Transformation Movies

• Films centering around the transformation of a main character.

• At the beginning of these films, the main character is portrayed as oppressed, unattractive, or unhappy. Slowly, through the recognition of others and themselves, these characters blossom and transform into attractive, glowing, talented extroverts.

Characteristics of Transformation Movies

• Exaggerated nerdiness, awkwardness, and unattractiveness in the beginning followed by exaggerated popularity, grace, and beauty at the end

• Typically involve some sort of grand ceremony where they emerge in front of old friends and foes as a new and better self.

• Perpetuate notions that once physical perfection is attained, mental health, self-esteem, and inner peace will automatically follow. Idea of finding one’s “true identity”

• Old and new identities of protagonists rely on a rigid and stereotypical social structure where there are strict “categories” of people including nerds, jocks, beauty queens, smart people, …The emergence of a new identity usually relies on this social structure in order to define itself.

• Sometimes the main character attains influential power at the end and “opens people’s eyes” to the way they treat others.

Subcategories of Transformation Films

• Teen Films • Adult Films

Teen Transformation Movies

• Pretty in Pink• Never Been Kissed• Princess Diaries• She’s All That• Dirty Dancing• Can’t Buy Me Love

Characteristics of Teen Transformation Movies

• School is usually the primary setting

• An “unlikely” romance between a nerd and popular character is common

• The protagonist is often “discovered” and helped by someone in the popular, talented, and beautiful crowd

• Parents, siblings, families are usually not as emphasized or important as peer groups

Adult Transformation Movies

• Muriel’s Wedding• Romy and Michelle’s

High School Reunion• Working Girl• Bridget Jones’ Diary• My Big Fat Greek

Wedding

Characteristics of Adult Transformation Films

• Center around an event: wedding, reunion, performance or presentation

• Typically woman-centered

• Involves a physical transformation followed by an awareness and acceptance of “true self”

• Notions of happily ever after