--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a little bit of a pet peeve about…" description: "\"I have a little bit of a pet peeve about how the middle class is depicted in movies. I feel like they tend to be either depicted in a very sentimental ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db3/greg-mottola-18911_brilliant_i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-pet-peeve-about_2133511.jpg" --- # I have a little bit of a pet peeve about how the middle… ![“I have a little bit of a pet peeve about how the middle class is depicted in movies. I feel like they tend to be either depicted in a very sentimental way, where everybody has a heart of gold except for the villains you're supposed to hiss at, or there's a sort of indie-style version... When it's…” quote by Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db3/greg-mottola-18911_brilliant_i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-pet-peeve-about_2133511.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db3/greg-mottola-18911_brilliant_i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-pet-peeve-about_2133511.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db3/greg-mottola-18911_brilliant_i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-pet-peeve-about_2133511.jpg) > “I have a little bit of a pet peeve about how the middle class is depicted in movies. I feel like they tend to be either depicted in a very sentimental way, where everybody has a heart of gold except for the villains you're supposed to hiss at, or there's a sort of indie-style version... When it's done well, it's brilliant, it's Blue Velvet. But when it's done poorly, it feels like shooting fish in a barrel, just saying, "Ooh, scary suburbs."” [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Middle‑class portrayals swing between idealized innocence and gritty realism; both can be effective if authentic. **In simple terms:** Movies show the middle class either as pure or gritty. Key Takeaway Seek nuanced, realistic depictions. Themes media representation class perception storytelling Mood critical analytical Type cinematic cultural When to use this quote - scriptwriting - casting decisions - marketing strategies Key Concepts sociology film studies character development Questions to Reflect On - Why do audiences prefer clear heroes and villains? - How can creators balance empathy and complexity? A Different Perspective Over‑simplification can reinforce stereotypes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blue velvet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue-velvet/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart of gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-of-gold/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Pet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pet/) [Pet peeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pet-peeve/) [Sentimental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentimental/) [Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain/) ## Related quotes > [The movie that made me want to make movies was "Blue Velvet."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-shainberg/the-movie-that-made-me-want-to-make-movies-was-blue-velvet/) [Steven Shainberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-shainberg/) > [Were "A Clockwork Orange" or "Blue Velvet" released today, would they have the same power to shock that they had when they came out?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/were-a-clockwork-orange-or-blue-velvet-released-today-would-they-have/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [David Lynch plucked me from obscurity. He cast me as the lead in 'Dune' and 'Blue Velvet,' and people have seen me as this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-maclachlan/david-lynch-plucked-me-from-obscurity-he-cast-me-as-the-lead-in-dune/) [Kyle MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-maclachlan/) > [I loved 'Blue Velvet.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-lee/i-loved-blue-velvet/) [Sheryl Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-lee/) > [“i wanted to take your hand and run with you together toward ourselves down the street to your street i wanted to laugh aloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/i-wanted-to-take-your-hand-and-run-with-you-together-toward-ourselves/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [“Presents are made for the pleasure of the one who gives them, not for the merits of those who receive them,' said my father.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/presents-are-made-for-the-pleasure-of-the-one-who-gives-them-not-for-2/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Felicity ignores us. She walks out to them, an apparition in white and blue velvet, her head held high as they stare in awe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/felicity-ignores-us-she-walks-out-to-them-an-apparition-in-white-and/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [My favourite film-maker west of the English Channel is not English - but to me doesn't seem American either - David Lynch - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/my-favourite-film-maker-west-of-the-english-channel-is-not-english/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [It wasn't the first film to show a kind of alternate vision of suburbia, but it left an indelible impression, I think, on everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/it-wasn-t-the-first-film-to-show-a-kind-of-alternate-vision-of/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [Films I've really liked are when you've walked out and you're still in that movie for a while. That's virtual reality for me, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/films-i-ve-really-liked-are-when-you-ve-walked-out-and-you-re-still/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [I wish I could write 'Taxi Driver,' or 'Blue Velvet,' something brave, audacious, dramatic and dark. I don't know if I have the darkness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-wish-i-could-write-taxi-driver-or-blue-velvet-something-brave/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [“I’ll find you something else to read. Catch.” He let it fall without looking, and Tessa had to dart forward to seize it before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-ll-find-you-something-else-to-read-catch-he-let-it-fall-without/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Although Dorothy in Blue Velvet was humiliated and hurt by men, basically I could react to how she felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/although-dorothy-in-blue-velvet-was-humiliated-and-hurt-by-men/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [I was a schooled musician. When I made 'Blue Velvet', I told everyone what to do. I was an arranger. I learned music in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-vinton/i-was-a-schooled-musician-when-i-made-blue-velvet-i-told-everyone/) [Bobby Vinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-vinton/) > [“Ramadi’s sky was generously filled with stars. Celestial ornaments set against a banner of a deep blue velvet sky. It was a place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/ramadi-s-sky-was-generously-filled-with-stars-celestial-ornaments-set/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) ## More by Greg Mottola > [I was naïve when I was young, I was sheltered. I had illusions about who I was going to be, delusions, and a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-was-na-ve-when-i-was-young-i-was-sheltered-i-had-illusions-about/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [Believe me, there is a ton of stuff we shot on Superbad that was unusable, because people were just riffing and riffing. It's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/believe-me-there-is-a-ton-of-stuff-we-shot-on-superbad-that-was/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [I feel like I'm long overdue for a "one for me" movie, so I've got two low-budget indy personal things I'm working on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-feel-like-i-m-long-overdue-for-a-one-for-me-movie-so-i-ve-got-two/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [ Isla \[Fisher\] is so pretty we were trying to decide who the hell should play against her that would intimidate her, and one day… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/isla-fisher-is-so-pretty-we-were-trying-to-decide-who-the-hell-should/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [ Jon Hamm was the first I thought of for the other role in \[Keeping Up with the Joneses\], I recently worked with him on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/jon-hamm-was-the-first-i-thought-of-for-the-other-role-in-keeping-up/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [ \[Gal Gadot\] is really intense and scary and also incredibly warm and sweet. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/gal-gadot-is-really-intense-and-scary-and-also-incredibly-warm-and/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [ \[Keeping Up with the Joneses\] is not one of those movies where people get shot and fall down and there's no reality of what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/keeping-up-with-the-joneses-is-not-one-of-those-movies-where-people/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [ I'm a huge fan of Zach's \[Galifianakis\] and I auditioned Zach a million years ago on a movie called Duplex which I was fired… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-zach-s-galifianakis-and-i-auditioned-zach-a-million/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [I guess bittersweet is probably my favorite tone, as a lover of Woody Allen and Federico Fellini and the French New Wave. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-guess-bittersweet-is-probably-my-favorite-tone-as-a-lover-of-woody/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [I lived on Thompson Street in SoHo for 13 years and I watched it go from a little Italian neighborhood to the Mall Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-lived-on-thompson-street-in-soho-for-13-years-and-i-watched-it-go/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [I'm really glad to have made a movie that way on Superbad, because I learned a lot about what can be done and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-m-really-glad-to-have-made-a-movie-that-way-on-superbad-because-i/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [I was in college - Carnegie Mellon, which is one of the reasons Pittsburgh was appealing to me - and I personally feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-was-in-college-carnegie-mellon-which-is-one-of-the-reasons/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [When I was a TV director working on Judd Apatow's show Undeclared. I was surrounded by so many young people. People like Seth Rogen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/when-i-was-a-tv-director-working-on-judd-apatow-s-show-undeclared-i/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [Brian Eno records and music became a huge obsession of mine in college, in a way that a pop song can provide solace. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/brian-eno-records-and-music-became-a-huge-obsession-of-mine-in/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [I am very interested in the small decisions people make that do set you on a different road in your life. As much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-am-very-interested-in-the-small-decisions-people-make-that-do-set/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) [Explore all 33 Greg Mottola quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) ## More Blue velvet quotes > [The movie that made me want to make movies was "Blue Velvet."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-shainberg/the-movie-that-made-me-want-to-make-movies-was-blue-velvet/) [Steven Shainberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-shainberg/) > [I was a schooled musician. When I made 'Blue Velvet', I told everyone what to do. I was an arranger. I learned music in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-vinton/i-was-a-schooled-musician-when-i-made-blue-velvet-i-told-everyone/) [Bobby Vinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-vinton/) > [Although Dorothy in Blue Velvet was humiliated and hurt by men, basically I could react to how she felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/although-dorothy-in-blue-velvet-was-humiliated-and-hurt-by-men/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [“I’ll find you something else to read. Catch.” He let it fall without looking, and Tessa had to dart forward to seize it before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-ll-find-you-something-else-to-read-catch-he-let-it-fall-without/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I wish I could write 'Taxi Driver,' or 'Blue Velvet,' something brave, audacious, dramatic and dark. I don't know if I have the darkness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-wish-i-could-write-taxi-driver-or-blue-velvet-something-brave/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [Films I've really liked are when you've walked out and you're still in that movie for a while. That's virtual reality for me, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/films-i-ve-really-liked-are-when-you-ve-walked-out-and-you-re-still/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [It wasn't the first film to show a kind of alternate vision of suburbia, but it left an indelible impression, I think, on everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/it-wasn-t-the-first-film-to-show-a-kind-of-alternate-vision-of/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [My favourite film-maker west of the English Channel is not English - but to me doesn't seem American either - David Lynch - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/my-favourite-film-maker-west-of-the-english-channel-is-not-english/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [Felicity ignores us. She walks out to them, an apparition in white and blue velvet, her head held high as they stare in awe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/felicity-ignores-us-she-walks-out-to-them-an-apparition-in-white-and/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Presents are made for the pleasure of the one who gives them, not for the merits of those who receive them,' said my father.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/presents-are-made-for-the-pleasure-of-the-one-who-gives-them-not-for-2/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“i wanted to take your hand and run with you together toward ourselves down the street to your street i wanted to laugh aloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/i-wanted-to-take-your-hand-and-run-with-you-together-toward-ourselves/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [I loved 'Blue Velvet.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-lee/i-loved-blue-velvet/) [Sheryl Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-lee/) > [David Lynch plucked me from obscurity. He cast me as the lead in 'Dune' and 'Blue Velvet,' and people have seen me as this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-maclachlan/david-lynch-plucked-me-from-obscurity-he-cast-me-as-the-lead-in-dune/) [Kyle MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-maclachlan/) > [Were "A Clockwork Orange" or "Blue Velvet" released today, would they have the same power to shock that they had when they came out?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/were-a-clockwork-orange-or-blue-velvet-released-today-would-they-have/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [“Ramadi’s sky was generously filled with stars. Celestial ornaments set against a banner of a deep blue velvet sky. It was a place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/ramadi-s-sky-was-generously-filled-with-stars-celestial-ornaments-set/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) [Browse all 37 Blue velvet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue-velvet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a little bit of a pet peeve about how the middle class is depicted in movies. I feel like they tend to be either depicted in a very sentimental way, where everybody has a heart of gold except for the villains you're supposed to hiss at, or there's a sort of indie-style version... When it's done well, it's brilliant, it's Blue Velvet. But when it's done poorly, it feels like shooting fish in a barrel, just saying, \"Ooh, scary suburbs.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Greg Mottola" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-pet-peeve-about-how-the-middle-class-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blue velvet" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-pet-peeve-about-how-the-middle-class-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db3/greg-mottola-18911_brilliant_i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-pet-peeve-about_2133511.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db3/greg-mottola-18911_brilliant_i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-pet-peeve-about_2133511.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db3/greg-mottola-18911_brilliant_i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-pet-peeve-about_2133511.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a little bit of a pet peeve about how the middle class is depicted in movies. I feel like they tend…” — Greg Mottola", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Greg Mottola", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have a little bit of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-pet-peeve-about-how-the-middle-class-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-pet-peeve-about-how-the-middle-class-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```