Movies & TV's Financially Unrealistic Makeovers | Devil Wears Prada, Pretty Woman, Friends & More

[@thetake]

Next up, check out our video on super unrealistic job salaries in movies & tv (+ the few that get it right!) Click to watch: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYWUoYh_prN2rNE

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Anne Hathaway getting makeovers under the tutelage of gay icons is my favourite subgenre of cinema.

[@RebeccasPetCare]

Her character was wealthy so not unrealistic.

[@akshada01akki]

How many movies are there in this subgenre?

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@akshada01akki 2 that I can think of

[@lauramessy]

​@@PokhrajRoy.sadly

[@ItsDesha]

As someone who has curly hair, seeing how often curly hair was depicted as the undesirable before, really affected how I viewed and treated my hair. I tried to fight my natural texture for most of my life and it caused so much unnecessary damage. Not to mention the amount of time, money and mental effort I spent on it. I can only imagine how bad this must have been for so many women of colour, especially the ones with type 4 hair. Curly hair is still not often shown as desirable but it has been getting better. Although, it's usually still quite a very specific type of curls and hairstyle that is portrayed as favourable. I'm also happy seeing characters who have "messy or frizzy" curls and seeing more and more women of colour with their natural hair textures has been great as well.

[@emfrsn98]

Same 100% I have the curly frizzy hair and I also have the glasses and full brows so watching Anne Hathaway in the princess diaries as a child really made me feel singled out🤓 😂

[@edit5538]

You can notice this trend evolving in late 90s movies when the curly hair were shown as unattractive. Before that in many films curly hair were part of general attractiveness (pretty woman, clueless). 90s was a weird time

[@Palepetal]

Style really does make a person more attractive. Not only does a person look more polished but also gives them confidence. But yeah it's true if someone is already attractive, they just look more attractive.

[@jenni4claire]

Its a way to make a drop-dead gorgeous actress "relatable", as if we could all be equally gorgeous if we just tried. Like we're not already trying.

[@julesrules7297]

That is upsettingly true.

[@lorenzomizushal3980]

Exactly we just have to try. Some people just don't try.

If you are the woman on your profile picture, you don't need to try to be it anymore because you already are.

[@Hugin-N-Munin]

It's closely related to the idea of 'you're not ugly, you're just poor'.

[@gargeebasak9648]

I mn let's be honest. Most of us aren't ugly, just poor 😅

[@SlayerNinaFriki]

Instead of the fancy clothes, I'm more astonished about how "that white T-shirt" and "those jeans" they use to put on the "plain characters" costs thousands of dollars each

[@lemsip207]

Plus the spectacles.

[@larasif2852]

The best makeover is by far the one from “My big fat Greek wedding”

[@Hallows4]

100% agree. Not only was it relatively simple overall, but it was done both by the character and at the very beginning. It also wasn’t just about looks; it was more about confidence when moving towards further education and employment.

[@alisaurus4224]

Possibly the only makeover to involve embracing a character’s curly hair, instead of straightening it (at the beginning she wears her hair straight-ish because she doesn’t care in general, and a curly routine takes time too).

[@KosmiskRevolution]

Another note to the eyeglasses: The worse your sight, the more expensive they are!! I was at the optometrist recently for a new pair of glasses, and they tried to sell me contacts, but when I told them my prescription they were like "yeah, no", lol! 😂

[@triciad4100]

I also love how all the online glasses retailers will have deals for free lenses, but then I enter my Rx and it's like, "sike, it's still $100 for you, four-eyes!"

[@NiftyThrifty675]

I'm loving this "unrealistic TV/movie finances" series 😁

[@amyzing4344]

Take staff, thank you for making me laugh out loud at "Chip Skylark level chompers"

[@mbanerjee5889]

Same, that was a fun reference. Never thought I'd hear The Take mention Fairly Odd Parents.

[@mbanerjee5889]

You also forgot to the mention all the makeover reality shows; everything from ANTM to The Swan.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

1:46 Omg same in Hindi movies like ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’. Now, the pendulum has swung to the other side where glasses are cool but mostly if they’re sunglasses. The ableism needs to end now.

[@littlekaren1551]

Clueless had a pretty realistic makeover. they dyed her hair themselves, cher obviously gave (or at least loaned) Tai some of her clothes and you could see that she tailored & tweaked items of Tai's own wardrobe.

[@marcuspotter7784]

Unfortunately I've really seen people need to change in order to fit in. There was a girl at my school. Funny kid in cute sweaters. Later she changed to basic fashion and others stopped bullying her, starting to see as one of them. At school it was really a choice to either explore yourself, or fit in and have an easier time. But when the oppressed kids are out of school, they really start to get their style and that's amazing to watch.

[@trinaq]

I've never really been a fan of the trope where a woman in distress hacks off her hair in the hopes of a new start, usually giving herself a salon worthy haircut in the process. In "Safe Haven", the heroine somehow manages to give herself the perfect blonde bob before going on the run from her abusive husband.

[@rosaazure]

The most unbelievable part of the movie makeover is the how well the flats and sneakers women adapt to high heels. None of these women stop and yank off the heels moaning in pain. Or wobble and nearly turn their ankles.

[@matxalenc8410]

The way my heart started beating fast when those tweezers started plucking. Whoo! That pinch always has my eyes watering and my fingers hesitating. Also, I always said that most people shop their wallet and not their style. I can't tell you how many times I wanted something but not for the price it was. My style is on the alternative size and I'm on the big size. I do know how to make clothes, but then it's a matter of fabric costs and time (not to mention this feeling of being vain - even though I know people are judged be their appearance).

[@iprobablyforgotsomething]

Yeeeeeep. Shopping on a budget does not the most flattering or personal style-matching wardrobe get you. And DiY is more expensive than people realize, especially if you don't happen to already have some tools or materials or know someone who does. And that's before, as you noted, the time expense. Even just altering and tailoring, especially any touchy, delicate materials (if you can afford the fabric or slightly off-size expensive clothing item) isn't exactly a snip-snap-you're-done! process.

[@andieallison6792]

LOVING that Chip Skylark reference

[@BatAmerica]

This is a classic example of movie magic overriding common sense. Similar to the cool factor, studios will gladly abandon the grounded tone of these storylines to sell the audience on a costume change.

[@ninawooh]

Perfect opportunity to end with Fleabag's "show her the reference" "if you want to change your life, change your life"

[@lucyhannah1227]

I've noticed in the majority of cases makeovers are being imposed on these characters, rather than it being a conscious choice for themselves. This way the carefree, tomboy character still gets to mantain her aloofness about beauty while also being beautiful because well, she was forced to look this way by her friends, but she wouldn't be caught dead actually beautifying herself. Sort of playing into the 'hot but she doesn't know it' fantasy.

[@iprobablyforgotsomething]

Right? Like, the movie wants her to be conventionally attractive, but if the makeover's imposed on her rather than chosen, it can still say she's above all that shallow vanity stuff. Which enforces the "not like other girls" better-than type tropes. Not that imposing minor or major body modification on someone isn't an issue in and of itself.

[@Missmagazinebura]

I love the princess diaries makeover ❤

[@val-schaeffer1117]

In Devil wears Prada, Runway offering high fashion apparels and accessories for employees was a "perk" and hence not unrealistic for a new joiner to wear them post "makeover", given that prior to the makeover she did not bother to (although the perk was still at her disposal).

[@KittySnicker]

I got LASIK only to later meet my husband, who thinks my old pics with glasses look hot 🙄. As for eyebrows, I’ve always tweezed them myself. I ain’t wasting money on that. And I learned my makeup techniques from youtube.

[@lemsip207]

I have done so since I was 14, and my eyebrows weren't that thick. When they grow back thick, it is irritating, and I want to pluck that straggler out.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

One of my favourite things is reading theories about how Andy in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ scored that wardrobe.

[@Forgefaerie]

there are theories? I thought it was pretty obvious in the movie that it was all loaners/samples from the magazine selected for her by Nigel and once she quit, she had to give it all back, she just got better at styling affordable stuff/possibly kept a few simpler things from Paris. I mean part of them making such a big deal out of Emily vs Andy going to Paris is all the free samples they get to take back home with them - samples that she passes along to Emily after she quits. its all in the movie and not even subtext - its text O_O

[@JimmyJojoshabadoo]

Anything regarded as appealing to 90s teen girls never made it on my list because the movies sensationalized to "not be poor," on skin care or make up products, or reduce yourself to getting some cheaper brand makeup (not approved outside the U.S.) which horribly aged my female classmates. I also hated how after the makeover the male interest (jerk or no jerk) has to now claim her and she suddenly personifies "cool girl," qualities.

[@lemsip207]

Like the one in She's All That being told she had to put up with jealous bullies at parties. She does later paint a clown face on someone else who passed out drunk and who had tormented her.

[@maryhildreth754]

If only movies were exactly like real life,then everything would be perfect.

[@alyzu4755]

OK, but if Lenny Kravitz wanted to give me a makeover I'd absolutely say yes. ☺️

[@iprobablyforgotsomething]

With or without the advanced Capitol beautification products and technology?

[@PrettyPrincess9609]

I changed my wardrobe last year and earlier this year and it is expensive even if you shop through Shein. I had to buy clothes little by little once a month over the course of 4 months. I can’t remember how much I spent but I know it was hundreds of dollars over the past 4 months. I had gained weight last year. I use to be really skinny but I started to fill out more and I’m more curvy now. So I had no choice but to buy a new wardrobe. I still need to buy a couple of jeans as well. I also brought makeup as well and makeup is really expensive as well. Also I wear glasses and I just spent $53.85 on ONE pair of new glasses this year. Fortunately my vision insurance covered my eye exam and my frames. Braids use to cost me $250 to $300 to get it down at a hair salon but fortunately my man’s sister does hair and I no longer have to spend that much. Movies don’t show how expensive it is to get a makeover.

[@nunugirlswag109]

I started changing my wardrobe up sometime last year as well and had the same exact problem. Stopped shopping at the mall because I was spending way more than what I wanted. So I started shopping at cheaper places like DD's and surprisingly found a ton of stuff that fit the style I was aiming for, for a ton cheaper mind you. So I'd give places like that a try, you may have to scour through their somewhat limited selection to find what you're looking for though. There are definitely some hidden gems I guarantee that (also thrift shopping has it's perks).

[@kathleenandrews8171]

Never underestimate the power of thrifting. If you don't mind hunting/gathering, you can find unique treasures dirt cheap.

[@neurosin]

Eyebrows are wildly easy to upkeep yourself. I absolutely agree with everything else, but eyebrow waxing or tweezing is neither expensive nor difficult to upkeep, and I have real bushy eyebrows and I even used to wax them completely off. Lol

[@UnboxingAlyss]

I don't watch romances or teen dramas, so I don't know a lot about this trope. I wasn't allowed to wear makeup and my mom did my hair and picked out my clothes. I didn't really care about my appearance. I was (and still am) a tomboy, so the concept of makeovers and the like were horrifying to me. I do remember a time in high school when some friends tried to give me a makeover. They got me to buy more form-fitting clothing (more feminine, but still fairly conservative) and tried to do something with my hair. When they tried adding makeup, I freaked out and ran away. While it was scary then, I do appreciate the effort. I still don't care too much about my appearance (and I only wear makeup for special occasions), but I did embrace more flattering clothing.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

7:24 UNDERRATED CINEMA CLASSIC.

[@esarts6744]

Exactly!! glasses have cost me 200-500 dollars 🫣

[@Hallows4]

Although male examples of this trope are pretty rare, Moe Syzlak has gone through it at least twice; one was complete facial reconstruction (which only lasted until the end of the episode) and the other was getting an expertly tailored suit. Wonder how much he ended up paying?

The Devil Wears Prada, one of my favorite movies of all times, is very unrealistic with its makeover on Andy: she could barely afford her rent, yet she was going to work dressed in Prada, Jimmy Choos, Chanel etc.

[@fikujez]

I think the idea was that she was getting these from the Runway closet, that's where Nigel takes her when she gets her makeover

[@venusbby]

Imagine being her landlord…..

[@KosmiskRevolution]

In the book iirc it's explained that pretty much every employee borrows items from "the closet"

[@mariaskabardonis8353]

She was getting them from Run Away closet so it wasen’t that unrealistic

[@lemsip207]

​@@venusbbyHer father paid her rent.

[@ricseeds4835]

Labeling each clip with the movie title will be immensely helpful

[@PokhrajRoy.]

There’s really quite nothing like consumerism made fun. We love shopping and trying on outfits montages at heart.

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

I **like** my glasses (I kind of have to, I've had them since I was like 11), whenever I change them up- usually every decade, or thereabouts- I will spend _ages_ shopping around for a pair that's flattering & maybe a little different from my last pair -- I did think about getting contacts at one point, & the optometrist let me test a cheap pair, to see how I went with the process- but they were so fiddly & frustrating...

[@Pinkranger87]

Thank you for calling out the taking off glasses troupe

[@kathleenandrews8171]

This is a fun analysis of a classic trope. Does the Take consistently give the best scripts to my favorite narrator, or do I just like the ones she reads the best? Hm. I love the way she sounds amused & cynical but not really negative. You guys are doing a good job.

[@Ostkupa]

The "Breakfast Club" makeover is a travesty and I hate it with a passion. But except that one I do love me a makeover montage.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

my god I'm glad I was never that influenced by those beauty standards, it's so much cost and maintenance (though I am high maintenance in my gadgets lol) and then having worked on my self worth and self reliance with mental health this just makes me giggle because I couldn't care less about any of this. I like quality, I care less about brand names. Although style is something that did make me feel good growing up and I love self expressing through it, I'm known among my friends as very stylish but I don't do it for that, I do it for myself. It makes me feel confident. Everyone do what makes them feel good :)

[@Annihilated481]

The worst part about about Ally Sheety's Breakfast Club makeover is that SHE LOOKED BETTER BEFORE.

[@lemsip207]

Her look at the time wasn't in fashion, but just five years later, it came into fashion.

[@Annihilated481]

@@lemsip207 And it still looks good because it's timeless

[@colinneagle4495]

I would be interested to hear The Take's observations on the male equivalent of this trope, since the examples mentioned in the video reflect beauty and story expectations put on women. While a male character getting a new haircut and a wardrobe change happens in film and TV, it's much more rare (the gender swapped remake of 'She''s all that' is the most recent example I can think of). The physical transformations men on screen go through tend to be much more body focused, with characters losing massive amounts of weight or gaining a ton of muscle in order to become desirable. Weirdly, a lot of these transformations on screen are attributed to magic; both Eddie Murphy in "The Nutty Professor" and Chris Evens in "Captain America" experience dramatic body changes due to fantastical serums. This type of male makeover standard exists in real life to; Kumail Nanjiani sent shockwaves through pop culture when his buff physique first appeared online. Chris Pratt spent a few years yo-yoing between chubby for TV roles and buff for movie roles. I don't have any larger explanations for why pop culture makeovers present women's beauty as skin deep, but men can wear anything as long as they're sporting a six pack. What theory’s do other people have?

[@iprobablyforgotsomething]

That would be a nice complementary video. Interesting that, to expand on what you noted, women's makeovers are often seen as shallow or done "for a guy" (and are often imposed on her against her will). But men's overhauls are seen as respectable self-improvements that reflect positively on his overall character and person (as long as he sports a sixpack).

[@colinneagle4495]

@@iprobablyforgotsomething Those are such good points! I hadn't considered the different levels of virtuousness attributed to an on screen makeover and how it's impacted by gender.

[@rickit8626]

Where I live, a pair of jeans literally cost around $100 to $200. I can’t even afford an outfit, let alone a whole new wardrobe

[@kamsismith]

Didn't you already do a video like this?

[@venusbby]

They did similar videos but based on specific film characters, this feels like a conclusion to the series

[@kamsismith]

It seems The Take recycles video ideas. It's like be creative.

[@hpdanfan14]

Overall, a great video, but so many really miss the nuances leading up to the makeover scene in The Breakfast Club. It had nothing whatsoever to do with making her "pretty". It had everything to do with making the invisible girl who wears a variety of masks to stay hidden (yet desperately desires to be seen), to finally reveal herself and come out into the light. Andy was into her a bit already, and was the main one to notice/reach out to her and make a connection with her throughout the film. And after her makeover, his comment was "You look so different. I CAN SEE YOUR FACE". I'm sick of the slander lol.

[@kellypinzonfrias5617]

The glasses makeover is somewhat accurate!😅 I really feel like a different more beautiful person without glasses. I feel ugly with glasses and they're so umconfortable! I am thinking in get lasik! surgery

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

I have to wonder if you're getting the right fit- I know the nose pads & bridge can sometimes need adjusting; that's often been an issue with pairs of mine that feel uncomfortable -- do you buy your own, or are your parents buying them? I can understand if it's the latter (in which case, have a conversation with them)- but if the former, don't be afraid to ask advice & shop around- I've changed my glasses over time; the shape, style, colour- you name it. I'm not the most confident person in the room, but my glasses have never been a contributor to my discomfort...

[@kellypinzonfrias5617]

​@@OcarinaSapphr- Honestly I just think some people look very well on it and others not and I think I am in the second group hahaha. I tried different frames and glasses everything but I dont know I really dont like it how I look with it I use eyes contacts as much as I can 😅

[@MollyLikovich]

the glasses shit in movies always makes me so mad. more than half of the world's population wears glasses so WHY is harry potter the only movie character consistently wearing glasses????

[@smurfyday]

Glasses are expensive only because in the land of the free, one monopoly controls almost the whole market, and bankrupts anyone trying to challenge for a slice. Look up the history of Oakley.

[@post-electric]

Nah. I live in the UK and, not sure how the price compares to the US, but they're not cheap here either. Even if you get cheap frames, the price of the lenses add up quickly, especially if your eyes are particularly bad and you need them slimmed down a lot. Then there's the extras like anti-scratch coating etc. Sadly not covered by our free healthcare despite being necessities

[@CrazyMama75]

It's funny timing to see this video, I was just talking to a friend about how I'd love to have my nails done up, cos my nails are naturally thin and I've tried different polishes that just don't work properly on my nails, always recommend some nail product or another, only way I'd have perfect nails all the time is to get acrylics regularly. Which sounds great for the first few times but it's a big financial commitment that I can't justify right now, I'd rather just make do with unpolished nails that take henna really well lol (and hair dye, wow do my nails suck up hair dye!)

[@LeahWalentosky]

Hairdressers/beauty salons can be video topics, they are often gathering places for women and have a culture about them

[@andreabanuelosavila2317]

Glasses hold you down? Tell that to short sighted people.

[@labohemienne5560]

10:58 which movie is that?

[@rtothec1234]

I like chicks with prominent eyebrows. Always have. Like Roz from Fraisier.

[@furkankurtuluss]

Since when people watch movies for the realism?? If you wanna watch a realistic life, install a camera in your home and watch it live 24/7

[@littleshade7111]

Wait am I the first?🧐

[@Pomoscorzo]

A style and colour counselling is normally enough. And you can find beautiful things in second hand shops. It's a pity that these makeover scenes suggest that you need to spend a ton of money in order to feel good.

[@post-electric]

You mention social media as a place for people to get cheap beauty tips, which isn't inaccurate, but doesn’t account for the hordes of beauty influencers flogging expensive cosmetic/"health" products to an often young and impressionable audience

[@kay19977]

But now wearing your hair back and glasses is in

[@annejohnson5875]

One, I've worn glasses for years and have learned that the old saying "Men don't make passes at girls who wear glasses" is mostly false. Two, when a character (usually a female character) goes into the bathroom to give herself an impulse haircut, they always come out with some chic, sexy shag haircut, never the uneven disaster in real life that requires an appointment at the hair salon to fix.

[@Melissa-sx9vh]

Same thing when a brunette character uses one singular box of hair dye and gets perfect icy blond hair in one go with no damages and no toner.

[@KosmiskRevolution]

Looking pointedly at that scene in Gone Girl when Amy Dunne undos her "mousy" makeover, and gives herself the perfect blonde bob in her at home salon 👀

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

@@Melissa-sx9vh There was an old episode of NCIS, where a girl who faked her death online- dyed her hair quickly & almost walked straight past DiNozzo- 'til something familiar about her made the team chase her down -- I've **never** had a colour settle that fast- especially a lighter shade (I know the character had darker hair dye); I once dyed my hair copper red- it first went orange, & I freaked the eff out- I was a mental case over it, I rewashed & conditioned it *twice* & didn't know what else I could do, except live with getting detention for refusing to take my hat off - thankfully, as I'd done it Friday afternoon- it had the rest of the weekend to settle, & come Monday morning- it was the gorgeous shade on the box, & I felt a million bucks!

[@littleshade7111]

Hey

[@XanderShiller]

"The funniest thing about Stephen Hawkins is on top of all the disabilities from wheelchairs to neuromuscular etc..he also had to have glasses." - nick mullen

[@gargeebasak9648]

Professional whitening costs hundreds of dollars? America is truly doomed😂

[@vincentcerasoli5969]

Just imagine how radically different our country would be if teen girls were socialized to value spending their Saturday afternoons at the library rather than at the mall getting a makeover.

[@Kinochan28]

The most ridiculous thing it´s spending that amount of money making Anne Hathaway " look pretty" dude y´all got scam 😂