Over the weekend we rented the movie Itty Bitty Titty Committee (watch trailer). We'd been waiting for it to come out on DVD for a long time, so we were pretty excited, and somewhat surprised, to find it in stock at the video store on Saturday night. Maybe we're the only lesbians in town who aren't Netflix people, or maybe everyone else ran out and bought it right away.

It's hard to say really, but we never have a difficult time renting newly released GLBT flicks, they're always on the shelf.

Now, I don't know if I just had high expectations since I love But I'm a Cheerleader and D.E.B.S., or if just had a hard time getting into this movie because the chick who plays Sadie reminded me so much of the Joey Lauren Adams (in her Chasing Amy role), but I didn't love IBTC so much. Don't you love how I refer to the actress playing the role of a feminist activist as "the chick." Apparently the films agenda was lost on me. Anyway, I'm thinking it's going to be another Go Fish for me. I didn't really like Go Fish either the first time I saw it. But, my appreciation for the film grew over time. I have a feeling that' s how IBTC is going to be for me too. I'm already liking it more now that I'm thinking about it a few days later and I can focus on the stuff I liked about it with out the distraction of what I was hung up on.

Don't get me wrong, Itty Bitty Titty Committee wasn't at all a bad movie, like Finn's Girl was, it just didn't make me think "oh my god that's the best movie I've seen all year" either. IBTC does work to sell the message that women are beautiful in all shapes and sized, and that we should love our bodies just the way they are. IBTC does teach a bit about feminism and the history of feminism, and it tries to inspire our inner activist. IBTC does have an awesome sound track with lots of songs by riot grrrl bands. And it does have some okay, but too brief in my opinion, sex scenes. The plot was quite predictable, but that's not where the movie lost me. Where the movie left me cold, was one of the main plot lines was a "falling in love story" that included one of the main characters cheating on her long time girl friend. That's something that just really irks me, and I can't stand to watch. If you're miserable, break up. But don't cheat. And certainly don't be the other girl. Don't you know you lose them the same way you get them. But I digress.

There is a little bit of interesting censorship going on with the DVD release of Itty Bitty Titty Committee,. Some stores won't carry the movie, and some stores won't carry it with the word "titty" in the title. Wolf Video is offering the DVD with 3 different packagings; uncensored, ti**y, and tittyless. I guess two women kissing on the box cover is A-OK, but but the word titty is just too much. It should go without saying, I find no objection to any configuration of couples kissing, but I know that two men or two women kissing is more than some people can bear. And what if their kids see it, oh my god.

The president of the label, Maria Lynn said about the packaging

It comes down to retailers polarized over the connotations surrounding the word ‘titty,' said Lynn, noting that as a woman, she personally finds the term more humorous than hateful. She said she hears worse language on popular TV series.

 "You have [Saturday Night Live sketch] ‘Dick in a Box' win an Emmy last year, and the word ‘titty' is offensive," said Lynn
read Wolf has three packaging options for controversial title. Some retailers pass on film for word titty, by Susan Ault

I believe Grace Chu, who writes at After Ellen best sums up my feelings on the whole packaging censorship thing.

What is so horrifying about the word "titty" that caused two retailers to pass on selling the film altogether (even after being given the option of removing the word from the outside packaging)? Has our society not progressed past the point where a harmless slang term for a body part possessed by 50 percent of the population must be shielded from view? Are retailers afraid that some people may spontaneously combust out of distress or end up in a mental institution as a result of seeing the word "titty"?

 In addition to the fact that the words "itty bitty" are supposed to modify the word "titty" and not the word "committee" - and that without the word "titty," the title makes absolutely no sense --- removing the word "titty" from the title takes away from the central message in the film.
Read full post Major chains are taking the titty out of "Itty Bitty Titty Committee"

The whole thing seems silly to me. The whole point of the movie is about empowerment, which is why if find it so strange that the label would even allow the packaging to be altered. There is meaning to the title, it's more than just words to call the movie by. But that's all lost in the censored versions of the packaging. In the long run, I guess it's more important to be able to get your message out to as many people as possible.

 All in all, I think the movie is worth seeing. I also highly recommend watching he DVD extras stuff too. It's a nice look at a project by women, for women. As long as you don't have certain hang ups like I do, you'll probably enjoy Itty Bitty Titty Committee. But don't just take my word on it, others agree it's worth seeing.

Sara Freeman, of The Woman Within, writes

TIBTC is probably the most direct feminist flick you'll see this year. It's mission is simple - to make people aware about the politics of feminism in a light-hearted, educational way that also happens to snugly fit in with the rest of the (good) quirky comedies of the past few years, despite being mostly typical in its three act romantic comedy plot (I.e., the two leads flirt, then fight, and then flutter).
read full post The Itty Bitty Titty Committee

Trish Bendix posted her thoughts about the movie at Feminist Review

Babbit's presentation of feminism is one-dimensional in the film: largely white, radical third wave views that don't address sexuality, race or class issues. The group's work is marginal in their home city of Los Angeles, and not nearly as much time is devoted to the prospering of the group as is dedicated to Anna's longing for Sadie, despite the latter being involved in a long-term relationship with an older, more established woman whose house she lives in.

 Itty Bitty Titty Committee is well written, with lesbian and feminist viewers in mind. Cameos from Daniela Sea, Jenny Shimizu and a one-second clip of Clea Duvall are enough to give it an extra push into the forefront of all other "lesbian" films. However, the title is a little off (as the term is not mentioned except in passing at the end of the film), and the ending is a little far-fetched, but the cast and funny approach to feminism makes it worth a watch.
read full post Itty Bitty Titty Committee

If you're looking for other GLBT movie review sites you might want to check out:
Best Lesbian Movies
Movie Dearest
Movies for Lesbians

 What do think? Did you see, and did you like it?