Damsels in Distress Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A group of girls at a quirky college try to solve depression with donuts and tap dancing, but mostly just end up with complicated love lives and a dance craze that nobody asked for.

🍿 Damsels in Distress: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to Seven Oaks College

Violet, Rose, and Heather, a trio of eccentric college students, strive to elevate the atmosphere of Seven Oaks College. They run a Suicide Prevention Center, offering unorthodox methods like aromatherapy and tap dancing. Their mission is to rescue their fellow students from depression and low standards.

Lily’s Arrival and Induction

Lily, a transfer student, is quickly taken under Violet’s wing and introduced to their unique worldview. Violet aims to educate Lily on proper etiquette, fashion, and selecting suitable romantic interests. Lily’s initial skepticism gives way as she becomes integrated into the group’s activities.

Romantic Entanglements and Fraternal Doofi

The damsels become involved with a series of men, including the strategic Charlie and the alluring Xavier. They attempt to ‘improve’ the fraternity members, teaching them about culture and hygiene. These interactions lead to both humorous situations and challenges to the girls’ friendships.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Violet (Greta Gerwig): The dynamic leader of a trio of college girls who aims to revolutionize the campus through unique methods.
• Lily (Lio Tipton): A transfer student who gets taken under the wing by Violet and her friends, learning about their quirky world.
• Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke): A principled member of Violet’s group who helps implement their unconventional campus improvement plans.
• Heather (Carrie MacLemore): A sexy and somewhat ditzy member of Violet’s cohort, contributing to their efforts in her own way.
• Fred Packenstacker (Adam Brody): A smooth-talking student who becomes romantically involved with one of the damsels, testing their relationships.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Violet: “Do you know what’s the major problem in contemporary social life? The tendency to always seek someone cooler than yourself.” – Violet explains her philosophy on relationships and helping others, highlighting the shallowness she sees in modern interactions.
• Violet: “With illness, prevention is nine-tenths the cure. With suicide, it’s actually ten-tenths.” – Violet explains the mission of their Suicide Prevention Center, highlighting their proactive approach.
• Rose: “What you are describing is a ‘playboy’ or ‘operator’ type.” – Rose warns the other girls about men who send drinks at bars, defining the manipulative behavior they are trying to avoid.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $7.5 million
• Domestic Gross: $1,008,455
• Worldwide Gross: $1,314,358

💥 Damsels in Distress Reviews

Personal Review

I absolutely loved how weird and quirky this movie was! It’s not for everyone, I’ll admit, but the dialogue is so clever and the characters are just so strange in the best way. I especially enjoyed Greta Gerwig’s performance; she perfectly captures the awkwardness and sincerity of Violet. The ending dance number was unexpectedly delightful and left me with a big smile on my face. Definitely a re-watch for me!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Greta Gerwig”
  • “Viewers who enjoy quirky, offbeat comedies”
  • “Those interested in films with unique and intelligent dialogue”
  • “Fans of Whit Stillman’s other films like ‘Metropolitan’ and ‘The Last Days of Disco'”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild sexual references”
  • “Discussions of depression and suicide (treated comically)”
  • “Some thematic elements may not be suitable for younger viewers”

Professional Reviews

• IndieWire: “Stillman’s dialogue is as sharp as ever, though the story meanders. Greta Gerwig shines as Violet, making Damsels in Distress a unique and enjoyable, albeit flawed, comedy.
• The New York Times: “Damsels in Distress is either charmingly eccentric or gratingly pretentious, depending on your tolerance for Stillman’s unique brand of humor. The dialogue is clever, but the plot feels underdeveloped.
• The Guardian: “Whit Stillman’s first film in over a decade is a welcome return, filled with witty dialogue and quirky characters. While the plot is somewhat aimless, the performances are strong and the humor is consistently amusing.

Audience Reactions

The quirky humor and witty dialogue kept me laughing throughout the movie.: Viewers appreciated the film’s unique style and unconventional characters.

Greta Gerwig’s performance was outstanding and made the movie worth watching.: Many praised Greta Gerwig’s portrayal of Violet as a highlight of the film.

Overall Consensus: Damsels in Distress is a polarizing film with a unique and quirky style that appeals to some viewers while alienating others. Greta Gerwig’s performance is widely praised, but the plot and humor are divisive.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This was Whit Stillman’s first film in 13 years after ‘The Last Days of Disco’ (1998).”
• “The film features several references to Stillman’s earlier works, including actors and themes.”
• “The dance sequence at the end is a direct homage to the 1937 Fred Astaire film ‘A Damsel in Distress’, from which the movie’s title is derived.”

🖥️ How to Watch Damsels in Distress?

Currently, ‘Damsels in Distress’ can be found for purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Check these streaming services for availability as rental or purchase options may vary. Unfortunately, it’s not widely available on subscription-based streaming services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Damsels in Distress, you might like these similar films:

• Metropolitan (1990): Another Whit Stillman film with similar witty dialogue, social commentary, and focus on privileged young adults navigating relationships.
• Rushmore (1998): Shares the quirky, offbeat humor and unconventional characters, with a focus on intellectual and social eccentricities in an academic setting.
• The Last Days of Disco (1998): Another Whit Stillman movie that explores social dynamics of young adults in a unique setting.

🛒 Damsels in Distress Related Products

• Damsels in Distress [Blu-ray]: Own the quirky comedy on Blu-ray and enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Experience Damsels in Distress in high definition.
• Greta Gerwig: Lady Bird and Beyond – The Career-Defining Performances: Explore the brilliant career of actress Greta Gerwig, featuring in-depth analysis of her performances in key films, including Damsels in Distress.
• Vintage Style Sundress – Inspired by Damsels in Distress: Dress like Violet with a vintage-inspired sundress. This stylish piece captures the essence of the film’s unique fashion sense.
• College Campus Movie Inspired Puzzle: Relive your favorite College Campus moments with this jigsaw puzzle featuring iconic scenes from college movies.

🎧 Soundtrack

Damsels in Distress features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “2 Hott 4 Da Universe” – performed by Jon Flores, Greedbagz Deluxxx and Guy Weltchek
• “Things Are Looking Up” – performed by Fred Astaire

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

How We Overcorrected the Damsel in Distress Trope

Ever noticed how female characters in movies are either helpless or unrealistically strong? This video dives into why that happens and how Hollywood struggles to get female empowerment right. I found it super insightful, you might too!

Has Anyone Ever Actually Tied a Damsel in Distress to a Railroad Track?

Okay, so we’ve all seen the damsel tied to the railroad tracks in movies, right? But has that *actually* ever happened? This video breaks down the history of the trope and… well, you’ll have to watch to find out if it’s real! Honestly, it’s more interesting than it sounds!

✨ Rate