Winona in Heathers is definitely a root for so many cinematic alt-girls stuck in the limbo between good girl and bad girl (see, also Alabama from True Romance)
[also, I believe Brats is a Hulu doc, not Netflix]
I recently wrote a piece about the sports-business micro-genre and in it, as well as while researching for it, I discovered the pattern of sports managers/coaches having: a) a failure that hangs over them (either career or romantic) b) a desire for innovation, to change something about the sports industry and c) a poor relationship with a colleague.
So I guess that's a... Dejected Genius Sports Coach? Open to suggestions 😭
I love this -- its certainly a phenomenon! As Nathan Rabin pointed out in his original review, Elizabethtown's Cameron Crowe really solidified this archetype with Jerry Maguire. (At least, if you think a Dejected Genius Sports *Agent* counts). Dejected Genius Sports Professional, maybe?
Sports Professional it is! In fairness, I watched Jerry Maguire and included that take, as well Adam Sandler's Hustle, and Ben Affleck & Matt Damon's Air!
I remember reading once about Jennifer Aniston's character in Along Came Polly being the perfect fit for Manic Pixie Dream Girl status - and now I'm realising Ben Stiller is a pretty classic Stale White Wonderbread Boy in it... got to love Hollywood for its tropes :) Maybe the fact that the labels are levelled at the characters rather than the actors themselves makes it more of a scriptwriting issue - less personal than the Brats labels?
Wow loved this piece! So honoured to be mentioned! And I lol’d at referring to Joseph Gordon Levitt’s character in 500 Days of Summer as “Multigrain Loaf Young Man” hahaha so true
Winona in Heathers is definitely a root for so many cinematic alt-girls stuck in the limbo between good girl and bad girl (see, also Alabama from True Romance)
[also, I believe Brats is a Hulu doc, not Netflix]
You're right, thank you! Consider the correction issued :) And I agree -- a Patricia Arquette appreciation piece might be in order soon!
I recently wrote a piece about the sports-business micro-genre and in it, as well as while researching for it, I discovered the pattern of sports managers/coaches having: a) a failure that hangs over them (either career or romantic) b) a desire for innovation, to change something about the sports industry and c) a poor relationship with a colleague.
So I guess that's a... Dejected Genius Sports Coach? Open to suggestions 😭
I love this -- its certainly a phenomenon! As Nathan Rabin pointed out in his original review, Elizabethtown's Cameron Crowe really solidified this archetype with Jerry Maguire. (At least, if you think a Dejected Genius Sports *Agent* counts). Dejected Genius Sports Professional, maybe?
Sports Professional it is! In fairness, I watched Jerry Maguire and included that take, as well Adam Sandler's Hustle, and Ben Affleck & Matt Damon's Air!
Love this! I've saved your article to check out when I have time!
I remember reading once about Jennifer Aniston's character in Along Came Polly being the perfect fit for Manic Pixie Dream Girl status - and now I'm realising Ben Stiller is a pretty classic Stale White Wonderbread Boy in it... got to love Hollywood for its tropes :) Maybe the fact that the labels are levelled at the characters rather than the actors themselves makes it more of a scriptwriting issue - less personal than the Brats labels?
This was amazing and inspired me to write my own list.
Wow loved this piece! So honoured to be mentioned! And I lol’d at referring to Joseph Gordon Levitt’s character in 500 Days of Summer as “Multigrain Loaf Young Man” hahaha so true
You definitely inspired me to write this! LOL we need more multigrain men IMHO
a publication once called Susan from Bringing Up Baby a mpdg...so off the mark!
what about tenderhearted boy hero? that's Pixar's territory all the way. Miguel in Coco, Arlo in The Good Dinosaur, Luca & Alberto in Luca
Licorice is such a perfect "villain" candy. I love everything about this archetype name.