It ain't easy being green

I was watching Shrek 2 on cable over the weekend, and I was reminded of why I thought the movie was just okay when I saw the end – which I found cheesy and unrealistic. I realize that it’s the cynic in me peering out, but just to refresh your memory, Shrek and Fiona have taken a potion that would allow them to remain human instead of reverting back to ogre status. And, they chose not to do it.

While I understand the moviemaker’s intent with the moral of the story and to be happy with whom you are naturally, let’s be honest in that it just doesn’t work that way in real life, otherwise shows like Extreme Makeover wouldn’t exist. I think most people would take the chance to take a harmless potion and become better looking, or if anything, at least the ability to stay at his/her ideal weight forever – especially if there are no changes to personality or intelligence.

I know some might counter that we need to stop this propagation of the media’s version of what is attractive, but I say this from my own experiences. My sister and I are the perfect example of complete opposites. While we are very close in height, she’s much thinner, long blonde hair, big royal blue eyes and a dimply smile. I fully admit that she’s far more attractive than I am, and she’s got a nice personality to boot. Whenever we’re together in public, there’s no question that people respond to her more quickly and agreeably, as if they are temporarily mesmerized, and I have to blow off a flare gun to remind people that I’m there, too. It sucks, but it is what it is.

I do realize that there are definitely some things that are within my control to change, but that’s not really the point of this post. I just found it hard to believe that if any of us could take a magic potion that would fix those imperfections that we so long to change and not affect anything else, then most of us would do it.

And, if you say that you wouldn’t and that you are happy with yourself exactly the way you are, then more power to you, but I wonder if you'd feel the same way, if you looked like an ogre.