Makeover in Reverse: Sam Sparks

This is my first post on a new blog of musings on pop culture, gender and whatnot (both polished entries and rough writing seeking a purpose). Comments appreciated!

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As the feminist aunt of two preteens, I am often in the position of gifting them with media. This Christmas I pondered getting them the DVD of Pixar's "Up," but as it seems to perpetuate the notion of men as adventurers/rescuers and women as absent/silent/domestic characters, I bought them the requested "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" instead. I figured this may promote carnivorous eating but the gender politics had to be better. I just watched the movie with a 12 and 9-year-old.

I wasn't quite prepared for the character of Sam Sparks, a svelte, ambitious weather reporter sent to a remote island to cover a non-event for her news station. Naturally she becomes the love interest of Flint, the town scientist, but the film offers a few twists and commentary on gender politics:

1. Sam is actually a smart scientist herself who covers her smarts with a flighty feminine act. We see that she matches the knowledge of the main character Flint (and in some ways supersedes him).

2. When asked why she tries to hide her smarts, she reflects on her past of being teased for being a nerd and admits she can't see well without her glasses. Male scientist encourages a reverse makeover -- big glasses, scrunchy -- and urges her to be herself.

3. Her breaking news report is silenced by the news station who can't see beyond her new, nerdy look. (A commentary on the shallow appearance focus of TV news?)

3. She is among the first to notice when the food machine goes awry and helps navigate the main character through a storm to shut it off. However, she stops short of heroism as peanut brittle infects her with a debilitating allergy. The main character saves the world with his own quick thinking and invention.

4. She later facilitates communication between the main character and his gruff father. (Did I mention his mother is dead?)

The celebration of the female (cute) nerd is a welcome move in a cartoon. However, should we really create a dichotomy between beauty and smarts, and why was she felled by the allergy? Why not have her steer the ship?

Still, you gotta love the reverse makeover scene, second only to the bride's transformation to ogre in "Shrek."