I watched this film about a year ago with my wife. The end of the film made both of us feel like Diablo Cody was trying to subtly suggest that Mavis' "big city" lifestyle and ideology were superior to that of the friends that she had "left behind". Please discuss and state where you reside now, and where you were raised (city/suburbs/small town)
shareNo.
I live in LA.
I thought the ending was just anti-conventional. We all expect Mavis to have "grown up" thru this experience. She didn't.
The ending wasn't a reflection on Small Town vs Big City - it was a reflection on Mavis still being a "young adult" and not learning/growing/etc. And in a way, I think Cody/Reitman want to say, "that's okay too". Just because the movie's ending doesn't mean Mavis's path is set.
The film isn't condescending to small town life, its protagonist just has that attitude. There's a difference.
shareConsidering just about everyone in the town appears to be fairly happy with that they have, I'd say the filmmakers weren't trying to be condescending at all. Mavis hated them and the town they came from, but the filmmakers didn't seem to.
shareAgreed, I think Mavis is unpleasant enough a person that it's thoroughly acceptable to see that all her thinking is erroneous, and by extension any conclusions Mavis draws from her thoughts. And although we don't know what her life will be like after she returns to Minneapolis, it doesn't contain very high expectations based upon the mess it was prior, where we are shown that the townsfolk who think her life is glamorous, have the wrong idea (ghostwriter on a canceled series and avoiding working on the series by nonstop watching of reality TV, which she could do anywhere with any job, or even unemployed - which, as far as we know, is how we are leaving Mavis. There was no talk from her publisher of assigning her to another series).
shareQuite the opposite. It is a message that it's not about living in a "small town" or "big city" it's how well adjusted you are as a person, and if you're truly happy, it doesn't matter where you live.
Matt's sister looked up to Mavis in HS and was also another character who still thought too much about High School. She was sucking up to Mavis and also trying to make her feel better. Then asked if she could go with and even said sometimes when she's sad she thinks about Mavis in her "cool apartment, writing" etc. That character was just as sad as Mavis was. That last scene with them talking is pretty significant. It had nothing to do with the location of where they both lived but how unhappy they both were for their own personal reasons.
Mavis is condescending to small town life. But she is immature. What she thinks doesn't mean a damned thing.
shareI think it depends on the person. Wether you think Mavis's life was superficial and pathetic or Buddy's life was boring, the movie will reinforce your belief.
shareNo. It wasn't. It showed her life in the big city as soulless and horrible, and
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
[spoiler] She secretly yearned to be married and living in a boring old house in the small town with her high school boyfriend. I mean the character was horrible and immature, and had no perceptions or taste, but the movie actually presents life in a small town as better than life in the big city. Sure, the small town was tacky and the people were gauche, but there was also love and closeness there, while Mavis in the big city didn't even love her little dog.[/spoiler]. Edit: Does the spoiler cover no longer work, or did I do something wrong?
I never heard the nickname "Mini-Apple" until I saw this movie and thought it was a slight against Minneapolis for not being Big City enough.
share