Comments on: Marisa Tomei – Sexy Stripper, Single Mom

By: dadshouse

dadshouse — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:27:40 +0000

Kori – I love the long comment! I know there are more deadbeat dads in the world than I come into contact with. But there are also a lot of involved divorced dads who don’t get much exposure in books and movies. The more I read single mom blogs, the more I’m aware that a lot of moms don’t come into contact with these involved single dads. I think there are plenty of compelling stories to tell without making a single dad deadbeat or abusive. Pursuit of Happyness is one case in point.

btw – I agree with your strip club assessment. (Sorry Marisa Tomei)

By: Kori

Kori — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:22:23 +0000

Oh, boy. As the single mom of four, I would do whatever it took to take care of my kids. Strip, sell my body, whatever. If my kids needed it for food or shelter, you bet your sweet buns I would. However, in my opinions (and that is ALL IT IS), a better school or a condo is not what kids NEED; that's what mom thinks she needs. I wouldn't go into that line of work unless it was a choice between that and the streets. Of course, I could never make it in the biz, partly because I am not a smokin' hot single mom. Nobody will pay to see boobs dropping down to the knees. Just sayin.' From a moral and ethical standpoint, too, I personally find strip clubs offensive and degrading, not just to the dancers but to the customers. Seems like it takes a desperate person to either frequent OR work in one. But that's just me. Second, I personally know a LOT more deadbeat dads than you seem to think are out there. So that is probably why the mickey rourke character is portrayed in that sterotypical way. It is a fact, and one that has gotten a lot of publicity in the media and such. However, just like not all single moms are strippers, not all single dads are deadbeats by any means, so both sterotypes aren't applicable to the whole. Like someone else said in the comments, it's HOLLYWOOD; of course they are going to portray people in a sterotypical light simply to sell more tickets; those of us who are more normal (and I am NOT including myself in this one, ha ha)are boring. We get up, we go to work, we take care of the kids, we might go out on occasion but there are (as you mentioned as well)certain issues with dating/single parenting that aren't necessarily compatible...so who wants to see a movie about THAT? And oh, this is your blog? Sorry. Maybe I should post on my OWN. Kori´s last blog post..Friday Fragments and a Clue

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:43:56 +0000

For a new excellent single dad movie, go rent ‘Taken’. It’s a total B movie with a plot that you can guess in the first minute, but it’s very well-made and Liam Neeson is fantastic as a retired CIA single dad out to rescue his 17-year-old daughter. It’s great watching the older guy kicking the young guy’s ass.

By: FJ

FJ — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:01:02 +0000

A hollywood movie that panders to BS stereotypes? Say it ain’t so :)

In seriousness though, maybe you’re onto something? Hollywood will typically leave things like this ambiguous to escape the idea that they are labeling certain aspects of the population, but smart people see right through that.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:07:04 +0000

I havent seen the movie so cant really comment on her or his character! BUT I have seen a fair number of movies where the single mother is a stripper. It seems to almost seems as if they are trying to make the point that as a single parent you would do anything for your child and that stripping really isnt THAT bad? Also more often than not single dads are portrayed as drunks or addicts - not just in movies but in tv series aswell. Or there is huge disconnect between the two parents in cases where the dad is involved. It is a huge stereo-type but I suppose where would the story be in a situation like yours - where you and your ex get on and the kids are functional? But these movies dont help with the perceptions that single moms and dads have to deal with. Laura´s last blog post..In your eyes I found the greatest prize

By: katherine.

katherine. — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:22:04 +0000

Days late I know… Vivica Fox also played an exotic dancer single mom…taking care of her son….in Independence Day… Parent Trap - both versions - was well liked by me and mine…but it is really NOT a realistic single parent movie…as the parents get back together following a well executed plot by their precocious kids. Mine failed in this endeavor via a post 9/11 Caribbean cruise. As for adult entertainment workers….I worked in an office building in southern California where an adjacent office was corporate headquarters for an X-rated movie company. I became “lunch and drinks” friends with some of their employees/performers. Every one of them who had children did not have custody. At this point in their career they were making excellent money…and lived very well-to-do lives. But their road traveled...and their work associates had resulted in loss of custody of their children…either to other family members or to foster care. The movie may be great entertainment….but the reality is heartbreaking. katherine.´s last blog post..that’s retarded.

By: Cathouse Teri

Cathouse Teri — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:21:21 +0000

I think they should have cast Marisa as a deadbeat mom / ex wrestler and Mickey as a stripper. Cathouse Teri´s last blog post..A Word from The Wise