MovieChat Forums > A Christmas Detour (2015) Discussion > Seriously.... even a Hallmark movie does...

Seriously.... even a Hallmark movie doesn't pass the Bechdel test???

posted 9 years ago by Jupiter555555
5 replies | jump to latest

If you don't already know, the Bechdel test is essentially a simple guideline that proves most movies don't have any scenes with only women in them. This movie is yet another example. Maxine and Candace don't have any scenes alone together, but the two men have at least one scene alone together and the hot guy and his brother have a scene together too. So this so-called "chick flick" Christmas movie has two scenes with all men and not one scene with just women. For some reason, there's this archaic principle that screenwriters believe that women can't carry scenes alone. Any dialogue between two women has a man in there to help them along for some reason. Before you call me crazy, watch three movies and you'll see that at least two will fail to have a scene with ONLY women.. no men in the scene at all.

[–] danielle81587 9 years ago

Actually there is a brief scene with the women alone in the ladies room.

[–] Jupiter555555 9 years ago

Actually there is a brief scene with the women alone in the ladies room.

I watched again and you're right, Danielle. My mistake..however, there are still two male-only scenes and only one all-women scene. For a self-proclaimed chick flick, that's weird.

[–] mrpacker 8 years ago

I suspect chicks like to look at men. And where did you see it advertised as such?

[–] TotheWatersandtheWild 9 years ago

I believe it's not just that two women are in a scene together, but that women talk about something, anything, other than a man. For a minimum time (2 minutes?).
But basically it's:

1.The movie has to have at least two women in it,
2.who talk to each other,
3.about something besides a man.

~
Once you choose hope, anything's possible -Christopher Reeve
📵

[–] fran-veal 8 years ago

I can name three Hallmark Christmas movies this week-
Christmas at Cartwright's had several scenes with Alicia Witt's character and her friend and land lady
A Christmas Melody- scene with only Mariah Carey, Lacey Chabert and the principal (a woman)
The Nine Lives of Christmas- scene with MC and landlord where she accuses her of keeping a cat
Christmas List with Alicia Witt- several scenes with just her and her mom
A Christmas list with Mimi Rogers - scenes with just her and her mom
And off the top of my head - major pictures
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood
Fried Green Tomatoes
Steel Magnolias
Thelma and Louise