ADVERTISEMENT

Amy Schumer's new movie, 'I Feel Pretty,' has a 36% on Rotten Tomatoes and is projected to bomb at the box office

Critics are tearing apart the new Amy Schumer-led comedy, "I Feel Pretty," after the film's trailer spurred an online backlash ahead of the movie's release.

Critics are panning the new Amy Schumer-led comedy, "I Feel Pretty," with the film's trailer having already spurred an online backlash this week ahead of the movie's release on Friday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Schumer stars as the film's lead character, Renee, who the film's website says "struggles with feelings of deep insecurity and low self-esteem" but one day "wakes from a brutal fall in an exercise class believing she is suddenly a supermodel."

Written and directed by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, "I Feel Pretty" drew criticism on social media earlier this week over its trailer, which some argued appeared to promote a negative stance on issues of body image.

Schumer has responded to the backlash in interviews with multiple outlets. She told Vulture that audiences should see the film before judging it, and she described how she felt the film addressed issues of low self-esteem.

ADVERTISEMENT

"It's not about an ugly troll becoming beautiful — it's about a woman who has low self-esteem finding some," Schumer told Vulture. "Everyone's got a right to feel that feeling, regardless of their appearance."

But film critics appear to have not found much redeeming material in "I Feel Pretty." The film has a 36% "Rotten" rating on the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

"I Feel Pretty" is also expected to open to a slow start in theaters this weekend. The Wrap projected that the film was set for an opening of $13 million to $15 million at the box office, well below the release of Schumer's 2015 film, "Trainwreck," which opened with $30 million and went on to gross $140.7 million worldwide.

Here are a few of the harshest reviews of the film so far:

"An honest-to-God fiasco. Virtually every single aspect of this rigidly unfunny comedy is botched, from the characters to the plot, the themes to the core message."

ADVERTISEMENT

Inkoo Kang, The Wrap

"'I Feel Pretty' takes a talented comic and casts her in the worst possible light (and I don't mean that literally — she looks fine)."

Sara Stewart, The New York Post

"Ersatz and predictable, 'I Feel Pretty' just wanders in circles of amiable confusion, and the star never finds a groove that connects the two halves of Renee into one believable woman."

Ty Burr, Boston Globe

ADVERTISEMENT

"The comedy rarely addresses 2018 image issues in an intelligent or self-knowing way. Instead, it sticks to the basics, such as the revelation that beautiful women have boyfriend problems too."

Mara Reinstein, US Weekly

"'I Feel Pretty' wants to eat its cake and have it, too — inviting us to laugh at women because of how they look, while scolding us for doing so."

Michael O'Sullivan, The Washington Post

"Amy Schumer plays yet another shallow New Yorker with self-esteem issues in 'I Feel Pretty,' but it seems that with each starring role, the characters become more pitiful and the life lessons more corny."

ADVERTISEMENT

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, The AV Club

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

From 1,500 to 52,000: The student boom reshaping UK immigration laws

From 1,500 to 52,000: The student boom reshaping UK immigration laws

Russia and China are much less sneaky than the West - DRC president

Russia and China are much less sneaky than the West - DRC president

10 countries in Africa with the worst press freedom in 2024

10 countries in Africa with the worst press freedom in 2024

FCMB Group sustains growth momentum, profit rises 192.6% in Q1 2024

FCMB Group sustains growth momentum, profit rises 192.6% in Q1 2024

DBNC 2024 impacts, sets the pace for entrepreneurs

DBNC 2024 impacts, sets the pace for entrepreneurs

Navigating success: Insights from a leading IT expert

Navigating success: Insights from a leading IT expert

US and French governments are lobbying Nigeria to host their military bases - report

US and French governments are lobbying Nigeria to host their military bases - report

Russian aid arrives in Niger amid growing bilateral ties

Russian aid arrives in Niger amid growing bilateral ties

Kentucky Derby betting sites 2024: Where to bet on the races online

Kentucky Derby betting sites 2024: Where to bet on the races online

ADVERTISEMENT