What makes a chick flick?

[Pirate]

This is a spin-off from our “Memoirs of a Geisha” thread. Some say they consider that film a chick flick. I disagree. So here is a thread where we can duke it out.

First off, let me say that I am no fan of the term chick flick. I feel it’s overused and is applied too often to the wrong films. I always considered a chick flick to be lacking in substance and to be purely cosmetic. Films like “13 going on 30,” “Mean Girls” and most recently, “Aquamarine.” It’s not to say that these are always bad films, but they only serve to entertain on a certain level. Now Wikipedia’s definition of a chick flick is:

The term chick flick is slang, often derisive, for a movie which is designed or considered to appeal mainly to women, and generally focusing more on romance or relationships. Many romantic comedies or films with many female characters are likely to be put in this category. Critics of the term have pointed out that movies aimed specifically at men are not labeled so derisively.

That just upholds my opinion that it’s wrong to label something like “Geisha” as a chick flick. Even though “Giesha” was not as good as it could’ve been, I would never compare it to “My Best Friends Wedding.”

What are you thoughts on this? Do you feel that just because a film has a female lead and deals with female situations that its’s automatically a chick flick? Do you catoragize films that deal with men’s subjects like that. Does “The Godfather” become a “dude flick?”

-PH

[umainebearman]

If you are comparing Geisha to My Best Friends wedding (A huge chick flick) then you are going to loose your arguement quickly. But you are right all chick flicks aren't bad movies however the three you mentioned above I think border on the CF line (Pretty Woman does too). They are more comdey even though there was little funny aboiut them except for how bad they where. Good chick flicks that come to mind are City of Angels, An Officer and a Gentleman, and Legends of the Fall.

I think you can judge how big of a chick flick a chick flick will be by how a woman reacts to the trailer or preview. If she sees it and turns to you and squels or goes "awwww that soo sweet (cute, nice or otherwise)" thats a 5 star chick flick. Anything that your woman suggests first as a movie pick. Say your sweetie wants to goto the movies there are 3 movies playing A great looking explosive actioner, a comedy with a whacky rubberfaced comedian, and a sweeping drama about an oriental woman coming of age. If she says anything other than the obvious chick flick she's lying to you and loves you very much. Any movie you get "dragged to" by your girl, anything she crys at (or worse you cry at. I know Bruce Willis dying at the end of Armegeddeon got to me too), something that when it's over she ask "see wasn't that good aren't you glad we saw that instead of the Batman movie?". Of course because you love her very much you'll lie and say "yes" and then she'll say "Oh I really wanna see that again.".

Sorry had some flashbacks there. Anyway thats a good indication on what a chick flick is. Your number 1 CF detector is any female. Get her ask her about the movie and rate it accordingly.

[Pirate]

Well, my opinion of a chick flick was always a film that was aimed square at women in a condescending way. And I’m talking about the film itself, not the advertising, because you can make anything look like a chick flick with the right ad campaigns.

-PH

P.S. Would you really put "Legends of the Fall" in the CF category?

[Astrakan]

I've never considered the term "chick flick" to be derogatory. Judging from the couple of replies in this thread and the Wikipedia entry it looks like I'm in a minority.

I guess it's because of the people I know. Both my wife and my sister-in-law use it as a positive.

As far as the defenition, I always thought it meant a movie that appeals to women more than men. As such, to me Memoirs of a Geisha is most definitely a chick flick.

KM

[Pirate]

See I think "chick flick" should have a firm definition. A film that appeals more to women than men is subjective.

-PH

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Astrakan

As far as the defenition, I always thought it meant a movie that appeals to women more than men. As such, to me Memoirs of a Geisha is most definitely a chick flick.

I'm with you on the definition of "chick flick" and I find piratehunter's definition somewhat insulting:

Originally Posted by piratehunter

I always considered a chick flick to be lacking in substance and to be purely cosmetic.

As if women can't have substance in movie's that appeal more to them then to women. If anything, I think this applies more to "guy flicks" since guys tend to prefer action, blowing stuff up, and scantily clad buxom babes. Not much substance there.

I think Astrakan's definition of "chick flick" works but I disagree that Geisha is a "chick flick", based on his definition. I didn't see anything especially appealing to women in the movie. My mom wasn't in tears or anything even though she thought some events were sad. I simply felt Geisha lacked some emotional content, which would have made it a more "moving" film (at least to me).

Are people calling Geisha a "chick flick" simply because it's about a Geisha?

I would supplement Astrakan's definition to include content that evokes emotional response. Guys tend not to be comfortable showing their feelings, so any movie that might make them cry (or feel like crying) would probably be labeled a "chick flick" since women would let the tears flow.

Peace...

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

I'm with you on the definition of "chick flick" and I find piratehunter's definition somewhat insulting:

As if women can't have substance in movie's that appeal more to them then to women. If anything, I think this applies more to "guy flicks" since guys tend to prefer action, blowing stuff up, and scantily clad buxom babes. Not much substance there.

I'm sorry, I must have worded it wrong. What I meant was that films that I feel are chick flicks are films that are aimed at women, but often lack substance. I don't think all women like these kind of films, but I think there are women (just like there are guys who will watch Ultraviolet over and over and cry "genuis") that love these films and don't mind that the film is talking down to them. That to me is a chick flick and ,yes, I think we should have a dude flick category.

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Are people calling Geisha a "chick flick" simply because it's about a Geisha?

No, there are people calling it a chick flick because it's about a female and it has the word "Memoirs" in the title.

Originally Posted by tomdkat

I would supplement Astrakan's definition to include content that evokes emotional response. Guys tend not to be comfortable showing their feelings, so any movie that might make them cry (or feel like crying) would probably be labeled a "chick flick" since women would let the tears flow.

I don't feel you can add films that cause emotional response into the definition, because then you'd have to call films like "Shindler's List" a chick flick.

-PH

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

I'm sorry, I must have worded it wrong. What I meant was that films that I feel are chick flicks are films that are aimed at women, but often lack substance. I don't think all women like these kind of films, but I think there are women (just like there are guys who will watch Ultraviolet over and over and cry "genuis") that love these films and don't mind that the film is talking down to them. That to me is a chick flick and ,yes, I think we should have a dude flick category.

Thanks for the change of description but I still have a problem with the "lack substance" part. I still find that insulting. What does substance have to do with it? Does your comment then imply movies not aimed at women often contain substance?

No, there are people calling it a chick flick because it's about a female and it has the word "Memoirs" in the title.

(Yeah I know... just trying to maintain the dramatic momentum )

I don't feel you can add films that cause emotional response into the definition, because then you'd have to call films like "Shindler's List" a chick flick.

The thing is, just about any movie one would call a "chick flick" is one that's "mushy". "mushy" means emotional, romantic, etc. Schindler's List is different given the subject matter. Besides, my definition isn't absolute and I don't think we've established a "working" definition yet. I think Astrakan is on to something though.

According to Wikipedia, Brokeback Mountain is considered a "chick flick". Do you agree? Most of the titles on their list involve romance (of some sort) which brings in emotion (feelings of love, wishing they could experience love, etc).

Peace...

[Astrakan]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

I think Astrakan's definition of "chick flick" works but I disagree that Geisha is a "chick flick", based on his definition. I didn't see anything especially appealing to women in the movie. My mom wasn't in tears or anything even though she thought some events were sad. I simply felt Geisha lacked some emotional content, which would have made it a more "moving" film (at least to me).

Confession time. I haven't seen the movie so I was only going on the trailer when I determined that it was a chick flick. To me a movie with a relationship-based plot, a female-heavy cast, a girl-power message and bumbling men certainly seems like it would appeal more to women than to men.

Maybe the trailer didn't do the movie justice.

KM

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Thanks for the change of description but I still have a problem with the "lack substance" part. I still find that insulting. What does substance have to do with it? Does your comment then imply movies not aimed at women often contain substance?

No, thus my Ultraviolet comment.

Originally Posted by tomdkat

According to Wikipedia, Brokeback Mountain is considered a "chick flick". Do you agree? Most of the titles on their list involve romance (of some sort) which brings in emotion (feelings of love, wishing they could experience love, etc).

Wikipedia also says the term is derisive. And, no, I don't think Brokeback Mountain is a CF. I think the term itself is insulting, because it labels films a basic set of criteria that have nothing to do with what the film is. You cannot put "Aquamarine" and "Brokeback Mountain" in the same category, IMO.

-PH

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by Astrakan

Confession time. I haven't seen the movie so I was only going on the trailer when I determined that it was a chick flick. To me a movie with a relationship-based plot, a female-heavy cast, a girl-power message and bumbling men certainly seems like it would appeal more to women than to men.

Maybe the trailer didn't do the movie justice.

KM

We just differ on our definition of CF. I feel CF is a negative term and you don't, so there in lies the problem. I just think it's funny that it's my definition getting flack.

-PH

[Astrakan]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

We just differ on our definition of CF. I feel CF is a negative term and you don't, so there in lies the problem. I just think it's funny that it's my definition getting flack.

-PH

I was mostly replying to tomdkat agreeing with my definition and disagreeing with me calling Geisha a chick flick. Wanted to explain my reasoning.

KM

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

And, no, I don't think Brokeback Mountain is a CF. I think the term itself is insulting, because it labels films a basic set of criteria that have nothing to do with what the film is. You cannot put "Aquamarine" and "Brokeback Mountain" in the same category, IMO.

I haven't seen BBM so I can't comment on whether I think it's a CF. My initial reaction to Wikipedia's listing it was "really?" I would not have considered it a CF but I haven't seen it yet so I might change my mind later on.

I don't think the term CF is insulting since I think our views on it are fundamentally different. You associate CF with "lack of substance" and I associate CF with "lots of romantic/emotional substance". Given that difference, it makes sense that you would consider the term to be insulting where I do not.

Now, I certainly do agree not all movies categorized a certain way are necessarily equal and I can't address your BBM vs Aquamarine comment since I haven't seen Aquamarine either.

Would you consider Terms of Endearment to be a CF, and therefore lacking substance (using your view)?

Peace...

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Would you consider Terms of Endearment to be a CF, and therefore lacking substance (using your view)?

No, I consider very few films to be CF.

-PH

[Pirate]

Just to carlify, let me name off a few films that I do consider to be CFs:

Aquamarine
The Wedding Planner
Monster-In-Law
You’ve Got Mail
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Uptown Girls
Little Black Book
Never Been Kissed
She’s All That

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

-PH

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

No, I consider very few films to be CF.

That's where you and I differ. I definitely would consider Terms of Endearment to be a CF but that doesn't mean it can't be fully enjoyed by men.

How many here do not consider Terms of Endearment to be a CF?

EDIT: Also, piratehunter what do you mean by this:

Originally Posted by piratehunter

but they only serve to entertain on a certain level

That was from your first post above.

Peace...

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

EDIT: Also, piratehunter what do you mean by this: That was from your first post above.

Peace...

Well, if you look at my list above, I feel that those kind of films entertain on a very basic level. Its 90 minutes or so of mostly mindless content. You watch them when you're sick or have had a bad day and do not want to be engaged except on the most basic of levels.

For instance, one of the most chick flickiest things I’ve ever seen filmed was in “The Wedding Planner” when J-Lo almost lets herself get killed by a speeding dumpster just to save her shoe. That to me is “alligator brain” entertainment.

-PH

[limacharliewhiskey]

My definition of a chick flick is usually a film that usually heavily emphasizes romance, usually when the lead of the film is female. Most 1990's Meg Ryan movies qualify as this. It's not as definitive of a chick flick when it's a romance with a male lead, as sometimes these tend to be more comedic, like There's Something About Mary.

Some films are easy to define as chick flicks, but others are a bit more ambiguous.

Haven't yet seen Memoirs of a Geisha, so I can't definitely say, but when a movie is historical in context, it's usually not a chick flick. There are some exceptions, like the Jane Austen novels that have been turned into films, like Pride & Prejudice. It does fit my definition of a romance with the lead role being female.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by limacharliewhiskey

but when a movie is historical in context, it's usually not a chick flick.

Good point.

Peace...

[Pirate]

http://imdb.com/title/tt0128991/

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

http://imdb.com/title/tt0128991/

Well, I guess that ends the discussion.

Peace...

[umainebearman]

Originally Posted by limacharliewhiskey

but when a movie is historical in context, it's usually not a chick flick.

Titanic and A Night to remember, Whats Love got to do with it (sort of), The English Patient, Philidelphia, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind. And they all have substance too.

All I can come up with right now. I gotta prep for the Maine Wisconsin game.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by umainebearman

Titanic and A Night to remember, Whats Love got to do with it (sort of), The English Patient, Philidelphia, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind. And they all have substance too.

You consider all those to be CFs? I would have never thought of Gone with the Wind as a CF. Do others here agree with this?

Peace...

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

You consider all those to be CFs? I would have never thought of Gone with the Wind as a CF. Do others here agree with this?

Peace...

Well, I hate Gone with the Wind, so you can call that whatever you want.

I would not call any of the rest CFs though.

-PH

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Well, I hate Gone with the Wind, so you can call that whatever you want.

You're killing me!

Great thread...

Peace...