Makeover Movie

Identifying, analyzing and critiquing a particular film or tv trope is a popular approach among video essay makers. Not surprisingly, because there are loads of tired or harmful tropes around. Makeover Movie by Sue Ding is a worthy addition to this subgenre and she brings some fresh ideas to the table.

 

The makeover montage is a staple of many teenage or romantic comedies. A female character is first depicted as not traditionally attractive, then undergoes a dramatic transformation of her physical appearance, of her fashion style, and as a result also of her self-confidence. These “Cinderella moments” are meant to be rousing and inspirational but they are not as innocent as they seem. They play into traditional beauty norms, reinforce stereotypes of how women should behave, cater to male desires and so on. Sue Ding compiles a long list of objections to the makeover montage and substantiates each of them with an impressive array of film excerpts. Her deft editing skills are especially evident in the supercut sequences of this video essay: the match-on-action cutting between various movies demonstrates just how visually similar many of these scenes are. However, Ding does not offer up a close examination of the visual language that the makeover scenes use: she is more interested in the ethics of representation than the specific forms it takes.

 

Sue Ding’s narration is generously personal, but hers is not the only voice in this video. She enlisted six childhood friends to give a running commentary on her video essay (and occasionally inspire additional sequences for it). These spontaneous remarks and asides turn the sextet of friends into a Greek chorus of sorts, voicing the thoughts and emotions of the general audience. It’s a great idea, not in the least because it gives the whole piece a less formal feel. (Similar videographic examinations of tropes, such as those by the great Pop Culture Detective, can come across as more bookish and finger-wagging because of their more conventional argumentation). Another advantage of this plurality of voices is that it allows Sue Ding to criticize these makeover scenes while still recognizing their allure. Paraphrasing Ding’s conclusion: it’s okay for women to love these makeover movies so long as they realize they don’t love you back.