EntertainmentZooey Deschanelmanic pixie dream girlVideo

Manic Pixie Dream Girls: 75 Years, From Zooey Deschanel To Kate Hudson (SUPERCUT)

75 Years Of Manic Pixie Dream Girls
By 

Contributor

Film critic, Nathan Rabin first coined the term Manic Pixie Dream Girl in response to Kirsten Dunst’s role in "Elizabethtown." He described the stock character as, "that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures."

From then on, the term Manic Pixie Dream Girl (otherwise known as a MPDG) has been used to describe quirky female characters who are unabashedly girlish (and have great taste in music). However not everyone is a fan of the term.

"Ruby Sparks" star and writer Zoe Kazan told HuffPost Entertainment that it's a reductive phrase. "I think defining a girl and making her lovable because of her music taste or because she wears cute clothes is a really superficial way of looking at women," Kazan said.

Perhaps she'll want to avoid this new supercut produced by Flavorwire. The clip package highlights 75 years of Manic Pixie Dream Girls, from Kate Hudson in "Almost Famous" to Zooey Deschanel in practically every film role she's ever had. Even a young Jeff Daniels dancing in "Something Wild" makes an appearance. (No, he's not an MPDG, but it's still hilarious; his "Something Wild" co-star Melanie Griffith does qualify, however.)

Please enjoy the supercut -- set to the tune of "Good Morning Starshine" -- above.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Zoe Kazan Around Town
"Ruby Sparks" New York Special Screening(01 of11)
Open Image Modal
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 11: Actress Zoe Kazan attends the 'Ruby Sparks' New York Special Screening at Sunshine Landmark on July 11, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
"Ruby Sparks" New York Special Screening(02 of11)
Open Image Modal
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 11: Actress Zoe Kazan attends the 'Ruby Sparks' New York Special Screening at Sunshine Landmark on July 11, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
"Ruby Sparks" New York Special Screening(03 of11)
Open Image Modal
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 11: Actress Zoe Kazan attends the 'Ruby Sparks' New York Special Screening at Sunshine Landmark on July 11, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
"Ruby Sparks" New York Special Screening(04 of11)
Open Image Modal
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 11: Actors Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan attend the 'Ruby Sparks' New York Special Screening at Sunshine Landmark on July 11, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
"Ruby Sparks" New York Special Screening(05 of11)
Open Image Modal
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 11: (L-R) Actor Paul Dano, actress Zoe Kazan, co-director Valerie Faris, and co-director Jonathan Dayton attend the 'Ruby Sparks' New York Special Screening at Sunshine Landmark on July 11, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
"Ruby Sparks" New York Special Screening(06 of11)
Open Image Modal
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 11: Actors Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan attend the 'Ruby Sparks' New York Special Screening at Sunshine Landmark on July 11, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
"For Ellen" Party At T-Mobile Google Music Village At The Lift - Day 2 - 2012 Park City(07 of11)
Open Image Modal
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Actress Zoe Kazan and director So Yong Kim attend Day 2 of the 'For Ellen' Party at T-Mobile Google Music Village at The Lift on January 21, 2012 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stella Cafe) (credit:Getty)
"For Ellen" Party At T-Mobile Google Music Village At The Lift - Day 2 - 2012 Park City(08 of11)
Open Image Modal
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Actors Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan attend Day 2 of the 'For Ellen' Party at T-Mobile Google Music Village at The Lift on January 21, 2012 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stella Cafe) (credit:Getty)
"For Ellen" Party At T-Mobile Google Music Village At The Lift - Day 2 - 2012 Park City(09 of11)
Open Image Modal
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Actors Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan attend Day 2 of the 'For Ellen' Party at T-Mobile Google Music Village at The Lift on January 21, 2012 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stella Cafe) (credit:Getty)
"For Ellen" Party At T-Mobile Google Music Village At The Lift - Day 2 - 2012 Park City(10 of11)
Open Image Modal
PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Actors Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan attend Day 2 of the 'For Ellen' Party at T-Mobile Google Music Village at The Lift on January 21, 2012 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stella Cafe) (credit:Getty)
Dior Hosts Party For The Weinstein Company's Premiere Of "My Week With Marilyn" At The New York Film Festival(11 of11)
Open Image Modal
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: Actress Zoe Kazan attends a party for the New York Film Festival premiere of The Weinstein Company's 'My Week With Marilyn' hosted by Dior at Hudson Hotel on October 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company) (credit:Getty)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip