Movie Cliches

[christopher575]

People make a bet about whether or not someone can get someone else to fall in love with them. They always fall in love, but then the person finds out about the bet and is mad, but eventually everything is ok.

There is a week or so to raise a lot of money or else the house, small business, or community center will be razed to build a mall.

Unpopular main character rides a bike through their own neighborhood and the only other person around insults them as they go by.

Unpopular main character is a really talented artist.

Famous band's tour bus is lost and they play at house party or college party.

Comments

[boomstick.livejournal.com]

"Ugly geeky girl" has a complete makeover that turns her into a stunner simply by taking her glasses off and getting her hair trimmed.

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

Have you seen Not Another Teen Movie? They do a really good job making fun of that. "Look at that ponytail!"

[boomstick.livejournal.com]

Pff, I was thinking that long before that movie ever came out! But I did agree with their joke. It's a bit irritating!

[scearley.livejournal.com]

It's in Rocky. Adrian takes her glasses off and SHAZAM.

[boomstick.livejournal.com]

Oh, and going on cliches in that same vein...you can always tell the intelligent character right away because they wear glasses. That's all it takes.

[scearley.livejournal.com]

Also, if it's a female character that is supposed to be smart, she shows zero cleavage.

[boomstick.livejournal.com]

Until she whips off the glasses and becomes sexy!

[cattycritic.livejournal.com]

shit. beat me to it.

further cliches

[scearley.livejournal.com]

• Cars violently explode when they are involved in an accident.
  
• Liquid gasoline is more flammable than gaseous gasoline.
  
• Underdog sports team loses but the other team gives them the trophy.
  
• People settle major business decisions through a fraternity competition, usually incorporating something "wacky" like a river rafting race.
  
• There are two heads to each fraternity, and one is blond, the other has black hair. Each has a ridiculously large wild streak, but only one shows it.
  

I'm reading a Sinclair Lewis book (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrowsmith_(novel)) and there's a version of the "love bet." I wonder just how far back this particular cliche goes.

Re: further cliches

[weirdlovemaker.livejournal.com]

Well, you can count Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew as one of the earliest examples.

[lightningflash.livejournal.com]

Nobody watches the road while they drive, instead turning their head to talk to their passenger/child in the backseat/alter-ego in the rear-view mirror, and yet they never crash or veer to the right. But something always darts/rolls/falls in front of the car that could have been easily avoided by just watching the damn road!

[boyshapedbox.livejournal.com]

Best friend is the comic relief who secretly pines for best friend girl/main character. Eventually lets her go after seeing how happy main character guy makes her.