I know it’s only February but HER is one of my most anticipated films of 2014. Premature? Maybe. But for a hopeless romantic like myself, this film looks right up my street. Directed by Spike Jonze, Joaquin Phoenix stars as Theodore Twombly, a lonely divorcee who starts a friendship with an advanced operating system. Introduced to ‘Samantha’ (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), she helps Theodore realise that there’s so much more to life, and that by sitting at home alone he’s really missing out.
Due to her bubbly personality and ability to enliven Theodore, Samantha has been awarded the often looked-down-upon title of Manic Pixie Dream Girl (or should it be the Manic Pixel Dream Girl?), a stereotyped character trope regularly written into independent romantic comedies. However, we’ve decided to celebrate the MPDG and have picked our five favourite characters, five women we believe would be best friends with Pixie Girl Samantha.
5. Annie Hall in ANNIE HALL (Woody Allen, 1977)
Diane Keaton features as Annie Hall, the androgynous female protagonist paired against Woody Allen’s neurotic, needy Alvy. Although their relationship starts off well, the pair start to grate on each other, with Alvy suggesting Annie takes adult education classes to further herself, her rebuttal being he needs to chill out with a joint. A free-spirit through and through, Annie’s reckless driving, drug taking, and unusual style may have impressed (or scared) Alvy at first, but his controlling fantasies of how Annie should be are, at times, just too much.
Keaton’s character brings about the essential question: are MPDG characters too free-willed, or are their male counterparts too paranoid and controlling for their own good? In terms of ANNIE HALL, I think it’s the latter.
4. Penny Lane in ALMOST FAMOUS (Cameron Crowe, 2000)
From one of my favourite films on the list, Kate Hudson features as curly-haired hippy Penny Lane (not her real name), the love interest of young music journalist William Miller (Patrick Fugit). Set during the music revolution of the 1970s, Penny is the leader of a group of ‘band aids’ – not groupies – there for the music and experience. However, when she becomes involved with rocker Russell (Billy Crudup), William sees the green-eyed monster of jealousy…and the truth behind Russell’s throwaway feelings.
Aside from her relationship rumble, Penny introduces William to many a royal rock rebel, igniting a love of writing and music inside the budding journalist. With her catchphrase “It’s all happening”, her eclectic fashion taste and stamp-filled passport, Penny lives in the moment, not worrying about what the next tour stop will bring.
3. Sam in GARDEN STATE (Zach Braff, 2004)
From the directorial debut of Zach Braff, Natalie Portman stars as Sam, a compulsive liar with a rather eccentric family situation. After attending the funeral of his mother, Andrew (Braff) finds himself sitting in a doctor’s waiting room beside Sam, an animal lover who – much like Penny Lane in ALMOST FAMOUS – awakens Andrew through the sound of music.
As Andrew seems to be going through a rather difficult time in his life, we do wonder why he’d want to hook up with someone who, truth be told, compulsively lies. However, Sam’s love of life (and death – her tiny hamster graveyard) helps Andrew realise that he’s got one chance: at living, at forgiving himself, and at being with Sam. Plus, who doesn’t do this when they’re feeling a little uninspired?
2. Clementine Kruczynski in ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Michel Gondry, 2004)
Hands down my favourite character, English rose Kate Winslet stars as technicolour Clementine, the “kinda nutso” female lead beside Jim Carrey’s Joel Barish. In this science fiction romantic drama, Joel and Clem meet on a train, but something doesn’t feel quite right. It’s not until the non-linear narrative skips back in time that it’s revealed that the pair had previously dated, with Clementine erasing her memory of their relationship.
Although the name ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’ wasn’t penned until 2007 by journalist Nathan Rabin, 2004’s Clementine is perhaps the most famous portrayal of the trope. Eccentric, colourful and – at times – very emotional, Winslet’s character helps Joel come to life, but his all-consuming love for her leads Clementine to snapping: “I’m just a f*cked up girl looking for my own piece of mind”. Whether screenwriter Charlie Kaufman meant to or not, Clem’s speech goes against the whole MPDG stereotype, trying to make it as clear as possible that these ‘types’ of women are not there to be used to brighten the dull lives of men.
1. Summer Finn in (500) DAYS OF SUMMER (Marc Webb, 2009)
Ahh, Zooey Deschanel, the quintessential MPDG. In video director Marc Webb’s directorial debut, Zooey plays Summer Finn, the hues-of-blue-bedecked quirky girl who Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Tom Hanson falls for. With her feminine style, cutesy singing voice and love of unloved Beatle Ringo Starr, Summer helps enliven Tom, so much so that he participates in an off-the-cuff post-coitus dance routine – yes, he’s that happy.
However, similar to ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND’s non-linear story-telling, (500) DAYS OF SUMMER jumps back and forth in time to show just how in love Tom is with his MPDG…and how not interested Summer is by day 500. Much like young Tom’s misguided reading of THE GRADUATE, JGL has come forward to say that many people misread the film, and end up disliking Summer:
“The (500) DAYS OF SUMMER attitude of ‘He wants you so bad’ seems attractive to some women and men, especially younger ones, but I would encourage anyone who has a crush on my character to watch it again and examine how selfish he is. He develops a mildly delusional obsession over a girl onto whom he projects all these fantasies. He thinks she’ll give his life meaning because he doesn’t care about much else going on in his life.”
And maybe that’s the crux of the MPDG character – that, really, she says more about the man than the woman? Whichever way you read it, Hollywood loves its Manic Pixies.
HER co-stars Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde and Rooney Mara. It arrives in cinemas from 14th February 2014.
Sources: YouTube/Playboy
