Happy birthday!!

Five months but I'm only writing once or twice a week so technically, I've only been writing this chapter for 3 or 4 weeks, which isn't so bad, I think

But I still think that representation matters and that humour should never be at the expense of others. So. Yeah.

It's possible I'm taking all this too seriously. Maybe it's not that deep. Maybe they only wanted to create opportunities for them to have fun on set. (Probably. I think Jamie Lee Curtis had the time of her life filming this movie)

And the film industry really needs to learn to leave well enough alone and stop writing subpar sequels to beloved movies.
Honestly, I was surprised to see that other letterboxd users generally liked this movie.

Nor is she reduced to a walking stereotype for the sake of comic relief. She has hidden depth and is three-dimensional and that's why the movie worked for me. Resorting to clichés the way they did in FF is not only unamusing but lazy, in my opinion.

And is clever and caring enough to see that her mother struggles financially and decides to help her by paying bills with the money she earned (which she could've kept for other, more selfish needs). She is neither saintly - she has flaws and makes mistakes -

Regardless of what one might think of the movie, the screenwriters presented Padgett as a teenager/young adult who, yes, cares about her looks but ALSO has good grades and manages her business as a content creator

As one of my uni professors once said, the spectator isn't stupid. Don't treat him as such. There have been movies in the past that were light and fun and still managed to present young women as clever and discerning. Right now I'm thinking of he's all that (2021)

Maybe because she's old enough not to have her emotions belittled and still young and attractive enough not to be a source of laughter for others.
I've never met real people who are such clichés and two-dimensional. I don't know why characters should be.

Better laugh than cry, I suppose but there's no need for exaggeration and anyway, I didn't find it very funny myself.
The only person who seemed to get out of it all pretty much intact was Anna.

But anyway, moving on.
Through Lily's actions, Tess - as an older woman - is ridiculed. So, again, is this what the screenwriters think of elderly people? Or is it what they think young people think of them? Or was it simply comic relief? Do they think the aging body is something to be laughed at?

with who she was? And I'm thinking of representation as well. Of teenagers watching this movie, seeing what the film industry wants society to think of them. I mean, I would be scoffing and rolling my eyes if I were them.
In fairness, I'm sure most of them recognise it's just good fun, but still.

She becomes hysterical and shallow and doesn't seem to have a single thought in her head for most of the movie. So I'm wondering why this change? Is it what the screenwriters think teenagers are like? Did they think the movie wouldn't have been funny enough if they'd stayed consistent-