WHAT IS A CHICK FLICK?

Chick-flick is a slang term for a film genre mainly dealing with love and romance and designed to appeal to a largely female target audience.

Although many types of films may be directed toward the female gender, "chick-flick" is typically used only in reference to films that are heavy with emotion or contain themes that are relationship-based (although not necessarily romantic as many other themes may be present). Chick

Flicks are usually released near Valentines Day.

HISTORY

The concept of films designed to appeal specifically to women has existed since the early days of cinema and has been known by other colloquial terms,

including "women's pictures". Those were generally critically panned upon their release. However, women's films such as the 1950s melodramas

directed by Douglas Sirk – Imitation of Life. Specifically, critics cite what they see as the ironic and complex criticisms of American culture in those

past films.

The 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's, commonly known as one of the 'classic' films from the golden age of cinema is sometimes considered as an early chick-flick due to common elements such as dealing with loneliness obsessive

materialism, and happy endings. In the U.S. I

In the 1980s, a succession of teenage drama pictures also labelled as chick-flicks were released, many by director John Hughes. These often had a different and more realistic tone than previous chick-flicks, with dramatic elements

such as abortion and personal alienation being included.

Several chick-flicks have been patterned after the story of Cinderella or other fairy tales (e.g. A Cinderella Story, Ever After, and Pretty Woman), or even

Shakespeare in the case of She's the Man and 10 Things I Hate About You; a large number are adapted from popular novels (e.g. The Princess Diaries, The Devil Wears Prada) and literary classics (e.g. Little Women). Other

prominent examples include Terms of Endearment and Steel Magnolias.

MODERN CHICK FLICKS

OLDER CHICK FLICKS

THE MUSIC

The music that is normally used in chick flicks

would be categorized as Pop. It usually

upbeat and catchy. However, slow and sad

in emotional scenes.

The movie ‘Pretty Woman’ starring Julia

Roberts and Richard Gere uses the song

‘Pretty Woman’ written by Roy Orbison, in a

significant and famous scene. This song is

now well known and the movie can be easily

recognised with when played.