I heard about this great knew archetype, known as an MPDG to insiders, on NPR the other day.  I thought it was awesome.  The description:

The Manic Pixie is, in his words, “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.”

My favorite:

3. Garden State (Natalie Portman)

Pharmaceutical companies have made billions peddling antidepressants to twentysomething white people who are, like, totally stressin’ over people not appreciating them enough. Zach Braff did similarly well peddling two unusual but no less popular antidepressants in Garden State: The Shins and Natalie Portman. Braff’s character is completely transformed when the latter introduces him to the former in a doctor’s waiting room, with the plucky, annoying promise, “It’ll change your life, I swear.” Of course, anything sounds profound coming from such a dreamy woman. Oh, Natalie, your unconventional ways are so inspiring, and your beauty is surprisingly non-threatening! In Garden State, she’s a loveably eccentric little angel in the body of a smokin’-hot goddess, spreading good cheer and tuneful indie rock to depressed boys everywhere.

Check out the rest here.

Tags: movies, NPR

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 11th, 2008 at 9:46 pm and is filed under No Pulp. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.