I Feel Sh%^&y: A Review of Amy Schumer’s ‘I Feel Pretty’

Amy Schumer’s latest movie, I Feel Pretty, is here to inspire us all to love our bodies the way they are, while somehow negating the body positivity movement, #effyourbeautystandards, and kick-ass women like Ashley Graham serving trolls with brutal comebacks on the regular. Schumer (Trainwreck) plays Renee, an employee at a beauty company, insecure about her appearance, and lacking in male attention. Following a painful looking accident involving a spin bike, Renee wakes up to believe she is incredibly beautiful, capable, confident, and thin. Because in the world of I Feel Pretty, you’re no-one unless you’re skinny. Basically, if Schumer’s latest is meant to inspire us all to believe in ourselves, even when we’re utter garbage, it totally misses the mark, and here’s why:

Schumer isn’t fat, ugly, or unsuccessful.

The point of this movie is, presumably, no matter who you are or what you look like, unless you have confidence in yourself, you’re missing out on everything life has to offer. But the continued disparaging comments about Schumer’s appearance, a woman who is neither overweight nor conventionally unattractive, only serve to remind the audience that they’re the biggest pieces of shit in this scenario. Because if a woman who looks like Schumer is mistreated by just about everyone she meets, what hope is there for a Jessica Simpson t-shirt wearing, maxed out my BMI five years ago, concealer melting into my eye sockets daily, failure like me? Contemporary reviews echoed discomfort with the film's assumption about Schumer's appearance, noting that the premise required audiences to accept her as unattractive despite her actual looks and public profile. The film earned a 35 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, reflecting that same unease from critics who found the central joke difficult to land without feeling like it undercut its own message.

The male love interest.

Ethan, a man who attends Zumba classes because he feels uncomfortable exercising next to macho men at the gym, is a throwback to a world without the Time’s Up movement. Stories in which he laments the fact that his high school crush still won’t date him are meant to endear us to his “sweet harmless guy” persona. But it’s impossible to overlook his entitled attitude, and the presumption that he’s the nice guy that women should fuck, but don’t because WOMEN ARE CLEARLY THE PROBLEM. That Schumer, or anyone, is meant to be wowed by this guy’s schtick is offensive to every romantic comedy fan, who at least deserves a Tom Hanks in You’ve Got Mail level creeper, who has the decency to reveal his copious issues with women in an internet chat room. Cast details confirm Rory Scovel's portrayal of Ethan as a low-key, supportive partner who never received major reevaluation in later coverage, leaving the character as a mild counterpart rather than a fully realized romantic lead.

The presumption that only so-called skinny people exercise

The biggest piece of bullshit this movie has to offer is the idea that only women of a certain size exercise. Sure, SoulCycle classes are an elite world I’ve yet to experience, but Schumer’s awkward interactions with gym staff and fellow participants perpetuate a stereotype that is dated and dangerous, and needs to stop. I go to the gym in my Saw t-shirt and oversized slacks, and so should you if you want. Reviews highlighted those awkward gym scenes as a clear perpetuation of stereotypes, with critics noting how the film leaned on the outdated idea that confidence and fitness belonged only to a narrow body type.

Regular women are good for one thing: beauty campaigns

Anyone who’s sat through a Dove commercial or two knows that “regular women” help to sell a multitude of products. But as I Feel Pretty makes clear, so-called normals are only useful when you need to sell a cheaper line of products. While the movie’s sentiment isn’t wrong per se, it neglects to explore the cynical marketing ploy it effuses. Because why explore an important issue when you can merely use it for your own financial gain? Some reviews called out the commercial tie-in aspect of the empowerment message, pointing to the film's use of an affordable product line as a convenient way to frame its central idea without deeper examination.

The ‘Dawson’s Creek’ reunion that never was

Starring Michelle Williams (All the Money in the World) and Busy Philipps (Made of Honor), this movie should’ve filled my Team Dawson heart with joy. Co-written by Philipps’s husband, and the screenwriter of He’s Just Not Into You, the Creek-magic we all deserved was sadly lacking, and that just sucks! While chemistry among the cast was present, Michelle Williams' performance stood out positively in reviews, with praise for her comedic timing providing balance to the original disappointment note.

Legacy of the film's body image message in later media

The film's mixed reception highlighted challenges in balancing comedy with empowerment themes. Later works have explored confidence without concussion plot devices, moving away from the premise that self-worth requires a sudden physical transformation. The movie grossed roughly 94.5 million worldwide on a 32 million budget, yet its legacy rests more on the conversation it sparked than on commercial success. Subsequent comedies have leaned into body positivity without relying on the same device of sudden delusion, showing how later projects attempted to sidestep the tonal issues that marked I Feel Pretty.

Amy Schumer's evolving public comments on body image

Schumer has addressed body shaming in various interviews over the years, often reflecting on how public scrutiny shaped both her stand-up and her film choices. Those comments have evolved from direct responses to early criticism into broader observations about industry standards and audience expectations. While the film itself stayed fixed in its 2018 moment, Schumer's later remarks have shown a continued willingness to engage with the same topics the movie attempted to tackle, even when the execution drew pushback.

Supporting cast performances beyond the main critique

Williams' comedic turn received specific acclaim in reviews, with several outlets noting how her timing and contrast to dramatic roles added unexpected energy to the ensemble. Busy Philipps brought familiar warmth to her part, and the pairing with Schumer created moments that felt more grounded than the central premise allowed. These supporting performances provided pockets of genuine charm even when the script struggled to support them.

Availability and audience reception today

The film streams on platforms like Hulu with continued mixed viewer notes on message. Retrospective discussions often revisit the same core complaints about tone and premise, though some audiences appreciate the cast chemistry as a separate draw. Occasional mentions of the Dawson's Creek connections still surface in online conversations, keeping the reunion element alive for fans who came for that angle despite the film's broader shortcomings.