Howard Stern said this today and it cracked me the hell up. I realized how these two genres are near the top of my list, too.

So tell me: What are some of your favorite movies where an ugly duckling turns into a swan? They don't even have to be teen ugly ducklings; any age will do.

The ugly ducklings in movies are always totally hot

NDRU said:

The ugly ducklings in movies are always totally hot

Not every time.

Grease!

Not that Sandy was ugly in the beginning, but she really blossomed when she put on the leather outfit. I was only nine-years-old when I saw the movie and I was all

NDRU said:

The ugly ducklings in movies are always totally hot

True. The ugly ducklings simply take off their glasses and get a haircut and they’re suddenly uber hot.

I think one of my favorite movie makeovers is Tai in Clueless. Because she’s still all dorky and awkward after, she just looks a little different. Before it goes to her head, anyway.

And I think Brittany Murphy was way cuter back then.

CarrieMpls said:

NDRU said:

The ugly ducklings in movies are always totally hot

True. The ugly ducklings simply take off their glasses and get a haircut and they’re suddenly uber hot.

I think one of my favorite movie makeovers is Tai in Clueless. Because she’s still all dorky and awkward after, she just looks a little different. Before it goes to her head, anyway.

And I think Brittany Murphy was way cuter back then.

Tai was awesome. I love that movie. There's a bonus makeover in Clueless too, because the girls clean up Miss Geist as well. Two makeovers for the price of one = brilliant movie.

Efan said:

CarrieMpls said:

True. The ugly ducklings simply take off their glasses and get a haircut and they’re suddenly uber hot.

I think one of my favorite movie makeovers is Tai in Clueless. Because she’s still all dorky and awkward after, she just looks a little different. Before it goes to her head, anyway.

And I think Brittany Murphy was way cuter back then.

Tai was awesome. I love that movie. There's a bonus makeover in Clueless too, because the girls clean up Miss Geist as well. Two makeovers for the price of one = brilliant movie.

Totally! I forgot about that.

sextonseven said:

Grease!

Not that Sandy was ugly in the beginning, but she really blossomed when she put on the leather outfit. I was only nine-years-old when I saw the movie and I was all

I felt the same when I was young, but recently I saw this scene and I was like

CarrieMpls said:

NDRU said:

The ugly ducklings in movies are always totally hot

True. The ugly ducklings simply take off their glasses and get a haircut and they’re suddenly uber hot.

I think one of my favorite movie makeovers is Tai in Clueless. Because she’s still all dorky and awkward after, she just looks a little different. Before it goes to her head, anyway.

And I think Brittany Murphy was way cuter back then.

every time I see these movies my gf & I have to say "that girl could NEVER be pretty!"

In a way, any narrative with a classic monomyth arch is an "ugly duckling" movie of sorts. Two I really liked, because they showcased an internal "becoming a swan" were The Color Purple and Malcolm X.

NDRU said:

sextonseven said:

Grease!

Not that Sandy was ugly in the beginning, but she really blossomed when she put on the leather outfit. I was only nine-years-old when I saw the movie and I was all

I felt the same when I was young, but recently I saw this scene and I was like

Hah, it has been several years since I last watched it. I may very well feel the same way as you now if I were to see the movie again.

It's not a movie. It is a TV classic sitcom. The ugly teen was still naturally average!

Clueless is gold. But She Gets What She Wants is a very close second.

What about in "The Breakfast Club" when Claire (Molly Ringwald) makes over Allison (Ally Sheedy)... with minimal supplies DURING detention.

Lammastide said:

In a way, any narrative with a classic monomyth arch is an "ugly duckling" movie of sorts. Two I really liked, because they showcased an internal "becoming a swan" were The Color Purple and Malcolm X.

That's so funny--that is EXACTLY what Howard Stern said, too.

chocolate1 said:

What about in "The Breakfast Club" when Claire (Molly Ringwald) makes over Allison (Ally Sheedy)... with minimal supplies DURING detention.

I love that song that plays after that, too. I was a total sap for that. Well, I was a total sap for Emilio Estevez. But the song helped.

Efan said:

Lammastide said:

In a way, any narrative with a classic monomyth arch is an "ugly duckling" movie of sorts. Two I really liked, because they showcased an internal "becoming a swan" were The Color Purple and Malcolm X.

That's so funny--that is EXACTLY what Howard Stern said, too.

Really?!? Arrrgh, I wanted to sound all smart and original.