# Movies where dorky, not-conventionally-attractive girl gets the guy of her dreams? (Spoilers OK) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325 "2010-01-01T20:49:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/41 "2010-01-02T03:20:29Z")
I’m trying to recall if Divine in **Lust in the Dust** got Tab Hunter. She might have. [Judy Canova](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Canova) would get the guy in her movies, though the guy of her dreams might be someone like Slim Somerville. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/42 "2010-01-02T05:30:07Z")
Jerry Maguire The Holidays (accentuated with Cameron Diaz) and i never saw bridget jones but i assume she gets her guy? or in the sequel? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/43 "2010-01-02T05:48:29Z")
Well it’s another example of “Hollywood ugly,” and it’s definitely not a romantic movie, but in The Terminator, Linda Hamilton’s character is written as kind of a sad sack, envious of her roommate’s better luck with men, who gets shaken out of her routine and swept off her feet (literally in a couple of cases) by a hunk from the future. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/44 "2010-01-02T05:54:44Z")
> [@](#): > > I guess technically these fit the “dorky in movie” and “not look like a supermodel” category, but a lot of these girls are very attractive, and if this is an example of how “plain” girls can get the hot guys, I’d hate to be a female! Minnie and Christina are quite cute. Sandra and Drew are both cover girls for various magazines. And Ally Sheedy (in TBC) is a stone cold fox, hotter than most supermodels I’ve seen. We’re talking “Hollywood ugly” not reality. Obviously pretty much all of these women are attractive but the OP asked for movies where female characters, who are depicted as not beautiful within the movie, get the man of their dreams. So you can suspend your disbelief and accept that Michelle Pfeiffer is supposed to be unattractive in _Frankie and Johnny_ or Teri Garr is supposed to be unattractive in _Tootsie_ or Ally Sheedy is supposed to be unattractive in _Only the Lonely_. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/45 "2010-01-02T05:56:38Z")
Barbra Streisand + Robert Redford, _The Way They Were_. ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/46 "2010-01-02T06:10:05Z")
Are there any Hollywood movies in which genuinely unpretty (not Hollywood unpretty) women get the attractive guy? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/47 "2010-01-02T06:14:00Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Michelle Pfeiffer is supposed to be unattractive in _Frankie and Johnny_ That role was originated on stage by Kathy Bates, which in my opinion would have made for a more compelling film. Not that Pfeiffer was bad in the role, but _anyone_ released from prison would be lusting after her, despite the half-hearted attempts to drab her down with stringy hair. Bates would have been more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/48 "2010-01-02T06:17:54Z")
[Show Me Love](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150662/), a Swedish film, is the only one I could think of. But even that doesn’t completely work because it’s a love story about lesbians. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/49 "2010-01-02T06:18:46Z")
_Twilight_ (which is very much a Mary Sue role) Any Film with Sarah J. Parker ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/50 "2010-01-02T06:22:24Z")
> [@Windwalker](#): > > I guess technically these fit the “dorky in movie” and “not look like a supermodel” category, but a lot of these girls are very attractive, and if this is an example of how “plain” girls can get the hot guys, I’d hate to be a female! Minnie and Christina are quite cute. Sandra and Drew are both cover girls for various magazines. And Ally Sheedy (in TBC) is a stone cold fox, hotter than most supermodels I’ve seen. Well yeah, but in how many of the “dorky guy” movies is the guy genuinely unattractive (versus Hollywood unattractive)? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/51 "2010-01-02T06:33:09Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Well yeah, but in how many of the “dorky guy” movies is the guy genuinely unattractive (versus Hollywood unattractive)? Woody Allen. Nicolas Cage. Bill Murray. Owen Wilson. Jason Schwartzman. John C. Reilly. Actually, I don’t know if the last 2 guys ever get the girl or not. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/52 "2010-01-02T06:42:20Z")
> [@Windwalker](#): > > Are there any Hollywood movies in which genuinely unpretty (not Hollywood unpretty) women get the attractive guy? I’d have to limit it to _Antonia and Jane_ (and anything with Sarah Jessica Parker - even though Hollywood seems to think SJP is good looking, I just can’t see it). In all the other movies (I haven’t seen Dogfight, though) the girl is either actually very attractive to begin with, or by the end of the movie has been made over to be very attractive. Barbra Streisand is really an unusual case - it all depends on if you see her as attractive. I really recommend watching _Antonia and Jane_ if you can find it. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/53 "2010-01-02T06:42:35Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > …Jason Schwartzman… Funny that you would consider the son of the “beautiful” Talia Shire unattractive… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/54 "2010-01-02T07:15:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Jason Schwartzman. John C. Reilly. Actually, I don’t know if the last 2 guys ever get the girl or not. Schwartzman got Kirsten Dunst in _Marie Antoinette_, although admittedly that was a special case. And Reilly got Leslie Bibb in _Talladega Nights_. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/55 "2010-01-02T08:20:39Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Funny that you would consider the son of the “beautiful” Talia Shire unattractive… Wow, I had no idea she was his mother! He sure doesn’t resemble her. (I did call her “very attractive”, not beautiful.) ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/56 "2010-01-02T12:57:49Z")
**Jane Eyre** , the Timothy Dalton version, in most Jane is pretty in this one Jane is really “plain Jane” just as the book describes. [![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gt0jxIgyp4s/RzrVVu-t1bI/AAAAAAAAAIc/iXbxiiRGqto/S692/My+Jane+Eyre.jpg) ](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gt0jxIgyp4s/RzrVVu-t1bI/AAAAAAAAAIc/iXbxiiRGqto/S692/My+Jane+Eyre.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/57 "2010-01-02T13:27:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Movies where dorky, not-conventionally-attractive girl gets the guy of her dreams? Misery She literally gets the man of her dreams :eek: ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/58 "2010-01-02T14:43:15Z")
What was the old movie starring Rikki Lake where sshe was mooning after the hot ice skater dude? It’s been at least 25 years since I’ve seen it… I remember they got together, but don’t remember if they _STAYED_ together? ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/59 "2010-01-02T14:52:03Z")
“The Faculty”, where the stereotype outcast, lesbian, goth gets the star of the football team. Love that film. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325/60 "2010-01-02T15:47:54Z")
How about [_Running on Empty_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_on_Empty_(film))? Martha Plimpton gets River Phoenix. I can’t remember if she was portrayed as dorky (awkward is more accurate, IIRC), but I consider her unconventionally attractive. And she also dated River Phoenix in real life around the time the film was made. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-dorky-not-conventionally-attractive-girl-gets-the-guy-of-her-dreams-spoilers-ok/523325.md?page=4)