MovieChat Forums > Shallow Hal (2001) Discussion > I have to ask about the culture in the v...

I have to ask about the culture in the very early 2000's that the film portrays

posted 4 years ago by holly61 (978)
32 replies | jump to latest

Since this film is 20 years old I have some questions. Yes, I know it's just a movie but I'm still curious

* Was there that much obesity stigma surrounding a woman of Rosemary's size in 2001? would seeing someone of that size be shocking back then?

* Did average looking men feel entitled to date a beautiful woman and settle for no less?

* One of the characters mentioned he made ''29K per year'' and seemed proud of that. Was this considered a good salary back in 2001. Enough to impress a woman? that just seems like poverty level wages by today's standards.

[–] Dainty (1991) 4 years ago

Yes, yes and the last one I don’t know.

The answers below me are men in denial coping and seething.

There was obesity in USA in late 90s early 00s but no near as much as today. Fat women have bigger stigma than males. Especially back then. Men will only use them, feederism or not.

Men were just as shallow and lacking in self awareness then as now. I’d say it’s worse now.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

1. No, because it's a comedy. People made fun of obese men just as much as obese women, just look at Fat Albert or Fat Bastard. People were allowed to joke around back then.

2. No more "entitled" than average-looking women who think they deserve handsome men and won't settle for less.

3. I'd have to watch that specific scene again to be sure, but it was likely a sarcastic comment.

[–] sokar (2098) 4 years ago

Did average looking men feel entitled to date a beautiful woman and settle for no less?

Based on whose standards?

Anybody should be allowed to date anybody shouldn't they?

I find that sentence disturbing. What is wrong with as you say an 'average looking man' dating a beautiful woman. Is he not allowed to? Are only beautiful woman allowed to be dated by equally beautiful men? What a strange and quite horrible sentiment.

Nobody, literally nobody should tell you that you are not good enough to date someone just based on looks.

[–] Dainty (1991) 4 years ago

Average women aren’t allowed to be with beautiful men without huge stigma.

[–] Galilguy (2498) 3 years ago

You're talking out of your ass

[–] cyguration (3951) 3 years ago

Dude, Amil Clooney managed to marry one of the world's most handsome bachelors and she is barely above average.

Gwyneth Paltrow was with Brad Pitt, who many consider to be one of the most handsome men of all time.

Have you seen Hugh Jackman's wife? She's way below average and both men and women desire Jackman nonstop.

[–] howgamer (3968) 4 years ago

1. No, I don't think a lot has changed. Had obese people walking around then and we do now and nobody cares for the most part. I guess the media has been pushing more for the tone that being obese is OK and attempting to beautify it.

2. No. I think men at least attempt to date physically beautiful women, but also are attracted to those who find interest in them or who they find interesting. Hal was originally a shallow and crappy person. The movie recognizes this and embellishes his negative traits for comedic relief.

3. it's a livable wage, probably like 40k today. I think it was meant to be a joke in the film though.

[–] Noufa (399) 4 years ago

Men have always been judged more on their earning power. Women, on their physical appearance. I don't think either of these realities have changed. Although our perception of income & beauty have changed.

29k was just viable for a single man. That breaks down to about $15/hour, which was double min wage. But only fast-food employees worked for min wage. My college-age big brother was bagging groceries for $12/hour & bought a duplex. Definitely not enough to sustain a family & this was before the housing bubble.

Starting with Twiggy, the haute couture ideal of rail-thin female beauty clashed with what normal people actually found attractive. This endured through 90s heroin chic. This movie was set when this all started changing. Plus size was normalized & that actually seemed overdue. But Rosemary was still far from ideal.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

Nothing has changed in 20 years. Most single men over reach when it comes to women they want to seriously date. On the other hand most men will screw anything if horny and drinking.

As for George's I mean Mauricios's salary, 29K in 2001 is equal to 43K today. Not bad at all for a single 30 year old guy but nothing to brag about.

https://www.dollartimes.com/inflation/inflation.php?amount=29000&year=2001

29K is not even poverty level for a family of 4 according to the US govt. today.
https://www.thebalance.com/federal-poverty-level-definition-guidelines-chart-3305843

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

The main difference between 20 years ago and today is 9/11 happened after the film was made and before the film was released and everybody today owns a smart phone.

The first apple smart phone was released mid 2007.

Attitudes and culture have not really changed that much except we are regressing on race to 1930 levels.

[–] PaladinNJ (21594) 3 years ago

I think the 29k a year was meant as a joke as someone else said. As for the other two, it's pretty much still the same today as it was back then. People still make fun of overweight men and women and many are still repulsed by people of the size Rosemary is depicted to be. And yes, guys still try to go after girls who are out of their league.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 years ago

I haven't seem the movie since it was released, but at the time I thought the line demonstrated the character was clueless as to what good income was.

[–] hyperjet (741) 3 years ago

That was probably their intention, but it was based on the Hollywood crowd's perception of what a decent income was. 29K a year wasn't bad back then, but this was written by people who probably made six digits a year in the film industry and resided in Ca or NY where it is extremely expensive to live. So to them it was a joke...to the average person, it didn't resonate that way.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 years ago

According to the inflation calculator $29K then is about $47 now. That's more than most people in the country make. so that makes sense

[–] hyperjet (741) 3 years ago

Exactly