I haven't seen the movie yet but, since it clearly fails the Bechdel Test, I was curious to see how the BO was going and critics reviews.
As per BO Mojo -- it's been out 22 days and has a worldwide gross of $133,414,000 ($40-mil budget). Also interesting, the worldwide figure is virtually 50% split between US and foreign audiences. Then I went to RT and see critics clearly dislike it.
I also found this Daily News Review review which poo-poos this film, plus 'Walk of Shame' and 'Blended,' yet praises the "strong women" in Hunger Games and Divergent.
Quote:
Being the contrarian I am I can't help but notice the reviewer equates "strong" female protags with those who have physical prowess and "special" abilities. (Disclaimer: I like the protags of Hunger Games and Divergent but I also think average women living average lives can be "strong" when facing a challenge.)
So what are the characteristics of a strong woman character? Kickboxing skills? Ease with weaponry? Supernatural talents?
While the premise of The Other Woman totally fails the Bechdel Test, and this is a comedy not action, these women are being proactive and trying to right a wrong committed against them. Why isn't this considered "strong." It's also clear from trailers the two leads -- wife and mistress -- become friends instead of foes, join forces instead of seeing each other as the enemy. Why isn't this trait considered "strong?"
I'm starting to wonder if the Bechdel Test brouhaha is doing more harm to creating female roles than good.
As per BO Mojo -- it's been out 22 days and has a worldwide gross of $133,414,000 ($40-mil budget). Also interesting, the worldwide figure is virtually 50% split between US and foreign audiences. Then I went to RT and see critics clearly dislike it.
I also found this Daily News Review review which poo-poos this film, plus 'Walk of Shame' and 'Blended,' yet praises the "strong women" in Hunger Games and Divergent.
Quote:
The Other Woman' may have done well at the box office, but it was no success...
Interestingly, the best roles for women these days are not in comedies but in action films like “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” — both of which are based on books written by women, for a broad range of audiences.
And thanks in part to these franchises, a new generation of actresses can already feel more empowered than their predecessors. It’s frankly impossible to imagine Jennifer Lawrence or Shailene Woodley ever agreeing to a script as empty and shrill as “The Other Woman.”
Interestingly, the best roles for women these days are not in comedies but in action films like “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” — both of which are based on books written by women, for a broad range of audiences.
And thanks in part to these franchises, a new generation of actresses can already feel more empowered than their predecessors. It’s frankly impossible to imagine Jennifer Lawrence or Shailene Woodley ever agreeing to a script as empty and shrill as “The Other Woman.”
Being the contrarian I am I can't help but notice the reviewer equates "strong" female protags with those who have physical prowess and "special" abilities. (Disclaimer: I like the protags of Hunger Games and Divergent but I also think average women living average lives can be "strong" when facing a challenge.)
So what are the characteristics of a strong woman character? Kickboxing skills? Ease with weaponry? Supernatural talents?
While the premise of The Other Woman totally fails the Bechdel Test, and this is a comedy not action, these women are being proactive and trying to right a wrong committed against them. Why isn't this considered "strong." It's also clear from trailers the two leads -- wife and mistress -- become friends instead of foes, join forces instead of seeing each other as the enemy. Why isn't this trait considered "strong?"
I'm starting to wonder if the Bechdel Test brouhaha is doing more harm to creating female roles than good.
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