Sun's out. Buns out. Huns out. When the weather heats up, it's likely you see online posts about coming into your own and letting down the walls you may have built to keep the frigidness out all winter. You may also hear people refer to "Hot Girl Summer." The phrase was coined by rapper Megan Thee Stallion in a song titled "Hot Girl Summer", featuring Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign.
While everyone has a slightly different take on what "Hot Girl Summer" is, most would agree that it comes down to having fun, being confident, not letting other people get you down, celebrating women friendship, and perhaps even a slight leaning toward recklessness if it helps you achieve any of the previous things. While a modern term, many old-school movies unknowingly fit the bill and exemplify this phrase. And hint: you don't need to be in summer to claim this as yours. So here are 10 classic movies with "Hot Girl Summer" vibes that were way, way ahead of their time.
10 Grease
It would be a sin to discuss a group of gals living it up and not mention The Pink Ladies from Grease. In the 1978 musical, we have a group of four friends: Rizzo (Stockard Channing), Marty (Dinah Manoff), French (Didi Conn), and Jan (Jamie Donnelly). Of course, we have Sandy (Olivia Newtown John) who shakes things up and forces The Pink Ladies to confront and change some of their own misguided beliefs. However, the spirit of this group definitely has Hot Girl Summer vibes. From not allowing traditional norms to dictate their sexual expression in the case of Rizzo, to smashing expectations of career and education paths you need to follow in the case of Frenchy, and even adopting some of the expectations if that's what feels best to you in the case of Marty.
On paper, it doesn't seem like these wildly different ladies would be friends, and yet they're able to. Filled with finger-snappin' songs to jam to and ballads that expose their vulnerabilities, The Pink Ladies were way ahead of their time.
9 Breakfast at Tiffany's
Let's address the elephant in the room and state that in many ways, Breakfast at Tiffany's was quite reflective of their time. The racist casting and tasteless depiction of Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi show how overlooked these issues were when this 1961 classic was released. While not diminishing that, it's also worth noting how Holly Golightly was a shift in how women, especially single women, were portrayed. Audrey Hepburn hardly needs an introduction, and of her impressive body of work, Breakfast at Tiffany's is her most iconic.
Holly Golightly did more than popularize Tiffany Blue and chignons. Holly's mission is to find and redefine herself. Holly is not fun-averse, as the parties in her apartment were sure to shake the entire building. She's flirty, she's naive, she's impulsive. And some people want to tamp down on her less palatable traits. So while Breakfast at Tffany's doesn't pass a scrutiny test through today's lens, it was very impactful for the time.
8 13 Going on 30
13 Going on 30 (2004) in many ways in a classic fish-out-of-water story. We have 13-year-old Jenna Rink who wakes up in the body of her thirty-old self, and she has to learn to adapt. Throw in Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, and Judy Greer, and it's bound to be a good time. For viewers who are craving that slightly reckless, up-for-a-good-time energy, seeing adult Jenna navigate life in New York is sure to satisfy.
Ariana Grande must've also resonated with the spirit of the film, as she included it in the films she paid homage to in her "Thank U, Next" music video in 2019. Whether we want to live vicariously through Jenna with her enviable Fifth Avenue apartment or get down to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in a club, this movie provides entertainment throughout.
7 Thelma & Louise
Thelma & Louise (1991) has become so iconic (both the film and the characters) that it's in the vernacular of people who've never even seen the film. When people are compared to Thelma and Louise, they picture two close friends who are causing lots of havoc, perhaps even brushing the lines of legality. In this movie, we watch the titular characters on a road trip. However, this is unlike any road trip the average viewer has taken.
Some classify it as the first mainstream feminist film, while others believe classifying it as feminist muddies the movement as violence and revenge are at the heart of many of the characters' actions. More than that, this is a highly entertaining film that celebrates an unlikely female friendship.
6 Legally Blonde
Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (2001) has one primary mission at the start of the film: get back her jerk of an ex-boyfriend. Not exactly Hot Girl Summer vibes. Yet, she soon realizes she has a lot more to offer than her looks and begins to expand what she even believes she can achieve. That message alone is great, but the movie goes on to not make Warner's (aforementioned jerk ex-boyfriend) new fiancé and Elle have an all-out rivalry. Sure, there are tense and catty moments, but the two quickly realize they have a lot more in common than their taste in men.
Since being yourself is paramount for HGS, it's worthwhile to note that Elle didn't denounce her ultra-feminine look and preferences in order to succeed. She rocked the courtroom in a pink suit and wore it proudly. This is a must-watch no matter the season.
5 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Released in 1953, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is the oldest film on this list. Starring iconic actresses Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell, it's an indulgent treat for modern-day audiences who have old-school taste. Protagonists Lorelei (Monroe) and Dorothy (Russell) are showgirls, so we already know there's going to be good times throughout the runtime. Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend caught the attention of the public then and now. Megan Thee Stallion herself sampled the song in her 2020 release aptly named Diamonds.
There are many issues with this film, as the women are characterized as being shallow and, as Geek Girl Authority noted, it does not pass the Bechdel test. However, when asked to change by a love interest Lorelei stands true to the woman she is and gives him the option to accept her or leave. Each woman goes after what she wants and while that largely involves me, the movie manages to still keep their friendship as a focal point.
4 Clueless
A staple in any 90s cult classic roundup, Clueless (1995) is all about confidence. Sure, in many ways the main character Cher (Alicia Silverstone) and her posse are insecure like loads of teenage girls. Yet they also possess a level of self-assuredness that is enviable for anyone. These ladies love to have fun, as evidenced in the party scene. Cher's confidence is on display when she asks for better grades from her teachers. After all, it's just a jumping-off point to start negotiations, right? Never accept a first offer, ladies!
Like always, there are moments when the characters aren't themselves and let others define who they are. But those are growing pains and in the end, these characters have stepped into themselves more fully. The style, lingo, and quotes are stellar, but the larger message is even more gripping.
3 10 Things I Hate About You
When the opening scene of 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) shows Kat Stratford (played by Julia Stiles) glaring at a group of "girly" teens listening to pop music while Kat blasts Joan Jett's Bad Reputation, avid teen rom-com viewers may cringe. Kat comes dangerously close to adopting the "I'm Not Like Other Girls Trope," but somehow the team behind this 1999 cult classic managed to dodge that one.
It isn't the scene of Kat drunkenly dancing on a tabletop that slots her and this film into this list. Rather, it's Kat's frankness to stand up to not just the toxic bully character, but her ability to do so even to her love interest. Kat's character arc is nice to see, as she allows herself to not be so hardened and extends herself to her sister and in front of the class when she reads the iconic poem. For those who love teen romcoms with a little edge, this one is great.
2 Easy A
Before she was dancing around in La La Land, Emma Stone was playing a high schooler with some of the driest humor and comedic timing ever. Easy A released in 2010 and is known as being the film that put Stone on the map. It follows Olive Penderghast (Stone) as she navigates a rumor regarding her simultaneously non-existent and prolific sex life. With obvious parallels to The Scarlett Letter, this film embodies Hot Girl Summer because Olive is fighting against the sexist backlash her purported escapades bring her.
Yet, as we noted, Hot Girl Summer is about being yourself. So, in the end, Olive drops the lies and owns who she is. She ends the movie with a great monologue. When she discusses the potential of hooking up with a guy she likes, she tells her nosy classmates, "It's nobody's goddamn business."
1 Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion is a necessary inclusion on this list. These ladies' insecurities are baked into the premise itself. They have a high school reunion but feel embarrassed over where they are in life. Spurred on by Romy (Mina Sorvino), she and Michele (Lisa Kudrow) decide first to better themselves and then because they can't change their lives in a matter of days, they opt to concoct a lie. Doctors? Nope. Lawyers? Nope. These ladies decide they will claim ownership of Post-It Notes.
Romy and Michele earned a place here not because they get into fun situations due to their lying, but because of the security they had within themselves at the start and later at the end. While leaning into the "dumb blonde" stereotype, Romy and Michele show they are a lot more capable than people would expect. Their lives may not be picture-perfect on paper, but they feel unshackled and what more can you want?
Comments
Post a Comment