Why women deserve flaky free spirits, too.
May 3, 2012 11:28 AM Subscribe
"He'd Zooey Deschaneled her, hard. He was a manic pixie dream guy." (Via Nerve.com, potentially NSFWish). Looks like the MPDG has some competition. Includes opinions from HelloGiggles, website of Alpha-MPDG Zooey Deschanel.
Harold and Maude, a little bit?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:31 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:31 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Science of Sleep fulfils this, pretty much.
posted by dng at 11:34 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by dng at 11:34 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
There is also the question of are we basing this on a one to one comparison of the MPDG's characteristics (flaky, "kooky", high-spirited, unconventional) or more their role in the story, which is to shake up our sullen sad sack protagonist and show him how to have fun again and the story role analogue to that are the romantic leads of like Meg Ryan movies who are perfect and wonderful and flawless and will take you away from your too-busy-to-notice-the-speical-things-in-life carrer and show you how to LIVE, etc.
posted by The Whelk at 11:35 AM on May 3, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 11:35 AM on May 3, 2012 [5 favorites]
No, there's only one Manic Pixie Dream Guy, and we've all already met him.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:35 AM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:35 AM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
I've been called a maniac and I enjoy Pixie Stix, close enough?
posted by jonmc at 11:38 AM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 11:38 AM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
Wow, I have rarely been more confused by a post, only to realize that it makes perfect sense, once you understand the terms.
posted by Malor at 11:40 AM on May 3, 2012
posted by Malor at 11:40 AM on May 3, 2012
Oh, look, it's a list of every male character I've ever had an uncontrollable crush on. Starring Peter Pan and Fox Mulder, of course! Yeah, already knew that about myself, thanks for the reminder though.
posted by Mizu at 11:43 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Mizu at 11:43 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Also the conventions of the Romance Genre is that the couple always gets together at the end. It's one of the defining characteristics of a genre romance, so you'd have to look for movies that have the romantic elements but don't end up with the couple together.
posted by The Whelk at 11:44 AM on May 3, 2012
posted by The Whelk at 11:44 AM on May 3, 2012
Don't get us wrong — we love romantic movies where both characters are complex...But not every single movie can be Wild Strawberries.
An odd choice: Wild Strawberries is hardly a romantic movie, and at its most romantic, Bibi Andersson actually exhibits some MPDG symptoms. The difference isn't that she's not a cipher, but that old Isak knows she is.
posted by Beardman at 11:46 AM on May 3, 2012
An odd choice: Wild Strawberries is hardly a romantic movie, and at its most romantic, Bibi Andersson actually exhibits some MPDG symptoms. The difference isn't that she's not a cipher, but that old Isak knows she is.
posted by Beardman at 11:46 AM on May 3, 2012
Having grown up with girls who used the original Greek spelling of Zoe, every time is see Zooey I read it as Zoo-ey, i.e. a bit place-where-captive-animals-live-ey. Which kinda negates any cute pixiness that could otherwise be derived.
posted by i_cola at 11:53 AM on May 3, 2012 [9 favorites]
posted by i_cola at 11:53 AM on May 3, 2012 [9 favorites]
I like the commenter in one of the articles who mentions Jack Dawson from Titanic. Very good call.
posted by Rock Steady at 11:58 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Rock Steady at 11:58 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Womyn, if I can offer some advyce: stop putting canis lupis familiaris into your pocketbook. We men are looking for something a little less mundane.
Got it. Hedgehog in a bindle from now on!
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:02 PM on May 3, 2012 [19 favorites]
Got it. Hedgehog in a bindle from now on!
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:02 PM on May 3, 2012 [19 favorites]
Got it. Hedgehog in a bindle from now on!
♫ Hedgehog in a bindle, I know. I know. It's serious. ♫
posted by mykescipark at 12:06 PM on May 3, 2012 [32 favorites]
♫ Hedgehog in a bindle, I know. I know. It's serious. ♫
posted by mykescipark at 12:06 PM on May 3, 2012 [32 favorites]
JINX
posted by mykescipark at 12:06 PM on May 3, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by mykescipark at 12:06 PM on May 3, 2012 [5 favorites]
In my single days, I would totally have dated a woman with a hedgehog in a bindle.
posted by tdismukes at 12:07 PM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by tdismukes at 12:07 PM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
Someone said that Jack in Titanic was the equivalent of a Manic Pixie Dream Guy. I haven't seen the movie so I don't know, though.
Here's the thing, though. Manic Pixie Dream Girls are also all insane, but they're crazy in a feminine way. They appear weak and helpless in a certain sense, and guys want to protect and nurture them, in a sense. They are crazy in a stereotypically feminine way.
On the other hand, wouldn't the male equivalent be crazy in a stereotypically masculine way.
So I'm thinking, actually, someone like Don Draper might be the equivalent. He's crazy and behaves irrationally from time to time, but at the same time he exudes masculinity and so on. Seems like a lot of girls are into him.
Isn't, in a sense, the "bad boy" in general kind of the inverse of the MPDG? Is the MPDG the female equivalent of a "bad boy"?
posted by delmoi at 12:14 PM on May 3, 2012 [11 favorites]
Here's the thing, though. Manic Pixie Dream Girls are also all insane, but they're crazy in a feminine way. They appear weak and helpless in a certain sense, and guys want to protect and nurture them, in a sense. They are crazy in a stereotypically feminine way.
On the other hand, wouldn't the male equivalent be crazy in a stereotypically masculine way.
So I'm thinking, actually, someone like Don Draper might be the equivalent. He's crazy and behaves irrationally from time to time, but at the same time he exudes masculinity and so on. Seems like a lot of girls are into him.
Isn't, in a sense, the "bad boy" in general kind of the inverse of the MPDG? Is the MPDG the female equivalent of a "bad boy"?
posted by delmoi at 12:14 PM on May 3, 2012 [11 favorites]
Is the MPDG the female equivalent of a "bad boy"?
Maybe "bad boy" crossed with "knight in shining armor"?
Anyways, now I want a Manic Pixie Dream Girl in Shining Armor.
posted by XMLicious at 12:16 PM on May 3, 2012
Manic Pixie Dream Guy who she meets when she sees him getting kicked out of a coffee shop because he refuses to leash his hedgehog (best euphemism ever, by the way), which he carries in a bindle.
I think hedgehogs are illegal as pets in California, and it may be illegal to be a MPDGuy outside of California. This could be part of the plot/conflict, however.
posted by weston at 12:22 PM on May 3, 2012
I think hedgehogs are illegal as pets in California, and it may be illegal to be a MPDGuy outside of California. This could be part of the plot/conflict, however.
posted by weston at 12:22 PM on May 3, 2012
a guy I was hooking up with at the time, an aspiring artist whose favorite movie was Garden State.
ahahahahahhaahahahahahahahahahgggggggggggg *gunshot*
posted by nathancaswell at 12:25 PM on May 3, 2012 [8 favorites]
ahahahahahhaahahahahahahahahahgggggggggggg *gunshot*
posted by nathancaswell at 12:25 PM on May 3, 2012 [8 favorites]
On the other hand, wouldn't the male equivalent be crazy in a stereotypically masculine way.
I think this is an important distinction. The MPDGuy, to be a true equivalent to the MPDGirl would be much more Jim Morrison or like a composite of all of Johnny Depp's characters for the last 10 years. The MPD(X) has to bring silliness and Dionysian revelry and joie de vivre into the life of their romantic interest. That looks different (in that socially-determined gender expression way) for men and women.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:29 PM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
I think this is an important distinction. The MPDGuy, to be a true equivalent to the MPDGirl would be much more Jim Morrison or like a composite of all of Johnny Depp's characters for the last 10 years. The MPD(X) has to bring silliness and Dionysian revelry and joie de vivre into the life of their romantic interest. That looks different (in that socially-determined gender expression way) for men and women.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:29 PM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
There is also the question of are we basing this on a one to one comparison of the MPDG's characteristics (flaky, "kooky", high-spirited, unconventional) or more their role in the story, which is to shake up our sullen sad sack protagonist and show him how to have fun again
So, TinyNipples on Community?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:38 PM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
So, TinyNipples on Community?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:38 PM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
So what have we learned? No matter what you like in a person, somebody will have a problem with it, so just ignore everyone and do what you want.
posted by jonmc at 12:39 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jonmc at 12:39 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh oh here's one that I never had a crush on: Tyler Durden from Fight Club.
posted by Mizu at 12:46 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Mizu at 12:46 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Socially, we seem to be much more worried about whether or not the po-faced Zach Braffs of the world are carpe-ing the diem as hard as they can than that glum girls are taking the tiny joys of the world for granted. Maybe it's because these narratives are overwhelmingly male-written that they seem overrepresented? Perhaps women, having been socialized to seem nice much more often than men, don't seem to have that cloak of angst. I honestly don't know. I write lots of stories about surly girls retreating into their own surliness, though, so maybe I have a skewed outlook. I guess what I'm saying is that women (as depicted in popular culture) don't seem to need the rescuing function that the MPDGirl's love interest needs.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:52 PM on May 3, 2012
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:52 PM on May 3, 2012
Oh oh here's one that I never had a crush on: Tyler Durden from Fight Club.
Guy-on-ManicPixieDreamGuy
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:53 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Guy-on-ManicPixieDreamGuy
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:53 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Guy-on-ManicPixieDreamGuy
This is more or less the plot to I Love You Phillip Morris.
posted by The Whelk at 12:54 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is more or less the plot to I Love You Phillip Morris.
posted by The Whelk at 12:54 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
I fell in love with a MPDG eleven years ago; it went just as well as you would have expected. (Well, technically he was more of a Cloud Cuckoo-Lander, but same difference.)
Sensibly, I married Roast Beef.
posted by subbes at 1:03 PM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
Sensibly, I married Roast Beef.
posted by subbes at 1:03 PM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
There is a very simple reason why Hollywood doesn't offer the MPDGuy: women will sit through a MPDGirl movie, but men won't sit through a MPDGuy movie. So the question isn't why doesn't Hollywood make women-oriented movies, it is quite simply why will women sit through male movies. If it's that they're entertained, fine. But...
But the MPDGirl movie is the analogue of the action movie, not a romcom. In an action movie, the man is strong, superficially vulnerable but ultimately invincible, and when he walks off into the sunset sad/lonely/isolated, it is a mark of his strength. Well, that's the MPDG. She saved the guy, and she's off. Because everyone knows............ pretty girls have the self confidence to leave a relationship that isn't "right;" or, when a relationship isn't right, it is the woman who has to do the breaking up.
Imagine this was real life: the MPDGirl leaves. What would they guy feel? Growth? Maturity? Spiritual and artistic renewal? No, the guy would be a stalker. "Hey Zooey, why are you leaving? I thought we had something special? You're just letting that other guy corrupt your mind; you know he doesn't love you, he just loves what you can do for him."
The MPDGrils fantasy isn't about the girl, but about the guy: "how awesome would it be that not only could I score Zooey Deschanel, but that I'd have the maturity and self-confidence to let her go once I realized we weren't really right for each other?" It would be cool, but you're a skinny guy in a Dune Messiah t-shirt. So it's a fantasy. Fortunately, Zooey has the wherewithal to dump you.
posted by TheLastPsychiatrist at 1:09 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
But the MPDGirl movie is the analogue of the action movie, not a romcom. In an action movie, the man is strong, superficially vulnerable but ultimately invincible, and when he walks off into the sunset sad/lonely/isolated, it is a mark of his strength. Well, that's the MPDG. She saved the guy, and she's off. Because everyone knows............ pretty girls have the self confidence to leave a relationship that isn't "right;" or, when a relationship isn't right, it is the woman who has to do the breaking up.
Imagine this was real life: the MPDGirl leaves. What would they guy feel? Growth? Maturity? Spiritual and artistic renewal? No, the guy would be a stalker. "Hey Zooey, why are you leaving? I thought we had something special? You're just letting that other guy corrupt your mind; you know he doesn't love you, he just loves what you can do for him."
The MPDGrils fantasy isn't about the girl, but about the guy: "how awesome would it be that not only could I score Zooey Deschanel, but that I'd have the maturity and self-confidence to let her go once I realized we weren't really right for each other?" It would be cool, but you're a skinny guy in a Dune Messiah t-shirt. So it's a fantasy. Fortunately, Zooey has the wherewithal to dump you.
posted by TheLastPsychiatrist at 1:09 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sensibly, I married Roast Beef.
It just requires some vampire cosplay and toast holding from time to time.
posted by The Whelk at 1:10 PM on May 3, 2012 [5 favorites]
It just requires some vampire cosplay and toast holding from time to time.
posted by The Whelk at 1:10 PM on May 3, 2012 [5 favorites]
a Dune Messiah t-shirt
Whoa, I need one of these.
posted by adamdschneider at 1:18 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Whoa, I need one of these.
posted by adamdschneider at 1:18 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
The MPDGirl is the romantic Mary Poppins. That's why she has to leave. Someone else always needs her a little bit more than you do.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 1:20 PM on May 3, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 1:20 PM on May 3, 2012 [6 favorites]
So, how much to be Zooey Deschaneled? For an hour?
posted by Thorzdad at 1:21 PM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 1:21 PM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
You what would be hot on like 7 levels? Zooey Deschaneling Zooey Deschanel!
posted by signal at 1:31 PM on May 3, 2012
posted by signal at 1:31 PM on May 3, 2012
Wait, if they're not manic, or pixie-ish, maybe this isn't a great term?
posted by bongo_x at 1:42 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by bongo_x at 1:42 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Guy-on-ManicPixieDreamGuy
This is more or less the plot to I Love You Phillip Morris.
And nevermore will I need to search for the words to describe this movie to anyone who hasn't seen it.
Related: Nina Simone's Cover of "To Love Somebody" is extremely good.
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:44 PM on May 3, 2012
This is more or less the plot to I Love You Phillip Morris.
And nevermore will I need to search for the words to describe this movie to anyone who hasn't seen it.
Related: Nina Simone's Cover of "To Love Somebody" is extremely good.
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:44 PM on May 3, 2012
I've never really understood why the idealized female of romance movie is manic. The idealized female of plot heavy pornography? Sure, sex with manic women is a blast, but the mania can really be a problem if you're trying to have a relationship. At that point you really need to say "yeah, that was fun, but why don't you get medicated and start sleeping."
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:48 PM on May 3, 2012
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:48 PM on May 3, 2012
The quintessential Manic Pixie Dream Guy movie is actually Earth Girls Are Easy.
posted by kyrademon at 2:00 PM on May 3, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by kyrademon at 2:00 PM on May 3, 2012 [8 favorites]
The idea that there is an archetype of MPDGuy, the way there is of MPDG, doesn't really convince me. Fox Mulder and many of the other examples don't seem to fit - although Doctors 10 and 11 do.
I think delmoi is onto something with the bad boy. The flip side of the kooky, free-spirit girl who blasts your boring, drab life into pieces is the bad boy who drives up on his motorcycle, takes the pins out of your hair and persuades you to ride off, leaving your book bag on the library steps.
What tickles me about Desperately Seeking Susan is that Roberta has two manic pixie dream people, both women - Susan and herself. it's like the best meta-commentary on MPDGs, long before the term was coined.
posted by Squeak Attack at 2:08 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think delmoi is onto something with the bad boy. The flip side of the kooky, free-spirit girl who blasts your boring, drab life into pieces is the bad boy who drives up on his motorcycle, takes the pins out of your hair and persuades you to ride off, leaving your book bag on the library steps.
What tickles me about Desperately Seeking Susan is that Roberta has two manic pixie dream people, both women - Susan and herself. it's like the best meta-commentary on MPDGs, long before the term was coined.
posted by Squeak Attack at 2:08 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Someone mentioned this in the comments to the story, but Johnny Depp's character from "Benny and Joon?"
posted by drezdn at 2:12 PM on May 3, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 2:12 PM on May 3, 2012 [3 favorites]
John Green, who has written a lot of books with Manic Pixie Dream Girls (including one that was meant to subvert this trope but still had the girl absent for most of the book and served as little more than motivation for the male MC to go on adventures despite textual protestations to the effect that no, she's a real girl, sorry I didn't see any evidence in the book, John Green), recently wrote one with a perfect Manic Pixie Dream Boy in The Fault in Our Stars. Like, boy fits the trope in every single respect.
It bothered me less, though, because of the cultural trappings surrounding it. It's common to reduce women to objects and muses. Less common to do so with male characters. If more manic pixie dream boys means more women with goals and personalities of their own in fiction, then bring on the MPDB.
Also, yeah, Fox Mulder is not one of these. He's brooding, but he's also independently motivated and doesn't exist as a plot device for Scully even though their relationship expands her horizons. It's failing to have a story of your own that's really the mark of the manic pixie. Johnny Depp in Benny and Joon, however, is definitely a MPDM.
(Both of these characters are hot, but that's a little besides the point.)
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:24 PM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
It bothered me less, though, because of the cultural trappings surrounding it. It's common to reduce women to objects and muses. Less common to do so with male characters. If more manic pixie dream boys means more women with goals and personalities of their own in fiction, then bring on the MPDB.
Also, yeah, Fox Mulder is not one of these. He's brooding, but he's also independently motivated and doesn't exist as a plot device for Scully even though their relationship expands her horizons. It's failing to have a story of your own that's really the mark of the manic pixie. Johnny Depp in Benny and Joon, however, is definitely a MPDM.
(Both of these characters are hot, but that's a little besides the point.)
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:24 PM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
On the other point, the idea that while MPDGs are common in movies but rare in life while MPDBs are more common in life and rare in movies and I went through my mental Rolodex and I can find MPDG (who literally exited our social group on hidden goth roller skates whie suckin on a lollipop) but I can name enough MPDBs as I have fingers - oh yes red headed anarchist kid back from s study of sustainable development in Ghana but what you really want to do his play folk music you can totally stay on my couch for as long as you want your opinions are so charming and fun oh wait where did you go?
posted by The Whelk at 2:39 PM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 2:39 PM on May 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
Your search for "puer aeternus" found 0 results.posted by Sticherbeast at 3:27 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Here's my baseless assertion.
The MPDGirl phenomenon is not sparked by men's desires to get the MPDGirl.
It's men's desires to BE the manic pixie dream girl.
The girl represents freedom from fear and obligation and judgment, all things that a typically modern man cannot have. Modern struggle with identity. The "strong, silent type" model is a politically incorrect dinosaur. The "Continental cool" model is unattainable. The "player-player douchebag model" is douchebag. Heck, even the "ultimate nerd model" is unrealistic.
None of the models work, or are unfulfilling.
We're looking for a model that is tough and masterful, yet one that is still politically correct and acceptable. Something sexy and cool and impossible dismiss. The one that offers the maximum value in every setting.
There's one. There's another. How about most of the female characters in anime?
The MPDGirl was coined by "Film critic Nathan Rabin ... after seeing Kirsten Dunst in Elizabethtown."
Think back on Elizabethtown, the movie. Imagine you're a young guy.
Forget about which character you identify with. Which character in that movie do you want to BE?
Orlando Bloom?
Please.
OK, maybe this version. But still. Isn't Legolas pretty much an effeminate character anyway?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:32 PM on May 3, 2012 [3 favorites]
The MPDGirl phenomenon is not sparked by men's desires to get the MPDGirl.
It's men's desires to BE the manic pixie dream girl.
The girl represents freedom from fear and obligation and judgment, all things that a typically modern man cannot have. Modern struggle with identity. The "strong, silent type" model is a politically incorrect dinosaur. The "Continental cool" model is unattainable. The "player-player douchebag model" is douchebag. Heck, even the "ultimate nerd model" is unrealistic.
None of the models work, or are unfulfilling.
We're looking for a model that is tough and masterful, yet one that is still politically correct and acceptable. Something sexy and cool and impossible dismiss. The one that offers the maximum value in every setting.
There's one. There's another. How about most of the female characters in anime?
The MPDGirl was coined by "Film critic Nathan Rabin ... after seeing Kirsten Dunst in Elizabethtown."
Think back on Elizabethtown, the movie. Imagine you're a young guy.
Forget about which character you identify with. Which character in that movie do you want to BE?
Orlando Bloom?
Please.
OK, maybe this version. But still. Isn't Legolas pretty much an effeminate character anyway?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:32 PM on May 3, 2012 [3 favorites]
Yeah, The Doctor in season five of NuWho really nails this down, but then, what was he supposed to be that season other than Peter Pan to Amy's Wendy?
posted by Navelgazer at 3:35 PM on May 3, 2012
posted by Navelgazer at 3:35 PM on May 3, 2012
You guys are going to be so embarrassed when the doctor shows up to take me on adventures.
posted by The Whelk at 3:44 PM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:44 PM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
1) Flakiness is a DATING COMMANDMENT, people! If you want the upper hand in your relationships, go out of your way to ensure that you're the person who cares the least. Not that I expend energy in ensuring all of the guys in my friendzone are smitten with me or anything. ;)
2) Watch it, @coolpapabell! :P Elizabethtown is my favorite movie of all time and Drew (Orlando Bloom) is the neurotic, Woody Allen-like, workaholic dreamguy that all girls daydream about. I'd marry him in a New York minute...without a pre-nup.
- lotusmish, who most closely resembles Claire (Kirsten Dunst) in both style and personality
posted by lotusmish at 4:54 PM on May 3, 2012
2) Watch it, @coolpapabell! :P Elizabethtown is my favorite movie of all time and Drew (Orlando Bloom) is the neurotic, Woody Allen-like, workaholic dreamguy that all girls daydream about. I'd marry him in a New York minute...without a pre-nup.
- lotusmish, who most closely resembles Claire (Kirsten Dunst) in both style and personality
posted by lotusmish at 4:54 PM on May 3, 2012
the neurotic, Woody Allen-like, workaholic dreamguy that all girls daydream about.
Bull.
Shit.
Don't.
Make.
Me.
Laugh.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:10 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Bull.
Shit.
Don't.
Make.
Me.
Laugh.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:10 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
every time is see Zooey I read it as Zoo-ey, i.e. a bit place-where-captive-animals-live-ey
Wait, you mean, it's not? I always thought she spelled it "Zooey" so that people would pronounce it "zoo-ey" and not the same as the normal "Zoë". Is it actually supposed to be pronounced the same way? I can't see how that is supposed to work.
posted by Mars Saxman at 5:15 PM on May 3, 2012
Wait, you mean, it's not? I always thought she spelled it "Zooey" so that people would pronounce it "zoo-ey" and not the same as the normal "Zoë". Is it actually supposed to be pronounced the same way? I can't see how that is supposed to work.
posted by Mars Saxman at 5:15 PM on May 3, 2012
Anyways, now I want a Manic Pixie Dream Girl in Shining Armor
ha! you should have seen me back in the 90's when I was in my chainmail phase
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:58 PM on May 3, 2012
ha! you should have seen me back in the 90's when I was in my chainmail phase
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:58 PM on May 3, 2012
The quintessential Manic Pixie Dream Guy movie is actually Earth Girls Are Easy.
kyrademon I love you now more than ever
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 6:54 PM on May 3, 2012
kyrademon I love you now more than ever
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 6:54 PM on May 3, 2012
A crazy naked guy comes from space, causes you to break up with your tepid yuppie boyfriend and gives you magic space orgasms at his very touch before taking you in his SPACESHIP to UNKNOWN ADVENTURES, yeah hard to beat Earth Girls Are Easy for wishfullfillment
posted by The Whelk at 6:57 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 6:57 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Wait, you mean, it's not? I always thought she spelled it "Zooey" so that people would pronounce it "zoo-ey" and not the same as the normal "Zoë". Is it actually supposed to be pronounced the same way? I can't see how that is supposed to work.
She pronounces it Zoe, but she's named after (the male) Zooey Glass and who knows how Salinger pronounced it?
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:56 PM on May 3, 2012
She pronounces it Zoe, but she's named after (the male) Zooey Glass and who knows how Salinger pronounced it?
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:56 PM on May 3, 2012
Oh oh here's one that I never had a crush on: Tyler Durden from Fight Club.Tyler Durden essentially filled the role of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl for another dude. So he's like a manic pixie dream buddy.
Except Chuck Pahalunuk is a gay guy, so it makes me wonder if Durden is almost a MPDG for a gay dude.
If thats the case then, we have a gap:
| Straight | Gay --------+---------------+---------------- Male | Zooey D. | Tyler Durden --------+---------------+---------------- Female | Johnny Depp | ????posted by delmoi at 8:13 PM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Someone mentioned this in the comments to the story, but Johnny Depp's character from "Benny and Joon?"
I absolutely thought of Benny while reading this article. He channels Chaplin, he makes toast with an iron, he has no appreciable real life skills. He fits the mold.
posted by meinvt at 8:26 PM on May 3, 2012
I absolutely thought of Benny while reading this article. He channels Chaplin, he makes toast with an iron, he has no appreciable real life skills. He fits the mold.
posted by meinvt at 8:26 PM on May 3, 2012
Liz Lemon's boyfriend character in 30rock is a MPDG.
posted by j03 at 9:31 PM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by j03 at 9:31 PM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
Delmoi, what about (Kissing) Jessica Stein?
God, the issues I have with that movie...
posted by Mizu at 11:22 PM on May 3, 2012
God, the issues I have with that movie...
posted by Mizu at 11:22 PM on May 3, 2012
Wait, Jessica Stein was the main character. Whoever the girlfriend is. Ugh. Excuse me, I have to go forget that movie exists again.
posted by Mizu at 11:24 PM on May 3, 2012
posted by Mizu at 11:24 PM on May 3, 2012
I hated Garden State. My SO really liked it. This is why we must never breed.
posted by mippy at 8:14 AM on May 4, 2012
posted by mippy at 8:14 AM on May 4, 2012
Anyway, this article made me think of Billy from Pulling - the guy who turns up, gets you drunk, shags you on the floor where you work, vomits then leaves again.
posted by mippy at 8:15 AM on May 4, 2012
posted by mippy at 8:15 AM on May 4, 2012
1) Flakiness is a DATING COMMANDMENT, people! If you want the upper hand in your relationships, go out of your way to ensure that you're the person who cares the least. Not that I expend energy in ensuring all of the guys in my friendzone are smitten with me or anything. ;)
I do not have this 'friendzone'. I have friends, and I have boyfriends, and sometimes one comes from the other. That's actually how most of my female friends got together with their partners. We're not at school anymore, y'know? And flakiness after thirty or so - as opposed to just preferring casual sex - just seems a bit childish. Like nihilism, flakiness is for teenagers.
posted by mippy at 8:18 AM on May 4, 2012 [1 favorite]
I do not have this 'friendzone'. I have friends, and I have boyfriends, and sometimes one comes from the other. That's actually how most of my female friends got together with their partners. We're not at school anymore, y'know? And flakiness after thirty or so - as opposed to just preferring casual sex - just seems a bit childish. Like nihilism, flakiness is for teenagers.
posted by mippy at 8:18 AM on May 4, 2012 [1 favorite]
My Ultimate Manic Pixie Dream Guy: Vince Noir.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:35 PM on May 4, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:35 PM on May 4, 2012 [2 favorites]
And Chewbacca's.
posted by drezdn at 1:25 PM on May 4, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by drezdn at 1:25 PM on May 4, 2012 [1 favorite]
Nein, nein, nein, Luke would be on lead guitar, Chewie on drums, and Darth Vader on bass...
What were we talking about?
posted by bongo_x at 5:32 PM on May 4, 2012
What were we talking about?
posted by bongo_x at 5:32 PM on May 4, 2012
I think delmoi is onto something with the bad boy. The flip side of the kooky, free-spirit girl who blasts your boring, drab life into pieces is the bad boy who drives up on his motorcycle, takes the pins out of your hair and persuades you to ride off, leaving your book bag on the library steps.
Huh, so Dirty Dancing? And in the end, Baby does move on from him and it's sad but happy and hopeful.
posted by Salamandrous at 3:32 PM on May 5, 2012
Huh, so Dirty Dancing? And in the end, Baby does move on from him and it's sad but happy and hopeful.
posted by Salamandrous at 3:32 PM on May 5, 2012
Like nihilism, flakiness is for teenagers
This is rather unfair to nihilism. Silver lining, you have reminded me I still need to read Nihil Unbound.
posted by adamdschneider at 5:52 PM on May 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is rather unfair to nihilism. Silver lining, you have reminded me I still need to read Nihil Unbound.
posted by adamdschneider at 5:52 PM on May 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Gay MPDG: Shane. It's totally Shane.
posted by C. K. Dexter Haven at 7:35 AM on May 6, 2012
posted by C. K. Dexter Haven at 7:35 AM on May 6, 2012
Just saw this thread, and I agree with the Bad Boy over the MPDG interpretation.
Natalie Portman works much better with Thor than with Anakin, right?
Pepper Potts has Tony Stark.
Buffy had Angel.
Every supermodel ever had some drug-addicted (or formerly drug-addicted) musician.
Bad Boys for the win.
posted by misha at 3:54 PM on June 1, 2012
Natalie Portman works much better with Thor than with Anakin, right?
Pepper Potts has Tony Stark.
Buffy had Angel.
Every supermodel ever had some drug-addicted (or formerly drug-addicted) musician.
Bad Boys for the win.
posted by misha at 3:54 PM on June 1, 2012
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Peter Pan. Book version even way more so.
posted by The Whelk at 11:30 AM on May 3, 2012 [7 favorites]