Movie Analysis: A Cinderella Story

The popular Cinderella fairy tale is updated in the modern film “A Cinderella Story”. Replacing the glass slipper with a cell phone, the prince for a popular high school jock, and the princess as a waitress at a diner, “A Cinderella Story” humorously retells the timeless story of an unexpected romance. In the film, Sam Montgomery selflessly abandons her own desires to serve her egocentric step-mother and step-sisters. Austin Ames lives a popular and privileged life but is secretly conflicted between his own ambitions and the life that his father imagines for him. Sam and Austin maintain an anonymous and intimate online relationship but when Sam finds out that her prince charming is the handsome quarterback for the football team, she fears his rejection, and avoids all of his efforts to discover her identity. But when both characters courageously reject the social hierarchy that has previously dictated their high school relationship, love prevails and the two end up living happily ever after! 

Sam and Austin’s initial interactions take place through emails and text messages. In an extended scene, Sam and Austin are depicted messaging one other throughout the duration of the day. Though the relationship at this point in the movie remains anonymous and does not include any physical interactions, this excerpt communicates the ways in which men are expected to act in a heterosexual romantic relationship. Throughout the scene Austin poetically converses with Sam, stating that ““I can be surrounded by a sea of people and feel all alone. Then I think of you”” (Lowry, 2004). Austin’s use of idyllic language portrays men as emotionally capable, deep, and communicative. Throughout the scene Austin continues to be portrayed as a sensitive and poetic figure. He utters a romantic excerpt from Lord Alfred Tennyson that reads ““Half the night I waste in sighs…in a wakeful doze I sorrow, for the hand, the lips, the eyes, for the meeting of the morrow…”” (Lowry, 2004). His use of poetry conveys a transparent sensitivity that communicates to the audience that the ideal man should possess an emotional vulnerability and openness. The emotional intimacy displayed by Austin runs counter to prominent masculine commitment tendencies shown in the media. As found by Janna L. Kim and her colleagues, men tend to prefer sexual fulfillment over emotional intimacy (Kim, 2007, p. 153). However, despite this popular media portrayal, Austin rejects carnal and superficial impulse and alternatively demonstrates strong communicative skills that reveal his emotional complexity.

On the contrary, the same excerpt portrays women in the opposite light. When Austin asks Sam “When can we finally meet?” Sam responds with a terse “Soon”! (Lowry, 2004). Contrasted with Austin’s eagerness to interact with Sam, her ambiguous response is not only unpoetic but reveals an emotional uncertainty. Her lack of communication is reflective of her apprehension in pursing an emotionally intimate relationship. This theme is carried out to the end of the scene when Austin asks to formally meet Sam at the school’s homecoming dance; a question to which she does not respond. Sam’s inexpressiveness and hesitance regarding the progression of the relationship is contrasted with the stereotypical media portrayals of women. Her hesitance and lack of emotional expression runs counter to the results of Kim’s study. According to Kim, women tend to seek “…greater stability and emotional intimacy”, but contrastingly Sam avoids this intimacy by attempting to postpone the escalation of her and Austin’s relationship. (Kim, 2007, p. 153).

In a later scene, Sam and Austin meet in disguise at a Halloween homecoming dance. Sam is masked as a princess and Austin is clothed as a prince. In this excerpt Austin leads Sam to an isolated and elaborately decorated gazebo under which they dance. When entering the gazebo, Austin politely asks Sam if she would like to dance. 

This verbal exchange demonstrates the popular belief that men are to be the initiators in romantic relationships. This scene supports the finding that men are typically portrayed using “…active and powerful strategies to win women’s affection” (Kim, 2007, p. 152). This masculine courtship strategy is frequently applied when males engage in the courting ritual by asking women out (Kim, 2007, p. 152). Therefore, when Austin asks Sam to dance he reinforces the stereotypical gender role popularly portrayed in the media. Throughout this scene Austin continues to assert his romantic interest in Sam by tenderly dancing with her, giving her a flower, and stating that he would “absolutely” like to see Sam again (Lowry, 2004). Austin’s bold assertion of his romantic interest in Sam demonstrates that ideal men are to be romantic pursuers in heterosexual relationships.

In this scene women are portrayed as not only being the pursued but also as contradictorily luring and rejecting the romantic advances of the man. Throughout the scene Sam shyly smiles and casts her gaze downward prompting further interest from her suitor. Sam’s behavior is in accordance to the feminine courtship strategy stating that “Women use passive and alluring strategies to win men’s affection” (Kim, 2007, p. 152). Her timid demeanor attracts Austin but when he responds with physical advancements to remove her mask, she rejects him by turning away. Sam’s inconsistent behavior communicates to the audience that women should be subtly alluring but also withholding. Sam enacts the notion that women need to attract and sustain the interest of men while upholding their sexual morals and emotional stability.

Lastly, one of the concluding scenes takes place at the school’s final football game. Sam is in the stands watching as Austin prepares the play that is anticipated to win the championship game and award him a college scholarship. But when Austin sees Sam exit the bleachers he runs off the field and grabs Sam for a kiss! 

This grand romantic gesture reaffirms the notion that men should be the sexual initiators as well as emotionally attuned and expressive. Austin’s bold declaration of his feelings is presented in front of the entire student body; a powerful strategy used to solidify the affection of Sam. This scene rewards Austin’s pursuit and emotional vulnerability with the love of a women therefore, communicating to the audience that men should be active romantic pursuers who desire emotional intimacy and commitment with a single woman. This example runs counter to the masculine commitment code stating that “Men want/need independence” (Kim, 2007, p. 153). But this alternative narration may be counteracted by the dominant gender role that Austin maintains. Mirroring prominent findings, dominant acts such as initiating sexual advancements is associated with masculinity (Holz Ivory et. al, 2009, p. 181). So while this scene, and those previously analyzed offer an alternative representation of masculinity, its strength is limited because the movie continuously reinforces gendered scripts of behavior.  

During this concluding scene, this excerpt reveals women as emotionally invested and submissive. Sam leaves the football game because she is overcome by emotion and though not stated desires Austin’s affection. Sam’s feelings for Austin correspond to the idea that “Women want/need relationships” (Kim, 2007, p. 153). Though Sam attempts to be indifferent to Austin’s rejection, she is upset when he temporarily withholds his affection. Sam feelings for Austin contradicted with the previous portrayal of Sam, who earlier seems to avoid emotional intimacy. Though her increasing feelings for Austin could be explained by the time elapsed between their initial interactions and the football game, I believe that this inconsistent behavior belittles the alternative female scripts previously offered by the film. 

This excerpt also reveals Sam as a submissive female. Though she is upset with Austin she does not attempt to make any amends, but instead waits for him to make a grand romantic gesture that expresses his love for her. Sam exhibits this submissive behavior most prominently when she abstains from decisiveness and submits to the kiss initiated by Austin. This scene communicates the popular message that women are to be pursued and submissive to a man’s physical and emotional decisions within the heterosexual relationship.  It portrays the idea that women are subject to the man’s physical and emotional desires, and that she is to wait for him to dictate the status of their relationship.

Overall this film offers narratives for both male and females that reject prevalent gender scripts, but these alternative narrations are coupled with stereotypical depictions that reinforce the binary of men and women. This film communicates that men are to covet emotional intimacy, be verbally expressive, to pursue women, while being the dominant figure in the heterosexual relationship. Women are to be emotionally skeptical, they are alluring and reject the advances of men, but simultaneously desire intimate relationships while being submissive to the man’s dictation of the relationship. Though these portrayals clearly contradict one another they may assist in irradiating the mediated binary between men and women by offering a spectrum of behaviors that are exchanged based on the characters’ circumstances.

References

Holz Ivory, A., Gibson, R., & Ivory, J. D. (2009). Gendered relationships on television: Portrayals of same-sex and heterosexual couples. Mass Communication and Society, 12(2), 170-192.

Kim, J. L., Lynn Sorsoli, C., Collins, K., Zylbergold, B. A., Schooler, D., & Tolman, D. L. (2007). From sex to sexuality: Exposing the heterosexual script on primetime network television. Journal of Sex Research, 44(2), 145-157.

Lowry, H. (Producer), & Rosman, M. (Director). (July 16, 2004). A Cinderella Story [Motion picture]. United States: Warner Bros. Entertainment.