# Movies where the fat/nerdy/annoying guy could realistically get the girl. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 27, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751 "2009-05-27T00:14:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/1 "2009-05-27T00:14:09Z")
I was just watching _Fanboys_. Not a great movie, but it had it’s moments. One part that bothered me though was the idea that Kristen Bell would be in any way interested in Jay Baruchel’s character. I’m just not buying it. It got me thinking, that is a pet peeve of mine. The unbelievable pairings of interesting attractive women with losers. The eighties was full of this. Can you guys think of any movies where it’s within the realm of possibility that in real life the guy would get the girl? By guy I mean nerdy/fat/annoying. and By girl I mean attractive AND interesting. The only example I can think of is _The Tao of Steve_ and I think this is only because he wore her down. But It was at least believable. ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/2 "2009-05-27T00:18:04Z")
Oops. Misspelled realistically. ---
**Author:** ![bytheway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bytheway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bytheway)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/3 "2009-05-27T00:18:49Z")
Sixteen Candles. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/4 "2009-05-27T00:19:38Z")
The plot of [Angus](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112368/) was believable. ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/5 "2009-05-27T00:27:56Z")
> [@bytheway](#): > > Sixteen Candles. The guy was attractive..if a bit dense. Molly Ringwald was cute and certainly interesting, but I never saw her as completely nerdy. I guess because she played the princess in The Breakfast Club, but it was always hard to see her as undesirable. But it does fit the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/6 "2009-05-27T00:49:13Z")
Anything is possible. How do I know? Real life examples: [Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050607/PEOPLE/506080301) (married 40 years) [Paulina Porizkova and Ric Ocasek](http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ric-ocasek/photos/265314) (married almost 20 years) It didn’t last, but [Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett](http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20110791,00.html) [Jo Andres and Steve Buscemi](http://www.flickr.com/photos/emohen/1658503017/) (married 22 years) I know there are tons more, but those came to mind immediately. Regarding **Sixteen Candles** , I thought maybe it was a reference to The Geek and Caroline, rather than Sam and Jake. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/7 "2009-05-27T01:02:42Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I know there are tons more, but those came to mind immediately. Heh. I was gonna ask if a movie had been made of _The Billy Joel Story_. ---
**Author:** ![bytheway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bytheway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bytheway)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/8 "2009-05-27T01:07:31Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Regarding **Sixteen Candles** , I thought maybe it was a reference to The Geek and Caroline, rather than Sam and Jake. Yes, this is what I was referring to; the Geek & the Trophy Girlfriend appeared to have made a connection. Another John Hughes / Molly Ringwald movie which perhaps better fits the OP is Pretty in Pink. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/9 "2009-05-27T01:33:54Z")
Forgetting Sarah Marshall Can’t Hardly Wait Shallow Hall (although the girl was also fat) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/10 "2009-05-27T01:49:21Z")
Forgetting Sarah Marshall was ridiculous. The odds of one hot chick finding Jason Segel attractive were low. The odds of two of them doing it simultaneously were nearly infinitesimal. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/11 "2009-05-27T01:55:56Z")
_Knocked Up_ seemed believable because of the situation. Katherine Heigl’s character only sleeps with Seth Rogen’s because she’s drunk. Then, when she gets pregnant, she allows him to be in her life, and he just sort of worms his way into her affections. Normally, she never would have given him the time of day. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/12 "2009-05-27T01:57:45Z")
I always thought that Jonah Hill in Superbad getting the girl was pretty believable. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/13 "2009-05-27T03:19:42Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Anything is possible. How do I know? Real life examples: > > [Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050607/PEOPLE/506080301) (married 40 years) > > [Paulina Porizkova and Ric Ocasek](http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ric-ocasek/photos/265314) (married almost 20 years) > > It didn’t last, but [Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett](http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20110791,00.html) > > [Jo Andres and Steve Buscemi](http://www.flickr.com/photos/emohen/1658503017/) (married 22 years) > > I know there are tons more, but those came to mind immediately. > > Regarding **Sixteen Candles** , I thought maybe it was a reference to The Geek and Caroline, rather than Sam and Jake. There’s a difference between “not the best looking men in the world” and “nerdy,” “fat” or “annoying.” You’re talking about film and rock stars with extreme charisma and talent. You really think Steve Buscemi is a nerdy and annoying guy in real life? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/14 "2009-05-27T03:21:17Z")
_Encino Man_ ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/15 "2009-05-27T03:32:41Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > You’re talking about film and rock stars with extreme charisma and talent. You really think Steve Buscemi is a nerdy and annoying guy in real life? No, but Ric Ocasek has looked like the first wave of the dessicated zombie corpse invasion pretty much since 1979. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/16 "2009-05-27T03:32:53Z")
**Clerks II**. Kevin Smith commented in the credits that Rosario Dawson’s acting was so amazing, even _he_ thought she’d have fucked Dante! **Blaze**. Granted, the shlubby guy was played by Paul Newman, but he was an old Paul Newman. Lolita Davidovitch, at the peak of her babe-o-liciousness, looked about right as Blaze Starr and Newman, old and craggy as he was at that point, still looked a lot better than the real-life Gov. Earl Long. ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/17 "2009-05-27T10:00:02Z")
I actually thought that it wasn’t that unbelievable in Fanboys; the way Kristen Bell is portayed during the film doesn’t make her look especially hot or unreachable (while she is by no means ugly or anything) it is only in the last scene (yeah the Leia one) where the combination seems unlikely and I think they even use that when the brother of the carsales guy (too lazy to look up names, but Roy from the Office) says somithing like : _How did you get to hit that?_ ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/18 "2009-05-27T10:03:49Z")
> [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](#): > > I actually thought that it wasn’t that unbelievable in Fanboys; the way Kristen Bell is portayed during the film doesn’t make her look especially hot or unreachable (while she is by no means ugly or anything) it is only in the last scene (yeah the Leia one) where the combination seems unlikely and I think they even use that when the brother of the carsales guy (too lazy to look up names, but Roy from the Office) says somithing like : _How did you get to hit that?_ Shatner did it. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/19 "2009-05-27T13:36:38Z")
**Miri and Zak make a Porno** …perfect example of that “mismatched” couple. However, I think the mismatch is the rule, rather than the exception. In real life, there are very few even matches. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751/20 "2009-05-27T14:08:09Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > **Blaze**. Granted, the shlubby guy was played by Paul Newman, but he was an old Paul Newman. Lolita Davidovitch, at the peak of her babe-o-liciousness, looked about right as Blaze Starr and Newman, old and craggy as he was at that point, still looked a lot better than the real-life Gov. Earl Long. Looks didn’t count in that real-life relationship. Gov Long had political power, and a lot of it. In the real world that gives ugly men an edge up over good-looking only guys every time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-the-fat-nerdy-annoying-guy-could-realistically-get-the-girl/497751.md?page=2)