IMDb RATING
6.0/10
476
YOUR RATING
Judges and bodybuilders (Rachel McLish, Bev Francis, Carla Dunlap) try to define femininity at the 1983 world championship, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.Judges and bodybuilders (Rachel McLish, Bev Francis, Carla Dunlap) try to define femininity at the 1983 world championship, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.Judges and bodybuilders (Rachel McLish, Bev Francis, Carla Dunlap) try to define femininity at the 1983 world championship, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
Lori Bowen Rice
- Self
- (as Lori Bowen)
Lisser Frost-Larsen
- Self
- (as Lisa Frost Larsen)
Tina Plackinger
- Self
- (as Tina Plakinger)
Featured reviews
helpless_dancer illustrates how incapable most of us are at actually looking into complex issues and understanding people other than ourselves. The women in Pumping Iron 2 are confusing at times, and a couple of them do seem more than a bit nutty, but reducing the issues at hand to the kind of ignorant, simple-minded derision that helpless_dancer deals in, is unfair to the women in the film and female bodybuilders in general. I don't understand them either, but calling them freaks is grade-school bigotry. The film itself is also, unfortunately, not up to the task, and spends much of its time trying to squeeze out some T&A from them. It does give the women an opportunity to speak for themselves from time to time, and their articulacy is often illuminating.
This was the wail of one of the competitor's trainers, and he was defining the prime theme of this movie. For people who have a real problem looking at `masculine' women, the theme of this film will sure be `what a freak show'. When I first saw this movie eighteen years ago it took nearly an hour for me to pick my jaw off the ground due to how stunned I was to see women who looked like this. But I let myself get into the head of these women since as a movie lover, that's what I love doing most: trying to walk inside the souls of the people onscreen. I did say souls. It IS difficult to relate to the bodies depicted in this film, but that's not what the film is asking us to do.
There's no doubt that the way these women look is not conventional. Unfortunately, there will always be people who believe that `unconventional' is bad because that makes us uncomfortable. It's very obvious though that when people start calling those who are different `freaks', it's because they're feeling a deep need to cover their discomfort with a feeling of superiority. That's why I love movies about people who are different. Whether it's `The Elephant Man' or `Paris is Burning' or `Live Nude Girls Unite', the ultimate focus is on US. These films challenge us examine how we feel about odd' people and to ask ourselves why the hell we're so uncomfortable anyway. There's always a choice: one can revel in disgust, or one can get over it and try to embrace a concept that is new.
Well, since this film's release, the city I live in now has almost as many gyms as restaurants, and there are hundreds of women who look like most of the bodybuilders in this film. I've gotten over the weirdness' of how they look and except them as women who like the empowerment they feel from turning their bodies into sculptures. From what I understand, the masculine looking bodybuilder Bev, is now pretty much the standard for female bodybuilding competition. And who's to say she shouldn't be? If the qualifications for male bodybuilding are for each competitor to achieve the utmost of his muscular form and potential, why do women have to lower their standard? The men aren't judged by their sexiness (unless the male judges who judge them are all gay, which I doubt). I personally find them quite unattractive, but they are not supposed to be the male's version of Miss America. They are there to present the human physique in its most extreme `glory'. One can quibble about what the criteria for glory is, but once it was established, it's shameful that a double standard existed for women. At least at the time this film was made, women were still supposed retain the standard that they always have first and foremost been judged for: their sex appeal.
But enough of philosophizing. This movie is a fun documentary, showing both the camaraderie and bitching that goes on between some contestants, and giving us an understanding of how each of them define themselves. It's also a lot of fun when the film shows the confusion of the judges, whether they're trying to agree on the hypocrisy they plan on using, or trying to tally up the score (very funny scene, that!). It's a perfect analogy of the old school white male mentality that at least in this field, has thankfully faded away over the past eighteen years. With things more fair and equal now, I'd be very interested in seeing a `Pumping Iron Part 3'.
There's no doubt that the way these women look is not conventional. Unfortunately, there will always be people who believe that `unconventional' is bad because that makes us uncomfortable. It's very obvious though that when people start calling those who are different `freaks', it's because they're feeling a deep need to cover their discomfort with a feeling of superiority. That's why I love movies about people who are different. Whether it's `The Elephant Man' or `Paris is Burning' or `Live Nude Girls Unite', the ultimate focus is on US. These films challenge us examine how we feel about odd' people and to ask ourselves why the hell we're so uncomfortable anyway. There's always a choice: one can revel in disgust, or one can get over it and try to embrace a concept that is new.
Well, since this film's release, the city I live in now has almost as many gyms as restaurants, and there are hundreds of women who look like most of the bodybuilders in this film. I've gotten over the weirdness' of how they look and except them as women who like the empowerment they feel from turning their bodies into sculptures. From what I understand, the masculine looking bodybuilder Bev, is now pretty much the standard for female bodybuilding competition. And who's to say she shouldn't be? If the qualifications for male bodybuilding are for each competitor to achieve the utmost of his muscular form and potential, why do women have to lower their standard? The men aren't judged by their sexiness (unless the male judges who judge them are all gay, which I doubt). I personally find them quite unattractive, but they are not supposed to be the male's version of Miss America. They are there to present the human physique in its most extreme `glory'. One can quibble about what the criteria for glory is, but once it was established, it's shameful that a double standard existed for women. At least at the time this film was made, women were still supposed retain the standard that they always have first and foremost been judged for: their sex appeal.
But enough of philosophizing. This movie is a fun documentary, showing both the camaraderie and bitching that goes on between some contestants, and giving us an understanding of how each of them define themselves. It's also a lot of fun when the film shows the confusion of the judges, whether they're trying to agree on the hypocrisy they plan on using, or trying to tally up the score (very funny scene, that!). It's a perfect analogy of the old school white male mentality that at least in this field, has thankfully faded away over the past eighteen years. With things more fair and equal now, I'd be very interested in seeing a `Pumping Iron Part 3'.
I managed to catch this movie on cinemax or something one day at a weird time. It is awful (in a very addictive, bad 80's movie type of way) for the following reasons:
1) See Rachel McLish (sp?), the most self centered, arrogant egotist in the world caught on film talking about the Bible and Jesus constantly while she uses sex to win judges' votes. This woman is just too bizarre for words.
2) See some poor steroid addled woman talk about how she is redefining feminity with her huge (and I mean gigantic) manly shape and facial acne (no doubt caused by excessive use of steroids)!
3) See bad 80's workout gear! :o
3) See the touching supportive relationship between one of these women (name forgotten) whose husband works as a male dancer to support her budding bodybuilding career!
There is so much wrong with this movie you just can't tear yourself away (sort of like watching a car accident in progress). Particularly amusing is the combination workout/shower scene with Rachel and her "posse" - it verges on soft porn.
But in the end you realize just how sad all of these women are, and you try to stop laughing - though it doesn't work. It really is Spinal Tap in a Gym. I thought the movie was a comedy when I first started watching it.
1) See Rachel McLish (sp?), the most self centered, arrogant egotist in the world caught on film talking about the Bible and Jesus constantly while she uses sex to win judges' votes. This woman is just too bizarre for words.
2) See some poor steroid addled woman talk about how she is redefining feminity with her huge (and I mean gigantic) manly shape and facial acne (no doubt caused by excessive use of steroids)!
3) See bad 80's workout gear! :o
3) See the touching supportive relationship between one of these women (name forgotten) whose husband works as a male dancer to support her budding bodybuilding career!
There is so much wrong with this movie you just can't tear yourself away (sort of like watching a car accident in progress). Particularly amusing is the combination workout/shower scene with Rachel and her "posse" - it verges on soft porn.
But in the end you realize just how sad all of these women are, and you try to stop laughing - though it doesn't work. It really is Spinal Tap in a Gym. I thought the movie was a comedy when I first started watching it.
more insightful and revealing than the first Pumping Iron movie,(in my opinion)this movie is engaging and interesting.it has its share of drama and suspense and I felt the woman were more open and honest than the men in Pumping Iron were.there also seemed to be less ego involved this time around.and very little in the way of mind games or psyching out of opponents.I also found the women to be more likable and sympathetic,compared to their male counterparts.it doesn't go into quite as much depth regarding training and behind the scenes drama as Pumping Iron does but the women were more real and genuine.overall,the film was much more fun.for me,Pumping Iron 2 is a strong 8/10
We had a family gathering on New Years Day 2019. One of my daughters brought me a VHS copy of this documentary that she had bought for 50 cents at an estate sale. She told me that I had taken her (born in 1970) and my younger daughter who was three years younger to see this documentary when it came out. I had been dating a woman who worked for one of the competer's backers and had received passes to the theater.
Both daughters loved the documentary and have worked hard to keep in shape.
I have always been an advocate for fitness which I am convinced will improve the quality of your life.
I haven't seen much of Rachel McLish lately , but I bet she is still in great shape. Woman's fitness is a bit more in the mainstream in 2019 and these women portrayed in this documentary should be congratulated for inspiring a generation of female fitness advocates.
Both daughters loved the documentary and have worked hard to keep in shape.
I have always been an advocate for fitness which I am convinced will improve the quality of your life.
I haven't seen much of Rachel McLish lately , but I bet she is still in great shape. Woman's fitness is a bit more in the mainstream in 2019 and these women portrayed in this documentary should be congratulated for inspiring a generation of female fitness advocates.
Did you know
- ConnectionsFeatured in At the Movies: Special Show: Flex, Sex and Pecs (1985)
- SoundtracksFuture Sex
Performed by Roach
- How long is Pumping Iron II: The Women?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Pumping Iron II: The Women
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $628,050
- Gross worldwide
- $628,050
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By what name was Pumping Iron II: futur sexe (1985) officially released in India in English?
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