Review: I Feel Pretty
Amy Schumer returns for the PG-13 crowd.
Following the success of R-rated comedies Trainwreck and Snatched, Amy Schumer returns in I Feel Pretty. Directed by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, the teen-friendly comedy follows the journey of Renee Bennett (Schumer), who undergoes a complete internal makeover after hitting her head in a SoulCycle accident. To the outsider, nothing has changed. But when Renee awakens, she sees a new person in the mirror. Renee’s crippling self-deprecation has been replaced with a newfound confidence as Renee now sees herself as a beautiful woman. With new romantic and career aspirations, Renee tackles New York City through new eyes.
Schumer gives it her all here, but the film does suffer from the fact that it doesn’t embrace the raunchiness of Schumer’s stand-up comedy and previous films. Nevertheless, I Feel Pretty is a sweet, yet forgettable film that is by no means a tough sit. Making the whole thing extremely consumable is Michelle Williams as Avery LeClaire. As the CEO of her grandmother’s cosmetics company, Williams reminds viewers that even though she almost exclusively takes on dramatic work, the actress really does have great comedic timing. Scenes between Schumer, Williams, and Lauren Hutton as Avery’s grandmother Lily are among the film’s strongest and really should have been more prominent.
I Feel Pretty is a cute little film with a nice message. The middle section is a bit of a drag, and the whole thing ends all too predictably, but it is nevertheless a fun ride. This isn’t going to be a huge hit for Schumer, but it is still a worthy entry into her new career as a screen actress.