The Chick Flick Goes Gross Out

The Female Playboy

Post 9/11 Chick Flicks

Transitional style predominant between 2001-2006 (Negra) E.g. Two Weeks Notice (2002), Maid in Manhattan (2002), How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days (2003) Postfeminism ideas in films were halted after 9/11 "By re-securing the home we will re-secure the homeland." (Negra)

Structural Integrity
Most films were set in New York, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco post 9/11 Urban settings were idealized A strong physical structure equals a strong social structure

"Miswanting"
Conservative discursive Heroine lost her way Professional ambition is a "blind alley" Confessions of guilt or wrongdoing

Masculinity in Post 9/11 Chick Flicks

Rehabilitation of masculinity Working class moral purity Urban structures remain intact so does patriarchy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFGr2_cOOTk

Post "Post 9/11" Rebellion

Rebellion against Post 9/11 conservatism Period of transition between Post 9/11 and grossout chick flicks (2007-2010) "...gross-out, juvenile humor isnt just for guys... women also appreciate lewd humor" Natalie Portman (2009)

The Gross-Out Chick Flick

New Sub-Genre Established itself in the box office with Bridesmaids, No Strings Attached, Friends with Benefits, Bad Teacher - all released in 2011 Some would say, this sub-genre was also critically accepted with Young Adult (2011)

The Female Playboy

The gross-out chick flicks has a female playboy as its protagonist The female playboy can be characterized as a woman who behaves "badly". Opposite to Animal Comedies - male submission to female sexual desire

"New Rules"
Cursing is not only allowed but expected License to "get crazy", drunk, high Male and female nudity more democratic No longer the female protagonist is "forbidden" to have non-gay male friends

Why did "What's Your Number?" fail?

In What's Your Number? (2011), Ally Darling is the female playboy bound to traditional gender rules She acts like a guy but follows the old quest to get married "before it's too late" The #20 matters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhF7-QreW2I

Question
Why weren't gross-out chick flicks prevalent in the Hollywood landscape prior to 2011? Was it because producers were afraid audiences weren't ready yet? Or was it because the female playboy character hadn't been fully developed yet as a protagonist - or fully committed - prior to that year? Do you agree with Negra that 9/11 may have slowed down the postfeminist movement in movies? Or is there another reason?