She unstuffs the stuffed shirt?
September 19, 2007 4:55 PM Subscribe
What are some films, books, plays, TV shows, etc. that feature a free-spirited woman trying to get a strait-laced man to loosen up?
The Accidental Tourist, Something Wild, certain episodes of Frasier come to mind... There have to be more. The man and the woman don't have to have a sexual or romantic relationship. I'm gathering this list for an essay I'm writing, so the more mainstream/well-known the better, but more obscure examples are welcome.
The Accidental Tourist, Something Wild, certain episodes of Frasier come to mind... There have to be more. The man and the woman don't have to have a sexual or romantic relationship. I'm gathering this list for an essay I'm writing, so the more mainstream/well-known the better, but more obscure examples are welcome.
Bringing Up Baby!
posted by roger ackroyd at 4:58 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by roger ackroyd at 4:58 PM on September 19, 2007
Along Came Polly
posted by brain_drain at 5:00 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by brain_drain at 5:00 PM on September 19, 2007
The Owl & The Pussycat (George Segal, Barbra Streisand, c. 1971
posted by charris5005 at 5:03 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by charris5005 at 5:03 PM on September 19, 2007
Ugh, that horrid movie Sweet November.
posted by thehmsbeagle at 5:05 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by thehmsbeagle at 5:05 PM on September 19, 2007
Cabaret
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:08 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:08 PM on September 19, 2007
Harold and Maude!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:11 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:11 PM on September 19, 2007
A Fish Called Wanda.
posted by roger ackroyd at 5:15 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by roger ackroyd at 5:15 PM on September 19, 2007
The Darwin Awards (You didn't specify good movies).
posted by BrotherCaine at 5:16 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by BrotherCaine at 5:16 PM on September 19, 2007
Also in the "you didn't say it had to be good category: Forces of Nature and Something Wild.
posted by mewithoutyou at 5:23 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by mewithoutyou at 5:23 PM on September 19, 2007
(Oops, you referenced Something Wild in your post. My bad!)
posted by mewithoutyou at 5:25 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by mewithoutyou at 5:25 PM on September 19, 2007
Ball of Fire aka The Professor and the Burlesque Queen -- there are actually seven professors, based on the Seven Dwarves
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?
ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man (video)
posted by hydrophonic at 5:25 PM on September 19, 2007
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?
ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man (video)
posted by hydrophonic at 5:25 PM on September 19, 2007
Almost Famous.
posted by typewriter at 5:34 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by typewriter at 5:34 PM on September 19, 2007
Another one in the "you didn't have to say it had to be good" category: Along Came Polly.
posted by L'homme armé at 5:50 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by L'homme armé at 5:50 PM on September 19, 2007
Barefoot in the Park
posted by IndigoJones at 6:02 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by IndigoJones at 6:02 PM on September 19, 2007
Breakfast at Tiffany's. The movie more than the book. Though come to think of it. I suppose she wasn't really trying, and she didn't really succeed.
Lolita, in an odd way. Mrs. Haze tries and imagines she's succeeding in unloosening Humbert Humbert.
The Blue Angel? Again, not that Marlene was really trying. Again too, no guarantee that getting loose is a good thing.
Macbeth.
(You going to put the essay out on project? Could be interesting.)
posted by IndigoJones at 6:13 PM on September 19, 2007
Lolita, in an odd way. Mrs. Haze tries and imagines she's succeeding in unloosening Humbert Humbert.
The Blue Angel? Again, not that Marlene was really trying. Again too, no guarantee that getting loose is a good thing.
Macbeth.
(You going to put the essay out on project? Could be interesting.)
posted by IndigoJones at 6:13 PM on September 19, 2007
It's been a while since last I saw it, but I remember Educating Rita having that dynamic.
posted by lekvar at 6:25 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by lekvar at 6:25 PM on September 19, 2007
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - the girl is quirky, oh so quirky. So quirky, so spontaneous. They guy isn't exactly straight-laced, he's just supposed to be an everyman, I think.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:47 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:47 PM on September 19, 2007
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (in a strange way)
posted by Rumple at 6:47 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by Rumple at 6:47 PM on September 19, 2007
Music: Belle and Sebastian, "White Collar Boy" (the lyrics, not so much the video)
posted by puddleglum at 7:04 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by puddleglum at 7:04 PM on September 19, 2007
Good lord, I almost didn't bother with this thread, because I was sure fifteen people would have mentioned "Something Wild." It's the film you're looking for.
Unless the film you're looking for is "Bringing Up Baby."
It could also be "The Lady Eve."
posted by grumblebee at 7:13 PM on September 19, 2007
Unless the film you're looking for is "Bringing Up Baby."
It could also be "The Lady Eve."
posted by grumblebee at 7:13 PM on September 19, 2007
Monsters Inc?
posted by Eringatang at 7:13 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by Eringatang at 7:13 PM on September 19, 2007
Good lord, I guess it helps to read the original post.
posted by grumblebee at 7:14 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by grumblebee at 7:14 PM on September 19, 2007
One of my favorite films of all time is perfect for this: Impromptu
It's about the love affair between the author George Sands (played by the fabulous Judy Davis) and Chopin (Hugh Grant). The whole cast is fantastic, the movie is hilarious (Emma Thompson plays a country duchess who wants to have artsy friends), and there's all that great music by Chopin & Liszt running through it.
posted by witchstone at 7:59 PM on September 19, 2007
It's about the love affair between the author George Sands (played by the fabulous Judy Davis) and Chopin (Hugh Grant). The whole cast is fantastic, the movie is hilarious (Emma Thompson plays a country duchess who wants to have artsy friends), and there's all that great music by Chopin & Liszt running through it.
posted by witchstone at 7:59 PM on September 19, 2007
Me and You and Everyone We Know, to a certain extent: a story about the blossoming romance between a kooky artsy-type girl and a divorced shoe salesman.
It's probably not nearly as good of an example as the aforementioned Dharma & Greg.
posted by puritycontrol at 8:03 PM on September 19, 2007
It's probably not nearly as good of an example as the aforementioned Dharma & Greg.
posted by puritycontrol at 8:03 PM on September 19, 2007
Seconds
Shall we dance? (Japanese version is much better!)
posted by Rykey at 8:49 PM on September 19, 2007
Shall we dance? (Japanese version is much better!)
posted by Rykey at 8:49 PM on September 19, 2007
The Jane Austen movies and the spin offs (Bridget Jones's Diary, Clueless).
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:40 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:40 PM on September 19, 2007
I agree with the Something Wild suggestion above...
posted by DudeAsInCool at 10:06 PM on September 19, 2007
posted by DudeAsInCool at 10:06 PM on September 19, 2007
not so well known, but worth seeing and fitting your description very well: swedish movie Miffo
posted by meijusa at 3:57 AM on September 20, 2007
posted by meijusa at 3:57 AM on September 20, 2007
What's Eating Gilbert Grape, perhaps?
posted by killuglyradio at 5:30 AM on September 20, 2007
posted by killuglyradio at 5:30 AM on September 20, 2007
Mad Men
posted by thelongcon at 5:34 AM on September 20, 2007
posted by thelongcon at 5:34 AM on September 20, 2007
Weird Science?
posted by backseatpilot at 6:01 AM on September 20, 2007
posted by backseatpilot at 6:01 AM on September 20, 2007
What's Up, Doc?
Lady in a Jam
Forces of Nature
Who's That Girl? (warning: stars Madonna)
Maybe Working Girl?
posted by GrammarMoses at 7:40 AM on September 20, 2007
Lady in a Jam
Forces of Nature
Who's That Girl? (warning: stars Madonna)
Maybe Working Girl?
posted by GrammarMoses at 7:40 AM on September 20, 2007
LA Story?
posted by SisterHavana at 8:23 PM on September 20, 2007
posted by SisterHavana at 8:23 PM on September 20, 2007
Response by poster: Wow, thanks so much everyone. These are many more answers than I expected! I wish I had time to explore them all!
posted by hyperfascinated at 10:47 PM on September 20, 2007
posted by hyperfascinated at 10:47 PM on September 20, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Dr. Zira at 4:57 PM on September 19, 2007