainwreck.” And while it’s great that Schumer is not relying on the same brand of ribald humor that helped her make her name, “I Feel Pretty” ultimately feels like the comedian is trying to find her way to a new, much milder type of comedy. Unfortunately, you get the feeling that it’s a type of comedy Schumer’s not entirely comfortable with it.
Schumer stars as Renee Bennett, a sheltered employee of an elite cosmetics comedy who lacks complete confidence in her looks. Yearning for the same sort of supermodel appearance that represents the face of the company she works for, Renee in a painful way gets her wish with a nasty crack on the head during power workout. When she awakens, she sees herself as the most beautiful woman in the world, although people’s perceptions — particularly snooty supermodels — of Renee haven’t changed; leaving the one-time wallflower the opportunity (albeit in a blissfully unaware way) to prove that true beauty lies in one’s confidence of themselves, and nothing more.
Especially to fans of the Farrelly brothers, “I Feel Pretty” will feel like the mirror opposite of “Shallow Hal,” the 2001 hit comedy where a shallow, single man (Jack Black) is hypnotized into seeing people’s “inner beauty,” thus completely changing the perceptions of other people around him. In comparison to that film alone, “I Feel Pretty” hardly feels original, although the message of the film — where beauty lies in confidence, is well-intended and should be taken to heart.
The problem is, the predictable nature and restraint Schumer imposes upon herself in “I Feel Pretty” does more harm than good. It’s a double-edged sword. One, while it’s great Schumer isn’t leaning on her brand of gross-out humor, you almost feel like “I Feel Pretty” could have benefited by just a little bit of it.
Thankfully, impressive supporting turns from the likes of Michelle Williams as the cosmetics company CEO, Rory Scovel as Schumer’s love interest, and Busy Phillips and Aidy Bryant as her best friends all work to elevate the film, but just not to make “I Feel Pretty” anything more than a pedestrian comedy. Ultimately, “I Feel Pretty” is pretty average.
Lammometer: 5.5 (out of 10)
AUDIO: Listen to Tim’s review of the film with Tom Barnard on “The KQ Morning Show.”
Tim Lammers reviews movies weekly for The KQ92 Morning Show,” “KARE 11 News at 11” (NBC), WCCO Radio, WJON-AM, KLZZ-FM, “The Tom Barnard Podcast” and “The BS Show” with Bob Sansevere.
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