Every female soccer player knows, loves and can spew out quotes verbatim of the movie She’s the Man. As a female soccer player myself, I have watched, re-watched and constantly loved this film. It emits a strong sense of feminism that is quickly picked up by the viewer. As a girl who’s played sports my entire life, the theme of this film is incredibly empowering. It illuminates the ideology that women are just as strong and capable as men in the world of sports.

Thrown into the category “chick flick”, She’s the Man does not immediately appear to be a complex portrayal of the human experience within modern society. (As many times as I have viewed it, it is in writing this review that I have realized the direct and obvious relationship to Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night.)

Director Andy Fickman accomplishes the daunting task of transforming an exhausted Shakespearean play and (at first glance) “chick flick” in the development of Viola as a character throughout the film.

 

The film opens on a scene dominated by Viola competitively playing soccer with her friends, portraying the extent of her abilities as a soccer player. Aggressively duking out fellow players (including males), Viola runs the ball towards the opposing team’s goal line. This shoot then utilizes a jump cut to a lifeguard’s lifesaver ring, which is put into focus as Viola shoots the ball in the blurry background. When the ball is successfully shot through the ring of the lifesaver, the camera focuses on Viola and her celebration of the accomplishment. The mise-en-scene of this shoot depicts a young woman who clearly has a passion and talent for soccer in ways that the others within the scene (including the males) do not. This furthers the overarching ideology to deconstruct gender stereotypes that Fickman intends.

 

The plot begins with Viola depicted as a typical high school girl, and a part of the girls’ soccer team. However, the catalyst is quickly thrown into the mix, destroying life as she knows it. Her soccer team is cut from the school, and the boy’s coach (and her boyfriend) mock her for suggesting the girl’s try out for the boy’s team.

“It’s a scientific fact. Girls can’t beat boys! It’s as simple as that.”

-Coach Pistonek

Many a time I have sat around with eighteen of my best friends (my soccer team) to watch this movie, and this line always makes us cringe. “Umm excuse us? We are JUST as good as the boys if not BETTER!” This emotion-filled scene, depicted in the photograph above uniquely illustrates the use of mise-en-scene due to the positioning of the characters. The male coach, who is declaring that females are scientifically proven to be less athletic than males, is being literally surrounding by an offended group of female soccer players. This illustrates the feeling of offense that erupts as an effect of the coach’s words.

This clear patronization instills an emotion of frustration and personal investment into anyone watching the film. As the narration continues, this ideology that “it’s a scientific fact that boys are better than girls” is shattered and the retaliation of feminism succeeds. This is culturally relevant to society today because although women have come a long way, there continue to be lingering biases defining gender roles.

The conflict of gender roles takes center stage again as Viola’s mother begs her to become a debutant and a “woman”. The scenes surrounding the debutant portion of the film illuminate the clear expectations engulfing the ideal image of what a woman “should” be. However, Fickman derails this image by portraying Viola as a more “manly” or “sloppy” woman who is unconcerned with her dainty “womanly” image.

 

In this scene, Viola is surrounded by young women, like herself, that are all exemplifying the gender roles, while she is knowingly breaking them. This scene hits home with me, and with most athletic women. It’s a comical depiction of what it feels like to be a strong, athletic female. Women are stepping into what has historically been considered male turf (sports), and in turn we are depicted in a more “manly” (meaning sloppier) manner. We are considered “un-lady-like”, just like Viola. And this ideology has plagued our lives. Without knowingly doing so, we have taken this societal definition and placed it upon ourselves. It has been instilled in us that we are “un-lady-like” and “manish”. It’s a commonality to hear an athletic woman joke about how much food she can eat and how fast she can consume it. It’s joked about due to the societal pressure that women are not supposed to eat like this, or be a part of this world in any way. However, by creating the character of Viola, Fickman commends these traits and produces a role model of a strong, independent, young woman who is not defined by these gender roles.

Viola’s character furthers her disgust towards the typical female gender roles in this scene;

Viola decidedly states that she will not be wearing heels because they are “a male invention”. Thus indicating that the gender roles that are placed upon women are placed upon them by men and their expectations and desires. By not wearing heels, Viola ignores the gender role, therefore illuminating Fickman’s intentional disregard of the stereotypical female character.

Gender roles are debunked further within this film in the form of the character Duke, Sebastian’s (who Viola is impersonating) roommate. Unlike the typical image inflicted upon teenage boys, Duke portrays a male character that is interested in more than just boobs and the gym. He has a hard time talking to girls and he desires a relationship that is “more than just physical”. Although he attempts to conceal it, he has a sensitive side. In the macho world of the young male, sensitivity is synonymous with weakness and femininity. Therefore, the gender roles that define men restrict them from showing any form of emotion what-so-ever.

Fickman attacks societal implications of gender roles from both sides of the spectrum. He utilizes a strong female lead to break the expectation that all women are “proper”, and uncover the implications of society’s views on women in the world of sports. Directly parallel to this, he employs a supporting role of a male character who does not fit into society’s expectations of what “male” should look and act like. Together, this lethal combination tears down the sustained ideology defining men and women within society.

At first glance, She’s the man appears to be a simplistic portrayal of a young woman who does something crazy in order to pursue what she desires and falls in love in the end. A classic uninvolved chick flick. However, at a closer look, the feature depicts a complex depiction of the societal gender roles placed upon women, as well as men today. This seemingly simplistic film has had a personal impact upon me throughout my years of soccer and is a classic that has empowered all female soccer players for the duration of their careers.

 

CITATIONS

“Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film / Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film DVD / Writing about Movies Booklet, (9780393934632), Richard Barsam, Textbooks – Barnes & Noble.” Barnes & Noble – Books, Textbooks, EBooks, Toys, Games, DVDs and More. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

 

She’s the Man. Dir. Andy Fickman. Prod. Lauren Shuler-Donner and Ewan Leslie. By Ewan Leslie. Perf. Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, and Laura Ramsey. DreamWorks Distribution LLC, 2006.

Every female soccer player knows, loves and can spew out quotes verbatim of the movie She’s the Man. As a female soccer player myself, I have watched, re-watched and constantly loved this film. It emits a strong sense of feminism that is quickly picked up by the viewer. As a girl who’s played sports my entire life, the theme of this film is incredibly empowering. It illuminates the ideology that women are just as strong, and capable as men in the world of sports.

Thrown into the category “chick flick”, She’s the Man does not immediately appear to be a complex portrayal of the human experience within modern society. (As many times as I have viewed it, it is in writing this review that I have realized the direct and obvious relationship to Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night.)

Director Andy Fickman accomplishes the daunting task of transforming an exhausted Shakespearean play and (at first glance) “chick flick” in the development of Viola as a character throughout the film.

She begins as a typical high school girl, and a part of the girls’ soccer team. However, the catalyst is quickly thrown into the mix, destroying life as she knows it. Her soccer team is cut from the school, and the boy’s coach (and her boyfriend) mock her for suggesting the girl’s try out for the boy’s team.

“It’s a scientific fact. Girls can’t beat boys! It’s as simple as that.”

-Coach Pistonek

Many a time I have sat around with eighteen of my best friends (my soccer team) to watch this movie, and this line always makes us cringe. “Umm excuse us? We are JUST as good as the boys if not BETTER!”

This clear patronization instils an emotion of frustration and personal investment into anyone watching the film. As the narration continues, this ideology that “it’s a scientific fact that boys are better than girls” is shattered and the retaliation of feminism succeeds. This is culturally relevant to society today because although women have come a long way, there continue to be lingering biases defining gender roles.

The conflict of gender roles takes center stage again as Viola’s mother begs her to become a debutant and a “woman”. The scenes surrounding the debutant portion of the film illuminate the clear expectations engulfing the ideal image of what a woman “should” be. However, Fickman derails this image by portraying Viola as a more “manly” or “sloppy” woman who is unconcerned with her dainty “womanly” image.

In this scene, Viola is surrounded by young women, like herself, that are all exemplifying the gender roles, while she is knowingly breaking them. This scene hits home with me, and with most athletic women. It’s a comical depiction of what it feels like to be a strong, athletic female. Women are stepping into what has historically been considered male turf (sports), and in turn we are depicted in a more “manly” (meaning sloppier) manner. We are considered “un-lady-like”, just like Viola. And this ideology has plagued our lives. Without knowingly doing so, we have taken this societal definition and placed it upon ourselves. It has been instilled in us that we are “un-lady-like” and “manish”. It’s a commonality to hear an athletic woman joke about how much food she can eat and how fast she can consume it. It’s joked about due to the societal pressure that women are not supposed to eat like this, or be a part of this world in any way. However, by creating the character of Viola, Fickman commends these traits and produces a role model of a strong, independent, young woman who is not defined by these gender roles.

Viola’s character furthers her disgust towards the typical female gender roles in this scene;

Viola decidedly states that she will not be wearing heels because they are “a male invention”. Thus indicating that the gender roles that are placed upon women are placed upon them by men and their expectations and desires. By not wearing heels, Viola ignores the gender role, therefore illuminating Fickman’s intentional disregard of the stereotypical female character.

Gender roles are debunked further within this film in the form of the character Duke, Sebastian’s (who Viola is impersonating) roommate. Unlike the typical image inflicted upon teenage boys, Duke portrays a male character that is interested in more than just boobs and the gym. He has a hard time talking to girls and he desires a relationship that is “more than just physical”. Although he attempts to conceal it, he has a sensitive side. In the macho world of the young male, sensitivity is synonymous with weakness and femininity. Therefore, the gender roles that define men restrict them from showing any form of emotion what-so-ever.

Fickman attacks societal implications of gender roles from both sides of the spectrum. He utilizes a strong female lead to break the expectation that all women are “proper”, and uncover the implications of society’s views on women in the world of sports. And directly parallel to this, he employs a supporting role of a male character who does not fit into society’s expectations of what “male” should look and act like. Together, this lethal combination tears down the sustained ideology defining men and women within society.

At first glance, She’s the man appears to be a simplistic portrayal of a young woman who does something crazy in order to pursue what she desires and falls in love in the end. A classic uninvolved chick flick. However, at a closer look, the feature depicts a complex depiction of the societal gender roles placed upon women, as well as men today. This seemingly simplistic film has had a personal impact upon me throughout my years of soccer and is a classic that has empowered all female soccer players for the duration of their careers.

 

Thrown into the category “chick flick”, She’s the Man does not quickly appear to be a complex portrayal of the human experience within modern society. However, due to the underlying principles related to sexuality, feminism, and Shakespearean text, this underrated flick contains provoking details that are culturally relevant and heavily discussed throughout the modern human world. She’s the Man portrays the modern life of an average American high school girl whose soccer team has been cut. In order to pursue the game she loves, Viola Hastings impersonates her twin brother to gain entry to a boys’ team. This movie adequately depicts a division within modern society that labels boys as better than girls at physical activity. Viola cannot try out as herself for the men’s soccer team, she must hide her identity in order to be accepted and allowed to play with boys. However, by making the team, Viola shatters the image created by society proving that she is clearly able to keep up with the boys. This culturally relevant component of the movie enacts a feeling of feminism that is present throughout the feature. Before deciding to impersonate her brother, Viola asks for a chance to continue to play on the boys’ team. She is scoffed at by all of the male characters and chastised for this “unreasonable” request. So as the strong female lead that she represents, she takes matters into her own hands and conquers those prior ideals that men are better than women at what they do and how they do it.

Furthermore, the content that explores the relationship between the two genders is advanced in the form of idealized gender roles. Viola wants to play soccer with the boys, but her mother expects her to be a debutant and become a “woman”. This illuminates the perceived roles that men and women are placed into. Men are supposed to want to roughhouse, play sports, and get dirty and women are expected to sit still and be pretty. However what an individual wants to do and pursue in life is completely up to that individual and not a direct reflection of societal expectations, and the movie empowers this point.

The element of the movie in which Viola impersonates (and virtually becomes) her brother can be interpreted within the realm of sexuality in a variety of ways. As a boy, Viola attempts to mask her feminine side, indulging the idea that men must be “manly” and “strong” at all times. Whenever one of her “girly” traits would inevitably creep to the surface, the circle that she was trying to become a part of (soccer team of boys) would question her integrity, and she would have to come up with an excuse for the event. Furthermore, more than ever society today is concerned with the role that sexuality plays within the human experience. It also plays a pivotal role within this movie. By impersonating a boy, Viola is concealing the fact that she is a girl, altering her sense of identity. This metaphorically relates to how some people feel as transgender or homosexual within society. Many times, these characteristics are hidden in order for a person to feel like they “fit in” to what society sees as “normal” or “acceptable”. In doing this, a person can lose their sense of identity. She’s the Man ushers this critical issue within modern society to the surface, forcing the viewer to question the role that it plays. These societal restrictions are changing, however this ideology and metaphor depicted within this movie is still relevant, in many ways, to today’s culture.   

At first glance, She’s the man appears to be a simplistic portrayal of a young woman who does something crazy in order to pursue what she desires and falls in love in the end. A classic uninvolved chick flick. However, at a closer look, the feature depicts a twisted love triangle involving a main character who is hiding behind the guise of the opposite sex. Which should sound familiar as it is the plot of Twelfth Night; a play written by Shakespeare in which a young woman (Viola) disguises herself as her twin brother and falls into a twisted love triangle. Again, sound familiar? She’s the Man directly copies this Shakespearean comedy (down to the names of the characters) and throws it into a seemingly believable modern-day situation.

 

References:

Looking at Movies, Fifth Addition

She’s the Man