What I find interesting about this NY Times profile on screenwriters Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith (Legally Blonde and now The House Bunny) is the body of their work. They think about women in films in a way that not many of their colleagues do.
Take Legally Blonde, for example. The protagonist is a rich, beautiful blonde girl who is the leader of her sorority. Not your typical leading woman, where Hollywood runs towards embracing the leading female clichés like the misfit freak (but not too freaky looking), the hard-as-nails reporter, or the sassy black woman. I also find it interesting that question that drives The House Bunny is “What do you do with a beautiful woman when her looks can’t get her anywhere anymore?” If this were a drama or an indie film, she’d downspiral into doing porn in the Valley. If it were a porn film, she’d be trying to reinvent herself as a fetishist. The House Bunny does neither (because it’s a comedy — and sadly, the reviews aren’t all that good) but you do have to give them credit for at least having asked the question. At the same time, it doesn’t look like any of Lutz and Smith’s scripts will ever pass the Bechdel Test, and that’s profoundly sad to me as a female writer.
Gordon McAlpin says:
I’m fairly sure there are a couple of scenes in House Bunny two or more when are talking about something other than men.
Maybe they’re just talking about their sorority, or the bitchy sorority down the street… but it squeaks through the test.
john says:
Well put. I have just come across your blog recently , and I want to say that I am already a huge fan. Ive read most of your past post. Thank you for being so informative to the new guys!