I need y’all to know that this comment section is my favourite of all my videos. Y’all are so wholesome, thank you for sharing your stories about this film, pls keep them coming I love bonding over this precious film. 🥰💖
I had this on VHS and watched it once every couple weeks with my mom, it's one of our favorites to this day. This film is soooo underrated and even watching it as many times as I have, I still catch new things. Like in the dance Ray does at the end, she's copying Molly's moves from earlier in the film when they were in her room.
Chick-flicks have always appealed to me even when mainstream ideas of femininity didn't, because about ever third was earnestly reaching out to some messy human being that needs to feel seen! Have you seen Phantom Thread? There's lots of juicey subtext and a couple of wonderfully strong women! Alrighty I'm off to check out the rest of you stuff
This was a movie I absolutely loved as a teen. I was born in 88 so I definitely remember first experiencing this move by digging it out of the bargain bin at Blockbuster, but every time I caught it on TV or on a streaming service throughout the years I watched it all the way through. I was intrigued by the film growing up because despite being full of laughs there were moments that would have me sitting back and quietly crying to myself. Molly and Ray were lovely characters that helped me understand that growing up and being an adult would be scary but it was also a blessing that not everyone got. I was a fairly reserved kid, much like Ray, and I was always concerned with mortality and the passage of time because my mom had me later in life and I knew that she’d be gone long before I was fully ready for her to be. So I’d over compensate and act more adult and skip out on a lot my childhood to do things with her that normal kids wouldn’t necessarily think to do because I wanted us to have all the time together that I could get. We had a beautiful relationship and I will never regret the time I skipped out on kids birthdays or school dances or retreats to be with my mom, but I do sometimes regret not giving that little girl inside me a bit more grace to be a kid and to experience life the way a normal kid my age would have. This movie is still one of my top ten favorite movies because it was one of the first movies I remember watching where the love interest was not the point of the story.
Movie really demonstrates how toxic it is for a kid to be "mature for their age" or "well-adjusted". And how important it is for parents to be there for their kids emotions. Cause they are too little to process them alone.
Children being “adult “ is way too over praised. It should be a warning sign. There’s a reason the kid is acting like an adult. It’s because they have to take care of themselves.
My aunt was very sick I had to grow up fast as a kid and then when she passed I lost it and regressed. It’s very difficult as a child to go through that type of loss🥺😭
When I was 12 I very vividly remember that a man checked me out of school. Worried me, naturally, since I was taught not to go with a stranger, but something told me to go. He bought a snack for me, put me in his car with my two sisters, and took us to a building. Turns out he was sent to come pick us up and take us there because we were being taken out of my mother's care and put into foster care. I shed exactly one tear when I was informed. Then when we were picked up again and I was informed my sisters and I would be separated, I didn't cry at all when I watched my youngest sister at five exit the car and go into a stranger's house where I could no longer watch over her. I was told that I took the incident very well compared to most other kids. It didn't sit well with me and it still doesn't that I didn't remotely know how to process what was happening because my brain was actively trying to protect me from the impact, and it messed me up for years that I couldn't cry about it.
It's so weird and the same thing happened with turning red, it overall was said to be a failure but I don't know a single girl who didn't absolutely love the movie because it was fun and really relateable, then I realized it's probably because a lot of reviewers are male😢 turning red is literally one of my favorite modern Disney movies and I was so shocked to find out it didn't do well😮 and I feel like uptown girls would get similar treatment if it was released today
@@wellbuttermybiscuits7My main issue with Turning Red was just that the characters were too realistic. They acted their age, and kids at that age are incredibly cringe-inducing, I literally cannot handle watching that movie lmao, maybe if I related more I'd he able to overcome that but jesus christ
@@tvfan591 obviously the comment is saying “men” and referring to men who uphold the patriarchy, which gay men can also do. I would know i am gay and have seen it myself, get off your high horse. We do care what women think when it comes to media, your comment on the other hand has barely any thing critical of use
You heard the word male and went full brain dead, yeah many male critics didn't like it a lot of men did and still do, me included. Stop being bigoted.
I HATE the idea of "this character has flaws, so it's a bad character" thinking from so many critics. EVERYONE has flaws- and the only BAD characters are those so unrelatable due to perfection and excelling in EVERYTHING for no reason on than to just living... Flawed characters feel more human and real, more relatable - even if their circumstances are ENTIRELY different and unrelatable (like a massive rich girl life).
there’s so many well written articles echoing this sentiment!! flawed characters are real! humans are flawed and showing this is so important! especially protesting female characters. it’s important to show how multifaceted we are as people!!
It's especially levied against protagonists who are young women/girls, and especially especially in television (which is less known for complexity and depth). Most recently, I've seen this in Shameless and Gilmore Girls.
@@remytherat2929 I know right! Apparently Frank can go around doing drugs and committing crimes, being a completely absent father, and Lip can become an alcoholic and drop out of college, but Fiona goes through a rough period FOR ONCE IN HER LIFE, and she's the villain. Also, everyone acting like what happened to Liam was her fault. There were other adults in the room - nobody else intervened either.
@@sparksfly6149 then they want to act like lip was always such an amazing 2nd dad to the kids without giving Fiona ANY credit for raising them all (including lip) from at least SIX YEARS OLD, literally dropping out of school and not taking jobs that would be good for her own life because of the siblings she had to raise. And when she finally tries to advance herself in life she’s“selfish” and “a bitch”. Like omg do these people not hear themselves?? Sorry but I have a lot of feelings about shameless and Fiona lol.
@@shirley444Six years pass by incredibly quickly. While I'm sure Dakota Fanning would've changed a lot in the intervening period, I'm also sure she would've remembered Brittany Murphy very fondly and been devastated at her sudden death all the same.
@@shirley444 So, because Dakota was young she wouldn’t remember Brittany? I remember losing people when I was a little child. It STILL hurts in 2023 at the age of 27.
I remember watching and enjoying this movie as a child and rewatching it now as an adult, the messaging is so deep. I'd argue that another reason why Molly likes Neil is because he reminds her of her dad and when he told her that he has to go home, she immediately didn't want him to leave
@@breewashere our parents are literally where we learn our courtship models and relationship styles from, so it's actually perfectly expected in anybody to have some link there.
I loved this movie when I was young and I am shocked that the “adult” character was supposed to be only 22. I would’ve guessed 28. 22 is still so young, she was fine 😭
I watched this movie recently and I was shocked that she is supposed to be barely out of college age. Were people just more mature 20 years ago? 23 year olds are babies to me.
Im really glad they depicted huey as a man who was really molly’s friend and now trying to date her or have a one night stand. It was really nice to see a man being a friend in film not a love interest :)
And he was her only true friend as Ingrid was down on her the entire time not trying to empathize with how difficult her life must have been. She also seemingly blames her for loosing all of her money, when she didn’t. She trusted someone who her parents trusted to handle her finances. She was never taught ever how to manage money or pay bills. She didn’t go broke because she was gambling all of her money away, if was stolen. Ingrid offers to help her, but not really. When she doesn’t fit the box that she has for her she gets angry at her. Huey helps her get a job, lets her stay with him, and listens to her talk and doesn’t put her down every chance he gets.
another thing to point out - we can infer molly’s parents provided that safe vulnerable space for her, and in turn even in their absence she’s able to grow up embracing her emotions. whereas rey’s absent parents - though still alive - have not provided that safe space for her.
Which is why Molly wanted to stay a child and Rey wanted to become an adult. Molly had a safe childhood, Rey didn't. It's different ways of attempting to skip over trauma. Very clever movie.
One of the greatest things about this film is the intentional costuming. "Molly" never wears a pant, and her dresses, cardigans, robes and skirts in loose a-line silhouettes, with that softly waved mid-length hair (no bangs), make her timeless. Molly's clothing is also almost exclusively evening wear, which we know doesn't change at the pace daytime looks do. "Ray's" style is the embodiment of the (ironically) well-cared-for child: small ditzy florals, crisp whites, school uniforms with starched collars, the soft chin-length hair that we've seen in children in the US since forever. I loved this detail because it puts the story in my present rather than my past every time I watch it I want something Molly has on.
I just started watching the video and my first thought was how great Molly's dresses and styling are, I would absolutely wear them today, they're so timelessly feminine.
This made me bawl because I'm literally both of these characters in one. The infantile adult who can't grow up, as well as the hyper controlling child with hypochondria.... It's a living hell and this movie is somehow pointing out to me, my horrific childhood is what did this to me
Same. My dad passed when I was 12 but had a long life of illness before then, so I grew up OCD and a hypochondriac. At the same time, I hate being an adult and struggle with the idea of growing up even though I'm in my 30's.
Awww “grown ups never stay friends with kids” that’s probably why she behaved “grown up like” in an effort to relate to grown ups and keep them around.
I don’t want to generalize male viewers. But I’ve noticed that often, when it comes to analyzing female characters, a lot of men view women in relation to themselves instead of as themselves. What I mean is, when deciding if they like a female character, they try to decide if they would want to date her. Or (because it is possible for them to view women in non sexual ways) be friends with her. Work with her (if it’s a workplace drama). But they imagine a relationship with her outside of themselves. They don’t try to relate TO her. They don’t try to imagine what it would be like to BE her. They are not on this journey WITH her. They do not see themselves inside the character because she is a woman. I get this impression by the way they describe a character. Like how the character is annoying to be around (like they are in a room with her) etc And yes, if it’s a romantic comedy and the viewer is a straight women, she is instructed to see herself in the woman and see the male as a potential love interest. And for too long the majority of the films starring women were heterosexual romances. But most women I know who watch die hard aren’t wondering if they would like to date the protagonist. They’re wondering what they would do if they were him to survive and save the day. It just makes me think of the long history normalizing women wearing pants, what it took to get here. How they fought for it. And how men are treated if they wear a skirt. How they avoid it like the plague. I feel like that symbolizes a lot 😂 And it makes a difference
Late to the party, but I really like your comment. This is also why media about men are considered "for everyone", but media about women are supposed to be "for women". Women are encouraged to empathise with everyone, men are not, especially not with women. (Saw a clip with Meryl Streep where she put it as women being brought up and used to speak "male", to understand and speak the language of ambition, emotion, world-view etc. that is typical for the male world-view. While men are not encouraged to learn to speak "female". So how can women even explain to them what it feels like to be a woman?).
Since 90% of movies, even with mostly female cast and storylines ultimately are created and edited from the viewpoint of a "poor tortured little boy trying to navigate the hurt of the world," which describes almost all the "men" that turn to careers in movies and writing (think Woody Allen). How can a movie about 5 vibrant, strong women suddenly focus on the interpersonal heartache of the bit-part male character? Men grow up seeing movies talking about their inner angst so they literally cannot view the world around them from the view of others needs, pains, traumas, dreams, or ambitions. They view the world as "how does this affect me?" Does that societal training speak about why we are growing an epidemic of selfish, toxic narcissists? Why would it be so bad to make movies (by the amazing women like Jodie Foster or Sofia Coppola) about women, truly looking at their inner needs, feelings, and pathway? Why does it always need to be about the damn little boy?
you may have noticed this, but if not this is gonna make you cry harder -- the dance moves ray does at the end are the moves molly dances in ray's bed room earlier in the movie. shows you how much ray absorbs the adults behaviors around her !! great touch on the choreographers!
This movie is EVERYTHING! I used to relate to Rey a lot, there's a sense of pride and praise in being an adult child, but a lot of overlaying pain. And now I feel like Molly struggling to be a real adult.
RIP to Brittany Murphy, I hate that we lost her so young. I feel like she was still being kind of type cast as 'the pretty dumb girl' in a lot of her movies but she was a really talented actress and I'm sure would have gone on to do some amazing roles. This movie is one I actually really love now but didn't when I was younger
I love Uptown Girls. Even though im not a girl, this film resonates with me bc being cut off at 19 by my parents financially,I immediately moved from LA to NYC to make it on my own. I did child care gigs, retail stops as well as walk dogs for the uber wealthy. I was 27 when i learned how to really start taking care of my self. Even desperately figure out life during the pandemic. I would watch this film when i felt sad and remind myself i could make it on my own. Meeting my fashion designer bf was the best thing that ever happened to me. Bc now i dont have to do much anymore but when i watch this movie it takes me back to that growing period in my life i cherish.
I feel the same. I'm now in my late 20s, this pandemic started when I was 25 and I had just moved back home with my parents because I was running out of money on my own. So now I'm in the place where I'm finally getting back out there after 3+ years being home and working part time jobs from home or doing gig work. I'm off to NYC in a couple of months and it's been a ride... Most of my friends are married, with kids, have higher degrees, or they have their own businesses and homes.
Not an American so it really bamboozles me that it’s the norm for some families to cut off their kid at 18 and up. Especially with the unstable economy it’s harder than ever for kids to make it on their own. The bootstraps mentality is so weird to me, I hear kids straight up go homeless with barely any help.
I totally agree with your sentiment. (Btw I hope it’s helpful but “bamboozels” is the wrong word here.) that means to “trick” someone- you may mean “astonishes” or “flabbergasts”. Best wishes!
@@Sofiaode18 When i went to university at 18, it seemed like it was only the rich kids who were financially supported by parents. Most people found a job or took a student loan (which was to play for living expenses since there was no tuition, this was Europe). So i don't think it's all that rare to be on your own when you move out, parents just can't afford to pay rent for two apartments.
I didn’t expect to start sobbing while watching this breakdown of Uptown Girls posted 5 months ago. But here I am. I don’t think I could watch this movie again in full because of how deep it goes
The teacup scenes made me cry so much. So did Ray punching Molly, when she let everything out... I have an insecure attachment style and had a very traumatic childhood, so I really see myself in both of these characters. In Molly's fantasy world, in Molly's turbulent relationships with Neal and others...In Ray's anger, her desire to stay closed off so she can't be hurt by loss and abandonment... Thanks so much for making this video!
I saw this movie in theaters and it always speaks to me. Women have very special internal lives which define our character. We handle emotions very differently from men. This movie is great. Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning have such amazing chemistry in this. It's a sisterly bond which women create amongst each other that is unique to us.
@@FinalGirlStudios See, you need a time travel machine to go back and catch all the good old movies, especially since they don't make good new movies! The only time I saw Casablanca was in a theater in the mid 90s when a reparatory theater featured it on evening. If you've ignored a movie on TV but then see it as intended, in a period theater on the "big" screen with a crowd, you feel the real sense of magic that movies give that "screen time" can't. I also saw Uptown Girls 3 times in the theater because I am a big fan of both amazing actors.
When the little girls came out holding the guitars it was the most beautiful scene ever and so symbolic. The soft music combined with the dance was so beautiful, it made me cry. Not ugly cry, but that kind of repressed cry where you try to keep a straight face, but somehow the tears still manage to overflow.
I relate so much to rays character. An adult that never really had the chance to experience their childhood as a child because they had to or felt the need to grow up in order to protect their own emotions.
Brittany Murphy was a wonderful actress! She played every role so well! Man, do I hate Hollywood for destroying another beautiful soul! I loved this movie as well! Thank you for sharing this video essay ❤
@@dirtyprancing5930 She had a flu or some sort of minor virus which developed into penumonia and finally, sepsis. She was a sunshine gone way too soon.
It's a pity that a great movie won't be recognized because the leading people in the industry can't personally relate to it. A way to ensure that nothing ever changes and the industry will always cater to men first.
As a New Yorker, "Uptown Girls" remains one of my favorite movies of my city. It captures the fairy tale aesthetics of a NY that never really existed and is a fabulous representation of what made Brittany Murphy such a cinematic treasure. The only negative remark I have towards it (aside from a few jokes not landing as years have passed) is how Molly is treated as someone in her 30s/40s rather than someone in her 20s. I get that early 2000s Hollywood was even worse with ageism than it is now, but even with that in mind, its horrifying to see a 22-year-old being suggested botox and other things (especially when this is Murphy they're talking to, who is stunning.) Plus, while I adore Molly, I think even she would know not to walk out BAREFOOT in the middle of Manhattan (the broken glass alone makes that a huge no-no.) But nitpicks aside, I love this movie, and your review is great!
I think that tracks for her peers, though. I was a good 7 years older than Molly at the time, and the wealthy people at my undergrad talked about peers getting plastic surgery in highschool. I was never wealthy or pretty enough to have such rules apply, but I definitely heard and saw women in their 20s worrying about visibly aging and talking about procedures to prevent it. At just 18, everyone acted as if we were all independent adults who should never need anyone else. 22 was when many of my classmates moved to NYC and got jobs. I found the depiction pretty realistic for the Uber wealthy party set I'd been around.
If you had lived during the 90s you would have understood that about 20s you were either getting married and having kids or chasing a carrier while paying out your loans, or both while scouting for a family appartement. Having your life "figured out" to the T while in reality most didn't even know who they were was a thing. This is why divorces in 30s something were so common afterwards. How could you spend a life together with somebody when you didn't even know yourself or shelfworth. There were women indoctrinated by their families to play happy housewives even though a brilliant carrier was waiting for them just because their mother did, even though she was extremely unhappy by it. Plus, even though tough, 90s still had that naive vibe that everything and anything could happen, while sexism was at its pick. Grown up men were discussing about actresses coming of age, so they were "eligible pray, guys" and girls' virginity status. I remember celebrities as old as 30 having plastic surgeries to their foreheads and us 20s girls' talked about how a woman should look beautiful 24/7 if she wants to remain relevant by her husband. 90s naiveté had some major sexism and core traumas embedded in us by TV and Hollywood.
The moment when Molly falls into Ray’s lap absolutely broke me… it left me a blubbering mess. In it I see my therapized, older self reflecting on my parentified child self. Someone who is now in-touch and unashamed of my emotions, who has slowly allowed myself the space and acceptance to be vulnerable and not take life so seriously. Never thought I’d feel so seen from two nepo babies interacting lol.
I’ve been crying over this movie for 20 years. Watched it when it was released and my sensitive soul couldn’t handle it. Still can’t! Such a beautiful story of finding your worth, letting go, and the healing power of friendship. An all time fav.
I Just watched this movie for the first time today and... I fell in love with it. I turned 22 this year and, as you, i feel related to both characters. While a lot of my Friends are getting married and working, i'm still struggiling finishing college and i could'nt find a job yet. This movie really hit me; i'm still naive, childish and obstinated but i'm also hardworking and perseverant, i feel useless but worthed at the same time, this movie made me realize that. I loved the vídeo by the way, your channel is really good!! And sorry for my Bad English 😅. Greetings from Mexico!!
Thank you for this beautiful comment! I relate to you a lot. And your English is great no need to apologize. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment sending love 💖
I stumbled across this film as a little kid on tv. It was at the midpoint so I didn't catch its title. I really enjoyed it and just accepted that I'd never see it again. So, I'm so excited to rewatch it now in adulthood. I can't forget how it made me feel.
I 100% agree that this movie was a masterpiece. I watched this recently as an adult after only watching it as a teenage girl. I never really understood it fully until I had gone through some more life experience. I cried when I realized how much both Molly and Ray taught each other, how they changed each other perspectives in the most beautiful ways. This movie really means so much to me and always will. Also I thought Molly would be older, based on women talking to her about face wrinkles. 😢
I have to point out the symbolism of the teacup ride. Molly states that the teacups were the only ride she was allowed to go on by herself, which further illustrates how *young* and *alone* Molly was when she was going through the most tragic point in her life. Same with Ray. Both so young and so alone, all the while the entire fucking world is spinning all around you and you’re trapped in the cycle of chaos, sickness, fun, disorientation.
I also thought it was interesting to see them fighting for control over the wheel. You can spin it as much as you want, but you'll always be confined to the ride.
I started crying at the dissection of this movie. I was letting the tears flow and then I remembered that I just got my lashes done and I had to quickly dry them 😂 This was beautifully done. I’ll watch the movie again tonight!
This movie would come on tv a lot as a kid and I would usually choose to watch it, so I have a lot of nostalgia for this movie. But as I grew up I started to realize the deeper messaging and also recognize the standout performances from Dakota and Brittany and now I don’t understand how this movie isn’t more popular
Did I sign up on rotten tomatos just to write a review for this film after I watched it due to watching your video essay on it? And did I call the people who found it stupid - either bind or fools? Yes, yes I did - thank you for this video, if not for you I wouldn't have come across this gem of a cinema, I loved this video and loved the film and I agree with every point you've made.
I just wanted to wholeheartedly thank you for this video. In the 6th grade, I personally experienced a disturbing & traumatizing 3-person loss/tragedy that happened in my family & I have never functioned the same afterwards. I struggle immensely with vulnerability, trust, & had/have issues with anxiety & depression but I could never pin point exactly why I couldn’t move on or at least somewhat heal from that situation & this video perfectly sums up why I always felt… stuck. As a 20-something year old, I feel like my teen years were filled with spiritual warfare, grief & darkness while my 20s are a time of healing & is forcing me to l confront why I am the way I am. I look forward to my journey on healing my inner child & thank you for releasing this video which gave me my epiphany ♥️
This comment made me cry 😭💖 I am so glad that you had that epiphany!! I am sending you so much love on your healing journey. Thank you for taking the time to share this with me, I appreciate you greatly💖
as someone who grew up watching this movie the transition of me watching this at 8 and now at 23 I remember relating to Ray so much and now am relating to Molly in the sense of trying to find yourself as a young adult through trauma and grief,,, amazing video !
I think this movie didn't do well because the trailer made it seem like it was a comedy but the movie was very serious. I remember watching it in theaters expecting it to be a really funny but I ended up crying. I still loved it though but it wasn't what I expected.
I agree. The absolute wrong people saw this movie, because it wasn't advertised as a family drama with some comedy, it was advertised as a funny movie. I think misleading trailers kill a lot of movies, honestly. It's a shame. The wrong audience sees it and it flops. Or at least, this was an issue; social media might mean there's a little more transparency, since people who see previews talk. But I'm not really sure. In any case, I remember being similarly confused.
I also think that this movie felt flawed in a way. Molly (Brittany) and Ray (Dakota) had the best scenes together in my opinion, from the teacup spinning scene to their friendship growing to a tolerable one. However, some of the adult scenes were a turn-off for the people watching this movie along with me. Let me explain... It was fun to have those scenes between Molly and Ray, but it wasn't half as good when comparing it to the clunky, awkward scenes among the adults. The somewhat explicit scenes were just a hassle to skip through, because we were trying to watch the movie about the nanny and the kid (plus the broke nanny navigating life as a normal person) NOT adults doing, erm, stuff together...
i’ve been WAITING for this movie to get more recognition. it has hit written all over it and i’m still upset that it has been so overlooked since it came out! it’s one of my all time favorite movies and is the reason why Brittany Murphy is one of my favorite actresses. i still remember going to see this film with my mom and i was the same age as Dakota was in the movie. such great memories every time i watch it. i have a version of that exact fairy hanging in Molly’s room and charmed life is one of the theme songs of my life! carry uptown girls (spiritually) and Molly/Brittany’s energy with me everywhere. great video!! 💛
I lost my father in 2003 when I was 5.. this movie makes me cry *every single* time I watched it from when I was 7 to now at 25. Thank you for making this video, watching it is one of the most cathartic experiences a female child who’s seen parent death young, can go through.
Fr same I never met someone who was as obsessed with this movie as I was. I’m glad we’ve found our people in the comment section haha, it’s so lovely hearing how this movie is so adored by so many
Came back to say after watching your video I had to go back to revisit the movie myself. I was not disappointed. I sobbed of course but you’re right, the movie is a very truthful healing journey for these girls. Thank you for covering this or I may have forgotten this one and left it in the back of my mind as some cutesy girly movie I watched many years ago. It’s so much more than that.
It’s wild that anyone expects someone in their early 20s to have things figured out when that usually starts to happen in the late 20s and early 30s. Sure you might live on your own and pay bills but you still don’t know who you are and what you really want out of life until you’ve lived through the 20s
I love what you said about this film! I sang background vocals on Spinning around the Sun- Britney Murphy was the IT girl at the time, I wish we could have seen what she would have grown into movie wise…rip Britney Murphy you are missed!!
This movie means so much to me in so many ways, when I was younger I related to Ray, having been a misunderstood autistic little girl with strange particularities and interests for my age, I was often told I was so mature for my age, like an old lady trapped in a child’s body. Then later in life growing into a barely functioning adult with interests and sensibilities that are considered childish for my age and can barely hold a job other than childcare to save my life, I now relate to Molly immensely. Also as someone who worked in childcare for many many years and has experience caring for the emotionally neglected children of wealthy families I relate to the anger that Molly has for Ray’s mom towards the end of the movie. I could honestly write an entire book about the pain anguish and anger I feel towards neglectful parents, how even rich people (honestly especially rich people) are guilty of neglect, and how money and comfort will never replace the love that a child deserves. All around this movie feels so personal to my life and it will never cease to be a favorite of mine. I’ve often wondered why I never hear commentary channels talking about it because it is honestly an emotional and nuanced masterpiece.
It's a pretty strange film. I remember having seen it, at some point, on tv, many years ago, but I just went and rewatched it, thanks to you. I did enjoy it and I definitely don't think it deserves 13% on Rotten Tomatoes (not that RT counts), though I wouldn't call it a masterpiece; it's not a perfect film, but it does do a lot of clever things. Like the way Molly feels sick and runs to the trash can, after hearing Ray is missing, which is a great metaphor for her assuming adult responsibilities, as though she's finally gotten off the tea cup ride. And the cinematography contrasts so well with the early 2000's tropes; the uneven lighting that casts dark shadows and the wide shots where a single character will stand in the middle of the frame, looking lost, counterbalance the fairytale narration, the pop music, the Disney Channel wardrobe. Based on the opening minutes, I expected the movie to maintain its naive tone, to the point where I was shocked at the 'rock'n'roll poet sex god' line, I couldn't believe they used the word sex. And that continued to happen, with Molly constantly taking off underwear, with 'a soundtrack to slit your wrists to', with Ray's father's death. Because of Molly's energy, I expected the story to take on her weightless whimsy, and be closer to 13 going on 30, for example. Instead, the plot punches down, over and over, before the conflict resolves, and that deterrence of expectation makes for a ride of a watching experience in and of itself
It's been years since I saw this movie for the first time, and I'm still equally in love with it as I was upon first watching it, if not more. It's the fact that, like you said, both of them have faced terrible trauma around the same age, and yet their trauma responses are so different. Molly never grew up and Ray grew up too quickly, and so through each other, Molly learned to be an adult and Ray learned how to be a child. It was also such an excellent way of showing that trauma can manifest itself differently from person to person, even if two people have gone through similar tragedies. Dakota and Brittany really did a great job of bringing out the best of their characters, and I especially want to applaud Dakota because that level of skill is so difficult to attain as a child, and she executed her role perfectly. Anyway, thank you for making a video on this. I really do think that this movie deserves more praise than what I see. I think I can confidently say that it's one of my favorite movies now. It's so charming, funny, and heartwarming and I wish more people would talk about it.
when we were kids we truly did not understand how hard molly was struggling if she was taking her undies OFF IN THE LAUNDRYMAT. girl was going thru IT.
I love uptown girls it's my favorite comfort movie. growing up I'd always watch it on tv or dvd. I remember going through my first death experience at the time losing my great grandmother unexpectedly right before we planned to go visit her. just like Ray I was in ballet and felt connect to her by that. I would do the whole dance at the end of movie and still remember it to this day. I wanted to be like Molly in a way being care free and pretty. now as an adult I have a new view on my love for this movie and see myself in both i didn't notice before.
I remember being OBSESSED with this movie as a child (also one of the only films i had on DVD) and I remembered how formative it was when discussing movies that were a huge impact on us with my friends so i did a watchparty of it a little anxious because I tend to hate stuff that i used to love nowadays but it was EXACTLY as good as I remembered and I was so pleased. Seeing this video essay is euphoric reinforcement of my taste
This video legit made me cry 😭😭😭😭 I too like most of you in the comments watched this as a little girl and funny enough I’m in a similar situation where I am a nanny to a little girl who is the opposite of me but we bring out the best in each other. And working with her and her siblings is healing my inner child. I’m so grateful for my job 🥰🥰🥰
My grandma recently passed. One of my oldest memories is watching this with my grandma and remembering how much I identified with Dakota Fanning’s character. It’s such a symbolic and meaningful film in my life.
I remember being so moved by the teacup scene and the story of a too-grown-up child and childlike adult, both due to trauma, but seeing this reminded me how good it is, so I paused and finished the movie first. I cried so much. It has moments of humour and whinsy, absolutely, but the trauma is so well-portrayed and the healing of these two... beautiful. One of the first times I felt all alone in the world (aside from when one parent blamed me for the other's anger and harming me, the same parent abandoned me terrified while performing ona stage, searching for that parent in the audience and not finding her in those blinding lights... I never had stage fright again, I feel at home there, but I also realized I'll never be able to rely on that parent. Raye suffering that felt so, so raw and real. So, when she danced (freestyle, for fun, finally! ... even if she'll always be a little bit of a perfectionist and picky, adjustung the others, that's her personality) during Molly Smiles... it was so cathartic. I love them both so much.
I'm in my late 20s and I sitll don't really know how to take care of myself. This pandemic also prolonged a lot of stuff for me. It happened when I was 25.
The pandemic stunted me as well. I'm 28 now and three years ago I also lost my maternal figure (my grandma), so that further made me feel stuck in time. I'm trying to figure stuff out rn, at least I don't have the pressure of paying rent to keep a roof over my head but it's still hard.
Growing my mom was an absentee parent and my dad was in the military so i related to Rey growing up. Two years ago my mom died and then my brother last november and now I see so much of myself in Molly. They really are two sides of the same coin. This video essay made me cry super hard but i think i needed it. So thank you.
I have worked as the nanny of a little girl who asked me if I wanted to be her mum and told me I was her best friend. I miss her a lot and that movie will always remind me of her
AHHH! I think about this constantly with this movie and thank you for sharing this commentary! The main characters of this movie I've always believed were mirrors of one another. It's a beautiful story about self compassion while navigating the reparenting process that comes from longterm effects of childhood trauma
i remember watching this movie fairly young, not realizing what it was really any before putting it on, i just remember seeing that brittany murphy and dakota fanning were in it and thinking “oooh this looks fun” and then i remember sitting there after i watched it for the first time completely gobsmacked that i couldn’t stop crying and how much this movie made me feel… and then thinking wow i was NOT ready for that lmao but i also didn’t have parents that were there much to tell me what i could and couldn’t watch
I love this movie! It was my favorite as a kid and I watch it almost every time I’m sick or sad at home. I always connected with Molly , now and even as a 9-10 year old watching this because her personality is so childlike. Weirdly I was also always told I looked like Dakota Fanning as a kid. I also think a lot of my personal style takes inspiration from Molly’s character in this movie. The music is great, everything I just love this movie especially the relationship between Ray and Molly. I also was a nanny for a long time I think because of this movie and always wanted a pet pig and was sad to find out mini pigs aren’t a real thing!
I have such a similar relationship to this film! It was one of the few DVDs I owned so I would always pop it on, it’s definitely one of my comfort films. I’ve actually been considering nannying as well, and think it is partially because of this film hahaha
@@FinalGirlStudios it’s a very good job but I think the hardest part about it is getting attached to the children. Sometimes the children get so attached to you that parents get jealous as well. I used to have these two little boys cry and cry every time I left reaching out to me. I also had a mom who fired me after a few weeks her daughter was only 6 months I think she was going through postpartum. I also don’t think it’s right that in this country mothers and even fathers are expected to go right back to work. I loved it I have so many great relationships now and it’s definitely good money. Now that I’m a mom myself I can understand some of the things the parents felt at times I didn’t before.
@@Ilovecerealcerealcereal it just be so hard to be a nanny, be very involved in the kids life for a long time, and then suddenly stop either having to wait or getting fired, whatever the reason it just seems like such a heartbreaking job Since you were a baby have you ever heard of someone that I could hire that would help me with the children? Like, I'm home as well and the person just helps maybe do activities with them while I clean or helps prepare meals while I read books, basically just like a second pair of eyes and arms... Is there a word for that person that I could use to search out for the listing I want to put up? A helper? Idk. I tried googling but I'm no8⁸l
@@nicoledoubleyou you could look into getting an aupair/childminder but also depending on where you live certain nanny/childcare service companies offer/let you look for people for your specific needs you just have to explain to them what you need + are looking for and they’ll find someone with those requirements.
I rarely cry when watching movies/videos but throughout this entire video I was crying so much. You really put into words as to why this movie had such a hold on me growing up as a girl. Now being 21 this movie is comforting in a whole new way. You make the best videos! Also unrelated to this video, I cited you and your video on female rage for my college thesis project which was about " the expression of rage and resistance in art/media created by women and how it challenges the male gaze, allowing women to disengage from the expectations of what a woman should be." You made so many great points in that video as well and I love your perspective on everything. Just wanted to tell you that and your videos are really helpful for me because as I am getting older I am starting to understand the importance in the representation of women's experiences because it is honestly so hard to find that in media and it took until my 20's to see realize how important that representation is, especially for young girls. Your videos are really accessible and easy to understand and I have been looking deeper into the sources you reference in your videos and finding so many other great women perspectives/articles. So thank you again for all this amazing and meaningful content!
i relate so much to both of them … actually growing up i was a lot like ray but after crashing under pressure and going through depression i became a lot more like molly… i also happen to have a five years younger sister who really is like ray and the two of us together really balance each other when it comes to maturity and supporting each other! we both have our traumar and mental issues (i have bpd and she has ocd) but we’re able to understand and accept each other in such an comfortable way! i love her and i really really love this movie since i was young
Rewatching this as an adult after my dad passed hits different. You posted this on his birthday too 🥹 thank you for this video you're so right, it is an underrated masterpiece! 💕
ive never watched this movie, ive never even heard of it until today. and yet, this video made me cry. i can see not only the thought and care put into the movie but also your genuine love for it. brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
Wow. This is such a thoughtful, insightful and respectful analysis of this great film. It’s not surprising most men would fail to see how important and complex this film is… especially now, 21 years later. I loved this film too, and was touched by it. A version of The Toy, but with a girl instead of a boy. Well done!!
I watched this movie as a kid and I really loved it. And as an adult, rewatching it was really impactful in a way that I didn't quite comprehend as a child. Brittany and Dakota really portrayed their characters in such an honest and relatable way. I cried all over again during the teacup spinning scene--it's amazing how much can be portrayed without words. It's definitely a movie that is worth rewatching periodically, which to me is a sign of a great movie. And I appreciate the way you broke everything down and brought concepts to the forefront that I hadn't considered.
you made me watch this movie again and honestly it's one of my favorite 2000s movie, it made me so emotional and nostalgic, being almost 20 i relate so much to both of them i also think 13 going on 30 gives us a message about assessing your inner child and healing through it, maybe you can analyze this movie if you want to :)) loved your video!!
I love Uptown Girls and I miss Britney Murphey a lot. I wish she was still around, I would have loved to see what she did. This will always be a favorite.
I think that Ray’s dad died when he did was out of his own concern for his daughter and wanting to make sure she was taken care of. When she read out loud to him for the first time, he found that he could ‘let go’ because there was finally someone in her life (Molly) who’d shown her how to open up and make her happy
To play the devil's advocate, from what I remember, the movie was advertised as a more traditional comedy. I certainly remember going in expecting laughs. From what I remember I didn't think it was a bad movie er se, but I don't think I loved it, either, and I imagine the unexpected darkness played a role in that. BUT also I think you're right that there was probably misogyny in the responses. The 2000s were not kind to women like Molly, when you look at Paris Hilton or Britney Spears. I really love what you picked up on here. You are absolutely right. It's a much deeper movie than it was given credit for being.
Thank you for this! I loved this movie as a kid and watched it so many times and this video really brought back for me why I think I loved it so much but couldn’t put into words as a little kid.
First time I got bit emotional while watching a film analysis. Watching it as a little girl and then rewatching it as a young woman leaves me a strong feeling of clarity and sentimentality. The sad parts are strangely comforting and it’s also a fun film which must be why younger me enjoyed it then. I always knew the film had a deep message but I could never explain it! ✨ 10/10 video essay
So I have to say that this is my second or third time going through this video, and you did such a beautifully exquisite job with thoroughly explaining this film and the deeper meaning behind it regarding coping with trauma and grief, that it has become one of my favorite videos on UA-cam to go through and has become an extremely cathartic and therapeutic tool for me to use to make sense of my own life and my own childhood trauma and grief. The irony is that I have still never watched uptown girls and I never thought twice about it as a movie before. Until fate brought your video to my UA-cam suggestions almost a year ago and I was so intrigued by it that I had to click on it, and once I did I was hooked right in. You do a fantastic job with analyzing movies and finding the deeper symbolism and meaning behind them and it shows in the fact that you have made me go from being completely indifferent and judgmental of this movie as some early 2000s subpar chick flick, to absolutely adoring it and holding it in the highest prestige, to the point of me refusing to watch it for the first time until I know the moment is just right and the time is perfect for me to do so. Every time I watch your video, I end up bawling my eyes out in the most cathartic and releasing of ways, and missing Brittany Murphy and the unique beauty she brought to this world before her untimely death. I cannot commend you enough on how well written/narrated this video is and how captivating and interesting it is to watch. I look forward to the perfect moment for me to be able to sit back and watch this movie and laugh and cry and feel love and sadness from its deeper and more profound layers. Keep up the great work because you are one of the most brilliant UA-camrs I've found in terms of analyzing movies.
I only found this movie a couple years ago through clips of the teacup scene, and everytime i watch it i end up crying throughout the entire second half. Watched this video and it had the same effect on me lol
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I had a lot of trauma growing up, and PTSD now as an adult because of it, so I definitely relate to both Molly and Ray. I love this video and this discussion around healing our inner child
I can't agree with you more! Uptown Girl is fun, pretty, deep, heart-warming and up-lifting at the same time! I am bit of a Molly trying to get my life together, and Uptown Girl has definitely given me hope!
RIP my queen Brittany ♥️ i loved this film as a kid, and i wish we could have gotten a sequel with Dakota as an adult and how their relationship developed through the years.
This is my favorite movie of all time for every reason you mentioned and more. I cry not just watching it, but thinking about it as well. Thank you for making this!
this was such a good video!! I've loved this movie since childhood. In an interview Dakota Fanning said that Brittany Murphy bought them matching juicy tracksuits during filming!!!! 😭
This has always been one of my favorite movies as a kid for a lot of the reasons you say, and it’s nice to see someone address how deep the story actually is. I agree, I like it better then The Godfather too.
I need y’all to know that this comment section is my favourite of all my videos. Y’all are so wholesome, thank you for sharing your stories about this film, pls keep them coming I love bonding over this precious film. 🥰💖
I had this on VHS and watched it once every couple weeks with my mom, it's one of our favorites to this day. This film is soooo underrated and even watching it as many times as I have, I still catch new things. Like in the dance Ray does at the end, she's copying Molly's moves from earlier in the film when they were in her room.
@@kiery2306 same, it was my last VHS :(
Chick-flicks have always appealed to me even when mainstream ideas of femininity didn't, because about ever third was earnestly reaching out to some messy human being that needs to feel seen! Have you seen Phantom Thread? There's lots of juicey subtext and a couple of wonderfully strong women! Alrighty I'm off to check out the rest of you stuff
This was a movie I absolutely loved as a teen. I was born in 88 so I definitely remember first experiencing this move by digging it out of the bargain bin at Blockbuster, but every time I caught it on TV or on a streaming service throughout the years I watched it all the way through. I was intrigued by the film growing up because despite being full of laughs there were moments that would have me sitting back and quietly crying to myself.
Molly and Ray were lovely characters that helped me understand that growing up and being an adult would be scary but it was also a blessing that not everyone got. I was a fairly reserved kid, much like Ray, and I was always concerned with mortality and the passage of time because my mom had me later in life and I knew that she’d be gone long before I was fully ready for her to be. So I’d over compensate and act more adult and skip out on a lot my childhood to do things with her that normal kids wouldn’t necessarily think to do because I wanted us to have all the time together that I could get. We had a beautiful relationship and I will never regret the time I skipped out on kids birthdays or school dances or retreats to be with my mom, but I do sometimes regret not giving that little girl inside me a bit more grace to be a kid and to experience life the way a normal kid my age would have.
This movie is still one of my top ten favorite movies because it was one of the first movies I remember watching where the love interest was not the point of the story.
Movie really demonstrates how toxic it is for a kid to be "mature for their age" or "well-adjusted". And how important it is for parents to be there for their kids emotions. Cause they are too little to process them alone.
Children being “adult “ is way too over praised.
It should be a warning sign. There’s a reason the kid is acting like an adult. It’s because they have to take care of themselves.
True. "Mature for their age" can also mean the kid struggles to bond with the peers same age, and will later be left behind in life.
My aunt was very sick I had to grow up fast as a kid and then when she passed I lost it and regressed. It’s very difficult as a child to go through that type of loss🥺😭
When I was 12 I very vividly remember that a man checked me out of school. Worried me, naturally, since I was taught not to go with a stranger, but something told me to go. He bought a snack for me, put me in his car with my two sisters, and took us to a building. Turns out he was sent to come pick us up and take us there because we were being taken out of my mother's care and put into foster care. I shed exactly one tear when I was informed. Then when we were picked up again and I was informed my sisters and I would be separated, I didn't cry at all when I watched my youngest sister at five exit the car and go into a stranger's house where I could no longer watch over her. I was told that I took the incident very well compared to most other kids. It didn't sit well with me and it still doesn't that I didn't remotely know how to process what was happening because my brain was actively trying to protect me from the impact, and it messed me up for years that I couldn't cry about it.
@@randompromises1038 I know the feeling. Like your soul leaving your body.
"Healing can be hard when your inner child wants love, your teenage self wants revenge, and your current self just wants peace."
😢❤
It's wild (but no surprise) that the male reviewers of the day couldn't appreciate this masterpiece.
I do always have 🤭
They're all emotionally blocked
Real, they're all just allergic to whimsy and fun
It's so weird and the same thing happened with turning red, it overall was said to be a failure but I don't know a single girl who didn't absolutely love the movie because it was fun and really relateable, then I realized it's probably because a lot of reviewers are male😢 turning red is literally one of my favorite modern Disney movies and I was so shocked to find out it didn't do well😮 and I feel like uptown girls would get similar treatment if it was released today
@@wellbuttermybiscuits7My main issue with Turning Red was just that the characters were too realistic. They acted their age, and kids at that age are incredibly cringe-inducing, I literally cannot handle watching that movie lmao, maybe if I related more I'd he able to overcome that but jesus christ
Dakota Fanning and Britnay were so good together! I love this movie and we don't care what men think.
Men don't care what you think about a film .gay men and straight men can like this film too lmao
@@tvfan591 obviously the comment is saying “men” and referring to men who uphold the patriarchy, which gay men can also do. I would know i am gay and have seen it myself, get off your high horse. We do care what women think when it comes to media, your comment on the other hand has barely any thing critical of use
You heard the word male and went full brain dead, yeah many male critics didn't like it a lot of men did and still do, me included. Stop being bigoted.
@@tvfan591 i think they were talking about the bad reviews left by mostly if not all men
@Synthetic silkwood that is a valid point.
I HATE the idea of "this character has flaws, so it's a bad character" thinking from so many critics. EVERYONE has flaws- and the only BAD characters are those so unrelatable due to perfection and excelling in EVERYTHING for no reason on than to just living... Flawed characters feel more human and real, more relatable - even if their circumstances are ENTIRELY different and unrelatable (like a massive rich girl life).
there’s so many well written articles echoing this sentiment!! flawed characters are real! humans are flawed and showing this is so important! especially protesting female characters. it’s important to show how multifaceted we are as people!!
It's especially levied against protagonists who are young women/girls, and especially especially in television (which is less known for complexity and depth). Most recently, I've seen this in Shameless and Gilmore Girls.
@@sparksfly6149Fiona Gallagher slander pisses me off to no end
@@remytherat2929 I know right! Apparently Frank can go around doing drugs and committing crimes, being a completely absent father, and Lip can become an alcoholic and drop out of college, but Fiona goes through a rough period FOR ONCE IN HER LIFE, and she's the villain. Also, everyone acting like what happened to Liam was her fault. There were other adults in the room - nobody else intervened either.
@@sparksfly6149 then they want to act like lip was always such an amazing 2nd dad to the kids without giving Fiona ANY credit for raising them all (including lip) from at least SIX YEARS OLD, literally dropping out of school and not taking jobs that would be good for her own life because of the siblings she had to raise. And when she finally tries to advance herself in life she’s“selfish” and “a bitch”. Like omg do these people not hear themselves?? Sorry but I have a lot of feelings about shameless and Fiona lol.
I can’t imagine the real life grief Dakota experienced considering Britany died not too long after this film being made 😢
Brittany seemed like such a beautiful soul, it's so sad that she's gone
Babes Brittany Murphy passed away in 2009, this film came out in 2003
@@shirley444Six years pass by incredibly quickly. While I'm sure Dakota Fanning would've changed a lot in the intervening period, I'm also sure she would've remembered Brittany Murphy very fondly and been devastated at her sudden death all the same.
@@shirley444 So, because Dakota was young she wouldn’t remember Brittany? I remember losing people when I was a little child. It STILL hurts in 2023 at the age of 27.
I remember watching and enjoying this movie as a child and rewatching it now as an adult, the messaging is so deep. I'd argue that another reason why Molly likes Neil is because he reminds her of her dad and when he told her that he has to go home, she immediately didn't want him to leave
Ahh yesss so true!!
That's where her taste in men comes from. She's trying to replace her father. Sounds kind of odd.
@Bree it's really not all that odd, men and woman try to replace what they're missing from their parents with their spouses
@@breewashere our parents are literally where we learn our courtship models and relationship styles from, so it's actually perfectly expected in anybody to have some link there.
oh please not the daddy issues
I loved this movie when I was young and I am shocked that the “adult” character was supposed to be only 22. I would’ve guessed 28. 22 is still so young, she was fine 😭
LOL same, I had exactly the same reaction rewatching it for the first time in years
@@FinalGirlStudios also this video brought tears to my eyes. it was very well done. I definitely need to give it a rewatch now as an adult.
If this movie was made today, her character will be, like, 35 ))
28 is still so young too
I watched this movie recently and I was shocked that she is supposed to be barely out of college age. Were people just more mature 20 years ago? 23 year olds are babies to me.
Im really glad they depicted huey as a man who was really molly’s friend and now trying to date her or have a one night stand. It was really nice to see a man being a friend in film not a love interest :)
And he was her only true friend as Ingrid was down on her the entire time not trying to empathize with how difficult her life must have been. She also seemingly blames her for loosing all of her money, when she didn’t. She trusted someone who her parents trusted to handle her finances. She was never taught ever how to manage money or pay bills. She didn’t go broke because she was gambling all of her money away, if was stolen. Ingrid offers to help her, but not really. When she doesn’t fit the box that she has for her she gets angry at her. Huey helps her get a job, lets her stay with him, and listens to her talk and doesn’t put her down every chance he gets.
another thing to point out - we can infer molly’s parents provided that safe vulnerable space for her, and in turn even in their absence she’s able to grow up embracing her emotions. whereas rey’s absent parents - though still alive - have not provided that safe space for her.
Which is why Molly wanted to stay a child and Rey wanted to become an adult. Molly had a safe childhood, Rey didn't. It's different ways of attempting to skip over trauma. Very clever movie.
Bingo
One of the greatest things about this film is the intentional costuming. "Molly" never wears a pant, and her dresses, cardigans, robes and skirts in loose a-line silhouettes, with that softly waved mid-length hair (no bangs), make her timeless. Molly's clothing is also almost exclusively evening wear, which we know doesn't change at the pace daytime looks do. "Ray's" style is the embodiment of the (ironically) well-cared-for child: small ditzy florals, crisp whites, school uniforms with starched collars, the soft chin-length hair that we've seen in children in the US since forever. I loved this detail because it puts the story in my present rather than my past every time I watch it I want something Molly has on.
You’re so right!! The styling in this film is fantastic. I never noticed that Molly never wears pants that’s such an interesting detail.
I just started watching the video and my first thought was how great Molly's dresses and styling are, I would absolutely wear them today, they're so timelessly feminine.
This made me bawl because I'm literally both of these characters in one. The infantile adult who can't grow up, as well as the hyper controlling child with hypochondria.... It's a living hell and this movie is somehow pointing out to me, my horrific childhood is what did this to me
I feel the same way. It's always a conflict.
Same. My dad passed when I was 12 but had a long life of illness before then, so I grew up OCD and a hypochondriac. At the same time, I hate being an adult and struggle with the idea of growing up even though I'm in my 30's.
@@EastmanEditing I feel you so much on this. Turns out we're all valid. We're just damaged. And it's okay to admit that, to be real
Same. Anyone know how to fix this lol
So freaking relatable 💔 Wishing all of us healing ❤❤❤
Awww “grown ups never stay friends with kids” that’s probably why she behaved “grown up like” in an effort to relate to grown ups and keep them around.
I don’t want to generalize male viewers.
But I’ve noticed that often, when it comes to analyzing female characters, a lot of men view women in relation to themselves instead of as themselves.
What I mean is, when deciding if they like a female character, they try to decide if they would want to date her. Or (because it is possible for them to view women in non sexual ways) be friends with her. Work with her (if it’s a workplace drama). But they imagine a relationship with her outside of themselves.
They don’t try to relate TO her. They don’t try to imagine what it would be like to BE her. They are not on this journey WITH her. They do not see themselves inside the character because she is a woman.
I get this impression by the way they describe a character. Like how the character is annoying to be around (like they are in a room with her) etc
And yes, if it’s a romantic comedy and the viewer is a straight women, she is instructed to see herself in the woman and see the male as a potential love interest. And for too long the majority of the films starring women were heterosexual romances.
But most women I know who watch die hard aren’t wondering if they would like to date the protagonist. They’re wondering what they would do if they were him to survive and save the day.
It just makes me think of the long history normalizing women wearing pants, what it took to get here. How they fought for it. And how men are treated if they wear a skirt. How they avoid it like the plague. I feel like that symbolizes a lot 😂
And it makes a difference
Late to the party, but I really like your comment. This is also why media about men are considered "for everyone", but media about women are supposed to be "for women". Women are encouraged to empathise with everyone, men are not, especially not with women. (Saw a clip with Meryl Streep where she put it as women being brought up and used to speak "male", to understand and speak the language of ambition, emotion, world-view etc. that is typical for the male world-view. While men are not encouraged to learn to speak "female". So how can women even explain to them what it feels like to be a woman?).
great observation
It makes a lot of sense, especially when it comes to estrogen and testosterone
Like why do men?
Since 90% of movies, even with mostly female cast and storylines ultimately are created and edited from the viewpoint of a "poor tortured little boy trying to navigate the hurt of the world," which describes almost all the "men" that turn to careers in movies and writing (think Woody Allen). How can a movie about 5 vibrant, strong women suddenly focus on the interpersonal heartache of the bit-part male character? Men grow up seeing movies talking about their inner angst so they literally cannot view the world around them from the view of others needs, pains, traumas, dreams, or ambitions. They view the world as "how does this affect me?" Does that societal training speak about why we are growing an epidemic of selfish, toxic narcissists? Why would it be so bad to make movies (by the amazing women like Jodie Foster or Sofia Coppola) about women, truly looking at their inner needs, feelings, and pathway? Why does it always need to be about the damn little boy?
the way that spinning is a consistent theme in this movie is so so chef’s kiss
Yes
I always cry at this movie, especially at Molly Smiles and Dakota dancing around on stage. Such a great, underrated movie
SAME 😭
you may have noticed this, but if not this is gonna make you cry harder -- the dance moves ray does at the end are the moves molly dances in ray's bed room earlier in the movie. shows you how much ray absorbs the adults behaviors around her !! great touch on the choreographers!
me too 😭😭😭
me to. the molly smiles scene always has me sobbing
They changed each others lives and it’s so beautiful. I love movies about what we as humans can do for each other with just a bit of connection.
This movie is EVERYTHING! I used to relate to Rey a lot, there's a sense of pride and praise in being an adult child, but a lot of overlaying pain. And now I feel like Molly struggling to be a real adult.
Same man...
Now a regret not being a kid back then...like I never showed my emotions. Now it's hard knowing who I truly am.
Girl, I cried just from watching this video and I never even saw the movie lol
literally
me too :((
Same, i mean I watched the movie but just this video made me tear up again 😭
Same same 😅
me toooo
RIP to Brittany Murphy, I hate that we lost her so young. I feel like she was still being kind of type cast as 'the pretty dumb girl' in a lot of her movies but she was a really talented actress and I'm sure would have gone on to do some amazing roles. This movie is one I actually really love now but didn't when I was younger
I totally agree - she would have absolutely become one of the greatest of our generation. Her death was so tragic, for many reasons.
She was actually preparing for a Liza Minnelli biopic right before her death
I love Uptown Girls. Even though im not a girl, this film resonates with me bc being cut off at 19 by my parents financially,I immediately moved from LA to NYC to make it on my own. I did child care gigs, retail stops as well as walk dogs for the uber wealthy. I was 27 when i learned how to really start taking care of my self. Even desperately figure out life during the pandemic. I would watch this film when i felt sad and remind myself i could make it on my own. Meeting my fashion designer bf was the best thing that ever happened to me. Bc now i dont have to do much anymore but when i watch this movie it takes me back to that growing period in my life i cherish.
I feel the same. I'm now in my late 20s, this pandemic started when I was 25 and I had just moved back home with my parents because I was running out of money on my own. So now I'm in the place where I'm finally getting back out there after 3+ years being home and working part time jobs from home or doing gig work. I'm off to NYC in a couple of months and it's been a ride... Most of my friends are married, with kids, have higher degrees, or they have their own businesses and homes.
I really appreciate what you both said, really cheered me up and made me have a better outlook
Not an American so it really bamboozles me that it’s the norm for some families to cut off their kid at 18 and up. Especially with the unstable economy it’s harder than ever for kids to make it on their own. The bootstraps mentality is so weird to me, I hear kids straight up go homeless with barely any help.
I totally agree with your sentiment.
(Btw I hope it’s helpful but “bamboozels” is the wrong word here.) that means to “trick” someone- you may mean “astonishes” or “flabbergasts”. Best wishes!
@@Sofiaode18 When i went to university at 18, it seemed like it was only the rich kids who were financially supported by parents. Most people found a job or took a student loan (which was to play for living expenses since there was no tuition, this was Europe). So i don't think it's all that rare to be on your own when you move out, parents just can't afford to pay rent for two apartments.
I didn’t expect to start sobbing while watching this breakdown of Uptown Girls posted 5 months ago. But here I am. I don’t think I could watch this movie again in full because of how deep it goes
The teacup scenes made me cry so much. So did Ray punching Molly, when she let everything out...
I have an insecure attachment style and had a very traumatic childhood, so I really see myself in both of these characters. In Molly's fantasy world, in Molly's turbulent relationships with Neal and others...In Ray's anger, her desire to stay closed off so she can't be hurt by loss and abandonment...
Thanks so much for making this video!
I saw this movie in theaters and it always speaks to me. Women have very special internal lives which define our character. We handle emotions very differently from men. This movie is great. Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning have such amazing chemistry in this. It's a sisterly bond which women create amongst each other that is unique to us.
Ugh I am jealous, I would love to see this film in a theatre!
@@FinalGirlStudios See, you need a time travel machine to go back and catch all the good old movies, especially since they don't make good new movies! The only time I saw Casablanca was in a theater in the mid 90s when a reparatory theater featured it on evening. If you've ignored a movie on TV but then see it as intended, in a period theater on the "big" screen with a crowd, you feel the real sense of magic that movies give that "screen time" can't. I also saw Uptown Girls 3 times in the theater because I am a big fan of both amazing actors.
When the little girls came out holding the guitars it was the most beautiful scene ever and so symbolic. The soft music combined with the dance was so beautiful, it made me cry. Not ugly cry, but that kind of repressed cry where you try to keep a straight face, but somehow the tears still manage to overflow.
I relate so much to rays character. An adult that never really had the chance to experience their childhood as a child because they had to or felt the need to grow up in order to protect their own emotions.
Yeah I totally understand ray
Brittany Murphy was a wonderful actress! She played every role so well! Man, do I hate Hollywood for destroying another beautiful soul! I loved this movie as well! Thank you for sharing this video essay ❤
It's speculated Brittany Murphy died of environmental factors. Her husband died in their house five months after under similar circumstances
@dirtyprancing5930 ya, heard that too.
@@dirtyprancing5930 oh gosh!! That’s terrible 😢
@@dirtyprancing5930 no after the doc, I’m pretty sure he killed her via his insane lifestyle.
@@dirtyprancing5930 She had a flu or some sort of minor virus which developed into penumonia and finally, sepsis. She was a sunshine gone way too soon.
It's a pity that a great movie won't be recognized because the leading people in the industry can't personally relate to it. A way to ensure that nothing ever changes and the industry will always cater to men first.
This movie had me sobbing as a kid. But I truly loved both actresses in it. They did so good to portray the story.
As a New Yorker, "Uptown Girls" remains one of my favorite movies of my city. It captures the fairy tale aesthetics of a NY that never really existed and is a fabulous representation of what made Brittany Murphy such a cinematic treasure. The only negative remark I have towards it (aside from a few jokes not landing as years have passed) is how Molly is treated as someone in her 30s/40s rather than someone in her 20s. I get that early 2000s Hollywood was even worse with ageism than it is now, but even with that in mind, its horrifying to see a 22-year-old being suggested botox and other things (especially when this is Murphy they're talking to, who is stunning.) Plus, while I adore Molly, I think even she would know not to walk out BAREFOOT in the middle of Manhattan (the broken glass alone makes that a huge no-no.) But nitpicks aside, I love this movie, and your review is great!
I think that tracks for her peers, though. I was a good 7 years older than Molly at the time, and the wealthy people at my undergrad talked about peers getting plastic surgery in highschool. I was never wealthy or pretty enough to have such rules apply, but I definitely heard and saw women in their 20s worrying about visibly aging and talking about procedures to prevent it. At just 18, everyone acted as if we were all independent adults who should never need anyone else. 22 was when many of my classmates moved to NYC and got jobs. I found the depiction pretty realistic for the Uber wealthy party set I'd been around.
If you had lived during the 90s you would have understood that about 20s you were either getting married and having kids or chasing a carrier while paying out your loans, or both while scouting for a family appartement. Having your life "figured out" to the T while in reality most didn't even know who they were was a thing. This is why divorces in 30s something were so common afterwards. How could you spend a life together with somebody when you didn't even know yourself or shelfworth. There were women indoctrinated by their families to play happy housewives even though a brilliant carrier was waiting for them just because their mother did, even though she was extremely unhappy by it. Plus, even though tough, 90s still had that naive vibe that everything and anything could happen, while sexism was at its pick. Grown up men were discussing about actresses coming of age, so they were "eligible pray, guys" and girls' virginity status. I remember celebrities as old as 30 having plastic surgeries to their foreheads and us 20s girls' talked about how a woman should look beautiful 24/7 if she wants to remain relevant by her husband. 90s naiveté had some major sexism and core traumas embedded in us by TV and Hollywood.
haahhaa she was lit. being asked the bare minimum...
The moment when Molly falls into Ray’s lap absolutely broke me… it left me a blubbering mess. In it I see my therapized, older self reflecting on my parentified child self. Someone who is now in-touch and unashamed of my emotions, who has slowly allowed myself the space and acceptance to be vulnerable and not take life so seriously. Never thought I’d feel so seen from two nepo babies interacting lol.
I’ve been crying over this movie for 20 years. Watched it when it was released and my sensitive soul couldn’t handle it. Still can’t! Such a beautiful story of finding your worth, letting go, and the healing power of friendship. An all time fav.
I Just watched this movie for the first time today and... I fell in love with it. I turned 22 this year and, as you, i feel related to both characters. While a lot of my Friends are getting married and working, i'm still struggiling finishing college and i could'nt find a job yet. This movie really hit me; i'm still naive, childish and obstinated but i'm also hardworking and perseverant, i feel useless but worthed at the same time, this movie made me realize that.
I loved the vídeo by the way, your channel is really good!! And sorry for my Bad English 😅. Greetings from Mexico!!
Thank you for this beautiful comment! I relate to you a lot.
And your English is great no need to apologize. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment sending love 💖
Your English is awesome!😊
same. this movie that hits close to home for some reasons
i bet Not your bad eng.
I stumbled across this film as a little kid on tv. It was at the midpoint so I didn't catch its title. I really enjoyed it and just accepted that I'd never see it again. So, I'm so excited to rewatch it now in adulthood. I can't forget how it made me feel.
I 100% agree that this movie was a masterpiece. I watched this recently as an adult after only watching it as a teenage girl. I never really understood it fully until I had gone through some more life experience. I cried when I realized how much both Molly and Ray taught each other, how they changed each other perspectives in the most beautiful ways. This movie really means so much to me and always will. Also I thought Molly would be older, based on women talking to her about face wrinkles. 😢
I have to point out the symbolism of the teacup ride. Molly states that the teacups were the only ride she was allowed to go on by herself, which further illustrates how *young* and *alone* Molly was when she was going through the most tragic point in her life. Same with Ray. Both so young and so alone, all the while the entire fucking world is spinning all around you and you’re trapped in the cycle of chaos, sickness, fun, disorientation.
I also thought it was interesting to see them fighting for control over the wheel. You can spin it as much as you want, but you'll always be confined to the ride.
I started crying at the dissection of this movie. I was letting the tears flow and then I remembered that I just got my lashes done and I had to quickly dry them 😂
This was beautifully done. I’ll watch the movie again tonight!
This movie would come on tv a lot as a kid and I would usually choose to watch it, so I have a lot of nostalgia for this movie. But as I grew up I started to realize the deeper messaging and also recognize the standout performances from Dakota and Brittany and now I don’t understand how this movie isn’t more popular
Did I sign up on rotten tomatos just to write a review for this film after I watched it due to watching your video essay on it? And did I call the people who found it stupid - either bind or fools? Yes, yes I did - thank you for this video, if not for you I wouldn't have come across this gem of a cinema, I loved this video and loved the film and I agree with every point you've made.
Hahahaha you’re out here doing the lords work
I just wanted to wholeheartedly thank you for this video. In the 6th grade, I personally experienced a disturbing & traumatizing 3-person loss/tragedy that happened in my family & I have never functioned the same afterwards. I struggle immensely with vulnerability, trust, & had/have issues with anxiety & depression but I could never pin point exactly why I couldn’t move on or at least somewhat heal from that situation & this video perfectly sums up why I always felt… stuck. As a 20-something year old, I feel like my teen years were filled with spiritual warfare, grief & darkness while my 20s are a time of healing & is forcing me to l confront why I am the way I am. I look forward to my journey on healing my inner child & thank you for releasing this video which gave me my epiphany ♥️
This comment made me cry 😭💖 I am so glad that you had that epiphany!! I am sending you so much love on your healing journey. Thank you for taking the time to share this with me, I appreciate you greatly💖
as someone who grew up watching this movie the transition of me watching this at 8 and now at 23 I remember relating to Ray so much and now am relating to Molly in the sense of trying to find yourself as a young adult through trauma and grief,,, amazing video !
The moment Molly sees ray on the t cup ride I break down crying every time
RIP Brittany Murphy 😢my heart is broken 💔 she had too much to give, and this movie is very underrated, thanks for the review
I think this movie didn't do well because the trailer made it seem like it was a comedy but the movie was very serious. I remember watching it in theaters expecting it to be a really funny but I ended up crying. I still loved it though but it wasn't what I expected.
I agree. The absolute wrong people saw this movie, because it wasn't advertised as a family drama with some comedy, it was advertised as a funny movie.
I think misleading trailers kill a lot of movies, honestly. It's a shame. The wrong audience sees it and it flops. Or at least, this was an issue; social media might mean there's a little more transparency, since people who see previews talk. But I'm not really sure. In any case, I remember being similarly confused.
I also think that this movie felt flawed in a way. Molly (Brittany) and Ray (Dakota) had the best scenes together in my opinion, from the teacup spinning scene to their friendship growing to a tolerable one. However, some of the adult scenes were a turn-off for the people watching this movie along with me. Let me explain... It was fun to have those scenes between Molly and Ray, but it wasn't half as good when comparing it to the clunky, awkward scenes among the adults. The somewhat explicit scenes were just a hassle to skip through, because we were trying to watch the movie about the nanny and the kid (plus the broke nanny navigating life as a normal person) NOT adults doing, erm, stuff together...
i’ve been WAITING for this movie to get more recognition. it has hit written all over it and i’m still upset that it has been so overlooked since it came out! it’s one of my all time favorite movies and is the reason why Brittany Murphy is one of my favorite actresses. i still remember going to see this film with my mom and i was the same age as Dakota was in the movie. such great memories every time i watch it. i have a version of that exact fairy hanging in Molly’s room and charmed life is one of the theme songs of my life! carry uptown girls (spiritually) and Molly/Brittany’s energy with me everywhere. great video!! 💛
I lost my father in 2003 when I was 5.. this movie makes me cry *every single* time I watched it from when I was 7 to now at 25.
Thank you for making this video, watching it is one of the most cathartic experiences a female child who’s seen parent death young, can go through.
I always felt I was the only one who LOVED this movie. And was mocked for loving it.. being a chickflick as they called it.
Fr same I never met someone who was as obsessed with this movie as I was. I’m glad we’ve found our people in the comment section haha, it’s so lovely hearing how this movie is so adored by so many
My holy trinity is this, Penelope and Ever After, I can’t explain why but if you know you know
ME TOO!!!
Fairy tales for adults who never grew up because of what they went through.
Came back to say after watching your video I had to go back to revisit the movie myself. I was not disappointed. I sobbed of course but you’re right, the movie is a very truthful healing journey for these girls. Thank you for covering this or I may have forgotten this one and left it in the back of my mind as some cutesy girly movie I watched many years ago. It’s so much more than that.
I love that 😭💖 I’m glad you revisited this wonderful film!
It’s wild that anyone expects someone in their early 20s to have things figured out when that usually starts to happen in the late 20s and early 30s. Sure you might live on your own and pay bills but you still don’t know who you are and what you really want out of life until you’ve lived through the 20s
I love that Dakota’s dance is like a retelling of their growth together 🥹
I love what you said about this film! I sang background vocals on Spinning around the Sun- Britney Murphy was the IT girl at the time, I wish we could have seen what she would have grown into movie wise…rip Britney Murphy you are missed!!
This movie means so much to me in so many ways, when I was younger I related to Ray, having been a misunderstood autistic little girl with strange particularities and interests for my age, I was often told I was so mature for my age, like an old lady trapped in a child’s body. Then later in life growing into a barely functioning adult with interests and sensibilities that are considered childish for my age and can barely hold a job other than childcare to save my life, I now relate to Molly immensely. Also as someone who worked in childcare for many many years and has experience caring for the emotionally neglected children of wealthy families I relate to the anger that Molly has for Ray’s mom towards the end of the movie. I could honestly write an entire book about the pain anguish and anger I feel towards neglectful parents, how even rich people (honestly especially rich people) are guilty of neglect, and how money and comfort will never replace the love that a child deserves. All around this movie feels so personal to my life and it will never cease to be a favorite of mine. I’ve often wondered why I never hear commentary channels talking about it because it is honestly an emotional and nuanced masterpiece.
Not only are they strong, but they are loveable, something they didn’t believe about themselves but found out through each other xx
It's a pretty strange film. I remember having seen it, at some point, on tv, many years ago, but I just went and rewatched it, thanks to you. I did enjoy it and I definitely don't think it deserves 13% on Rotten Tomatoes (not that RT counts), though I wouldn't call it a masterpiece; it's not a perfect film, but it does do a lot of clever things. Like the way Molly feels sick and runs to the trash can, after hearing Ray is missing, which is a great metaphor for her assuming adult responsibilities, as though she's finally gotten off the tea cup ride. And the cinematography contrasts so well with the early 2000's tropes; the uneven lighting that casts dark shadows and the wide shots where a single character will stand in the middle of the frame, looking lost, counterbalance the fairytale narration, the pop music, the Disney Channel wardrobe. Based on the opening minutes, I expected the movie to maintain its naive tone, to the point where I was shocked at the 'rock'n'roll poet sex god' line, I couldn't believe they used the word sex. And that continued to happen, with Molly constantly taking off underwear, with 'a soundtrack to slit your wrists to', with Ray's father's death. Because of Molly's energy, I expected the story to take on her weightless whimsy, and be closer to 13 going on 30, for example. Instead, the plot punches down, over and over, before the conflict resolves, and that deterrence of expectation makes for a ride of a watching experience in and of itself
It's been years since I saw this movie for the first time, and I'm still equally in love with it as I was upon first watching it, if not more. It's the fact that, like you said, both of them have faced terrible trauma around the same age, and yet their trauma responses are so different. Molly never grew up and Ray grew up too quickly, and so through each other, Molly learned to be an adult and Ray learned how to be a child. It was also such an excellent way of showing that trauma can manifest itself differently from person to person, even if two people have gone through similar tragedies.
Dakota and Brittany really did a great job of bringing out the best of their characters, and I especially want to applaud Dakota because that level of skill is so difficult to attain as a child, and she executed her role perfectly.
Anyway, thank you for making a video on this. I really do think that this movie deserves more praise than what I see. I think I can confidently say that it's one of my favorite movies now. It's so charming, funny, and heartwarming and I wish more people would talk about it.
I watch this movie at least twice a year. It changed my life tenfold. I’m so happy there’s so many people who appreciate it too.
when we were kids we truly did not understand how hard molly was struggling if she was taking her undies OFF IN THE LAUNDRYMAT. girl was going thru IT.
this film is so radical and GIRLY and AWESOME men LITERALLY can't understand it.
I love uptown girls it's my favorite comfort movie. growing up I'd always watch it on tv or dvd. I remember going through my first death experience at the time losing my great grandmother unexpectedly right before we planned to go visit her. just like Ray I was in ballet and felt connect to her by that. I would do the whole dance at the end of movie and still remember it to this day. I wanted to be like Molly in a way being care free and pretty. now as an adult I have a new view on my love for this movie and see myself in both i didn't notice before.
I remember being OBSESSED with this movie as a child (also one of the only films i had on DVD) and I remembered how formative it was when discussing movies that were a huge impact on us with my friends so i did a watchparty of it a little anxious because I tend to hate stuff that i used to love nowadays but it was EXACTLY as good as I remembered and I was so pleased. Seeing this video essay is euphoric reinforcement of my taste
This video legit made me cry 😭😭😭😭 I too like most of you in the comments watched this as a little girl and funny enough I’m in a similar situation where I am a nanny to a little girl who is the opposite of me but we bring out the best in each other. And working with her and her siblings is healing my inner child. I’m so grateful for my job 🥰🥰🥰
My grandma recently passed. One of my oldest memories is watching this with my grandma and remembering how much I identified with Dakota Fanning’s character. It’s such a symbolic and meaningful film in my life.
I remember being so moved by the teacup scene and the story of a too-grown-up child and childlike adult, both due to trauma, but seeing this reminded me how good it is, so I paused and finished the movie first. I cried so much. It has moments of humour and whinsy, absolutely, but the trauma is so well-portrayed and the healing of these two... beautiful. One of the first times I felt all alone in the world (aside from when one parent blamed me for the other's anger and harming me, the same parent abandoned me terrified while performing ona stage, searching for that parent in the audience and not finding her in those blinding lights... I never had stage fright again, I feel at home there, but I also realized I'll never be able to rely on that parent.
Raye suffering that felt so, so raw and real. So, when she danced (freestyle, for fun, finally! ... even if she'll always be a little bit of a perfectionist and picky, adjustung the others, that's her personality) during Molly Smiles... it was so cathartic. I love them both so much.
I'm in my late 20s and I sitll don't really know how to take care of myself. This pandemic also prolonged a lot of stuff for me. It happened when I was 25.
Honestly same it feels like 4 years was robbed off my life, in my head I'm still 23 but I'm already 27
The pandemic stunted me as well. I'm 28 now and three years ago I also lost my maternal figure (my grandma), so that further made me feel stuck in time. I'm trying to figure stuff out rn, at least I don't have the pressure of paying rent to keep a roof over my head but it's still hard.
"all of your teeth haven't grown in but you're still worried about getting wrinkles" damn that sums it up
Growing my mom was an absentee parent and my dad was in the military so i related to Rey growing up. Two years ago my mom died and then my brother last november and now I see so much of myself in Molly. They really are two sides of the same coin. This video essay made me cry super hard but i think i needed it. So thank you.
I have worked as the nanny of a little girl who asked me if I wanted to be her mum and told me I was her best friend. I miss her a lot and that movie will always remind me of her
Do you still have contact with her, nowadays 🤔?
Genuinely asking. Sounds like she really needed you in her life (maybe stil needs).
@@RodrickMarsMoon nop, her parents sucked and I ended up quiting the job
@@charoraimondogarcia Ooh, sorry about that 🤔😕.
AHHH! I think about this constantly with this movie and thank you for sharing this commentary! The main characters of this movie I've always believed were mirrors of one another. It's a beautiful story about self compassion while navigating the reparenting process that comes from longterm effects of childhood trauma
i remember watching this movie fairly young, not realizing what it was really any before putting it on, i just remember seeing that brittany murphy and dakota fanning were in it and thinking “oooh this looks fun” and then i remember sitting there after i watched it for the first time completely gobsmacked that i couldn’t stop crying and how much this movie made me feel… and then thinking wow i was NOT ready for that lmao but i also didn’t have parents that were there much to tell me what i could and couldn’t watch
I love this movie! It was my favorite as a kid and I watch it almost every time I’m sick or sad at home. I always connected with Molly , now and even as a 9-10 year old watching this because her personality is so childlike. Weirdly I was also always told I looked like Dakota Fanning as a kid. I also think a lot of my personal style takes inspiration from Molly’s character in this movie. The music is great, everything I just love this movie especially the relationship between Ray and Molly. I also was a nanny for a long time I think because of this movie and always wanted a pet pig and was sad to find out mini pigs aren’t a real thing!
I have such a similar relationship to this film! It was one of the few DVDs I owned so I would always pop it on, it’s definitely one of my comfort films. I’ve actually been considering nannying as well, and think it is partially because of this film hahaha
@@FinalGirlStudios it’s a very good job but I think the hardest part about it is getting attached to the children. Sometimes the children get so attached to you that parents get jealous as well. I used to have these two little boys cry and cry every time I left reaching out to me. I also had a mom who fired me after a few weeks her daughter was only 6 months I think she was going through postpartum. I also don’t think it’s right that in this country mothers and even fathers are expected to go right back to work. I loved it I have so many great relationships now and it’s definitely good money. Now that I’m a mom myself I can understand some of the things the parents felt at times I didn’t before.
@@Ilovecerealcerealcereal it just be so hard to be a nanny, be very involved in the kids life for a long time, and then suddenly stop either having to wait or getting fired, whatever the reason it just seems like such a heartbreaking job
Since you were a baby have you ever heard of someone that I could hire that would help me with the children? Like, I'm home as well and the person just helps maybe do activities with them while I clean or helps prepare meals while I read books, basically just like a second pair of eyes and arms... Is there a word for that person that I could use to search out for the listing I want to put up? A helper? Idk. I tried googling but I'm no8⁸l
@@nicoledoubleyou you could look into getting an aupair/childminder but also depending on where you live certain nanny/childcare service companies offer/let you look for people for your specific needs you just have to explain to them what you need + are looking for and they’ll find someone with those requirements.
I rarely cry when watching movies/videos but throughout this entire video I was crying so much. You really put into words as to why this movie had such a hold on me growing up as a girl. Now being 21 this movie is comforting in a whole new way. You make the best videos!
Also unrelated to this video, I cited you and your video on female rage for my college thesis project which was about " the expression of rage and resistance in art/media created by women and how it challenges the male gaze, allowing women to disengage from the expectations of what a woman should be." You made so many great points in that video as well and I love your perspective on everything. Just wanted to tell you that and your videos are really helpful for me because as I am getting older I am starting to understand the importance in the representation of women's experiences because it is honestly so hard to find that in media and it took until my 20's to see realize how important that representation is, especially for young girls. Your videos are really accessible and easy to understand and I have been looking deeper into the sources you reference in your videos and finding so many other great women perspectives/articles. So thank you again for all this amazing and meaningful content!
Beautiful, sentimental movie. I watched it for the first time as an adult and bawled my eyes out.
i relate so much to both of them … actually growing up i was a lot like ray but after crashing under pressure and going through depression i became a lot more like molly… i also happen to have a five years younger sister who really is like ray and the two of us together really balance each other when it comes to maturity and supporting each other! we both have our traumar and mental issues (i have bpd and she has ocd) but we’re able to understand and accept each other in such an comfortable way! i love her and i really really love this movie since i was young
Dakota Fanning was literally at my uni (University of Galway) recently while filming The watchers in Ireland!!!
Rewatching this as an adult after my dad passed hits different. You posted this on his birthday too 🥹 thank you for this video you're so right, it is an underrated masterpiece! 💕
In my humble opinion, Rae is not a hypochondriac, she is obsessive compulsive.
ive never watched this movie, ive never even heard of it until today. and yet, this video made me cry. i can see not only the thought and care put into the movie but also your genuine love for it. brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
Wow. This is such a thoughtful, insightful and respectful analysis of this great film. It’s not surprising most men would fail to see how important and complex this film is… especially now, 21 years later. I loved this film too, and was touched by it. A version of The Toy, but with a girl instead of a boy. Well done!!
I’m not crying, you’re crying
I watched this movie as a kid and I really loved it. And as an adult, rewatching it was really impactful in a way that I didn't quite comprehend as a child. Brittany and Dakota really portrayed their characters in such an honest and relatable way. I cried all over again during the teacup spinning scene--it's amazing how much can be portrayed without words. It's definitely a movie that is worth rewatching periodically, which to me is a sign of a great movie. And I appreciate the way you broke everything down and brought concepts to the forefront that I hadn't considered.
you made me watch this movie again and honestly it's one of my favorite 2000s movie, it made me so emotional and nostalgic, being almost 20 i relate so much to both of them
i also think 13 going on 30 gives us a message about assessing your inner child and healing through it, maybe you can analyze this movie if you want to :))
loved your video!!
I love Uptown Girls and I miss Britney Murphey a lot. I wish she was still around, I would have loved to see what she did. This will always be a favorite.
I think that Ray’s dad died when he did was out of his own concern for his daughter and wanting to make sure she was taken care of. When she read out loud to him for the first time, he found that he could ‘let go’ because there was finally someone in her life (Molly) who’d shown her how to open up and make her happy
To play the devil's advocate, from what I remember, the movie was advertised as a more traditional comedy. I certainly remember going in expecting laughs. From what I remember I didn't think it was a bad movie er se, but I don't think I loved it, either, and I imagine the unexpected darkness played a role in that. BUT also I think you're right that there was probably misogyny in the responses. The 2000s were not kind to women like Molly, when you look at Paris Hilton or Britney Spears.
I really love what you picked up on here. You are absolutely right. It's a much deeper movie than it was given credit for being.
Thank you for this! I loved this movie as a kid and watched it so many times and this video really brought back for me why I think I loved it so much but couldn’t put into words as a little kid.
I relate so much!!
First time I got bit emotional while watching a film analysis. Watching it as a little girl and then rewatching it as a young woman leaves me a strong feeling of clarity and sentimentality. The sad parts are strangely comforting and it’s also a fun film which must be why younger me enjoyed it then. I always knew the film had a deep message but I could never explain it! ✨ 10/10 video essay
So I have to say that this is my second or third time going through this video, and you did such a beautifully exquisite job with thoroughly explaining this film and the deeper meaning behind it regarding coping with trauma and grief, that it has become one of my favorite videos on UA-cam to go through and has become an extremely cathartic and therapeutic tool for me to use to make sense of my own life and my own childhood trauma and grief. The irony is that I have still never watched uptown girls and I never thought twice about it as a movie before. Until fate brought your video to my UA-cam suggestions almost a year ago and I was so intrigued by it that I had to click on it, and once I did I was hooked right in. You do a fantastic job with analyzing movies and finding the deeper symbolism and meaning behind them and it shows in the fact that you have made me go from being completely indifferent and judgmental of this movie as some early 2000s subpar chick flick, to absolutely adoring it and holding it in the highest prestige, to the point of me refusing to watch it for the first time until I know the moment is just right and the time is perfect for me to do so. Every time I watch your video, I end up bawling my eyes out in the most cathartic and releasing of ways, and missing Brittany Murphy and the unique beauty she brought to this world before her untimely death. I cannot commend you enough on how well written/narrated this video is and how captivating and interesting it is to watch. I look forward to the perfect moment for me to be able to sit back and watch this movie and laugh and cry and feel love and sadness from its deeper and more profound layers. Keep up the great work because you are one of the most brilliant UA-camrs I've found in terms of analyzing movies.
I only found this movie a couple years ago through clips of the teacup scene, and everytime i watch it i end up crying throughout the entire second half. Watched this video and it had the same effect on me lol
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I had a lot of trauma growing up, and PTSD now as an adult because of it, so I definitely relate to both Molly and Ray. I love this video and this discussion around healing our inner child
I can't agree with you more! Uptown Girl is fun, pretty, deep, heart-warming and up-lifting at the same time! I am bit of a Molly trying to get my life together, and Uptown Girl has definitely given me hope!
RIP my queen Brittany ♥️ i loved this film as a kid, and i wish we could have gotten a sequel with Dakota as an adult and how their relationship developed through the years.
This is my favorite movie of all time for every reason you mentioned and more. I cry not just watching it, but thinking about it as well. Thank you for making this!
Me too 😭💖
impecable video i sobbed the whole time your analysis was so poignant and beautiful. this was like therapy
You’re so sweet 😭💖 I’m glad you enjoyed the video
Omg thanks so much for this. I’m gonna rewatch it. I cried so hard. RIP Brit. Gone too soon.
Your analysis of this film brought me to tears.
this was such a good video!! I've loved this movie since childhood. In an interview Dakota Fanning said that Brittany Murphy bought them matching juicy tracksuits during filming!!!! 😭
That is so cute!!🥺🥰
I’m crying 🥹 that is so sweet!
This has always been one of my favorite movies as a kid for a lot of the reasons you say, and it’s nice to see someone address how deep the story actually is. I agree, I like it better then The Godfather too.
I always cry at the ending. Since I was a girl this film never failed to communicate the beauty and struggle of girlhood.
I've never seen this movie before, but this analysis showed up in my recommended and now I'm crying 😭