Makeover Movies That We Love

I was on YouTube the other day, and from watching videos on homeschool curriculum planners, I somehow ended up watching Miranda Sings give a makeup tutorial. You bet there were lots of links in that very random chain, which should give you an idea how much time I waste on YouTube.

In any case, it’s easy enough to do a Miranda Sings makeover. Or should I say makeunder? Nah. Makeunders are supposed to show a natural look. There’s definitely nothing natural about Miranda Sings. At the same time, makeovers are supposed to make you prettier, so that’s not the right term either. Whatever that particular transformation is called, it’s definitely fun to watch. It reminds me of those ugly duckling movies that everybody loves.

First, they were plain or even downright horrific, and then they get a makeover and cross over to hotness. However, since we’re talking about glamorous movie stars here trying to look underwhelming, the actual first transformation happens behind the scenes. They ditch their normal look to make way for an unattractive one with unflattering clothes, a shoddy ‘do, glasses, braces, a unibrow… the works. And then from this visual mess, they become hot. Fantasy, right? It doesn’t matter. It’s always thrilling, but thrilling, to watch the makeover and then the great reveal. Of course, no scene is as delightful as the first time the leading man scopes the girl’s made-over version.

Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about! I’m positive you love these makeover movies I talk of. If you insist ignorance, here are just some of the common favorites:

1. Princess Diaries — How did Mia Thermopolis start out? First, she had thick, frizzy hair (it’s like somebody got my hair and flopped it on top of Anne Hathaway’s head), glasses, and thicker eyebrows. After her makeover, her hair smoothened and straightened out and her eyebrows got weeded some. She had tastefully subtle makeup, and she also ditched the glasses, of course.

2. My Big Fat Greek Wedding — Toula Portokalos started out with dowdy clothes; dull, limp hair; nerdy glasses; and splotchy skin. Her transformation got her curls, contacts, trendier clothes, and makeup.

3. Miss Congeniality — First you had a masculine-looking Gracie Hart in cords and an FBI jacket, and then with a wave of Michael Caine’s wand, she turned into a beauty queen. Again, it took some serious grooming and expert makeup application.

4. Mean Girls — Cady Heron was already cute even in her cluelessly grunge look. She didn’t have the glasses, the braces, the acne, or the thick brows, so there was no dramatic transformation to awe the eyes, but she did become a complete knockout with heavier makeup and pink pop girl clothes.

5. She’s All That — Hmm, Laney Boggs had a bad weave, dorky glasses, paint-splattered overalls, and a taco hat. As she descended the stairs, she rocked a more stylish haircut, contacts, a slutty red outfit, makeup care of the future TV Sookie Stackhouse, and some sweet cheesy background music (Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance. Silver moon’s sparkling… Squee! Dang, how can I get mushy music to play when I’m coming down the stairs all slo-mo?).

What’s the moral of this post? All ugly ducklings need to turn into swans are contacts as well as some fashion, hair, and makeup tips. Alternatively, all swans need to turn into ugly ducklings are glasses, bad hair, and plain clothes. Obviously, I think deep thoughts.