Rated M For Manly

This is what I get for letting the "Random" button select my next topic. I had to try it!

Rated M For Manly is one of those tropes that you may know it when you see it, even if you aren't completely confident you can define it. In this case, it's fairly easy to visualize. Imagine every 'manly' stereotype played so seriously its Perma-Stubble cuts diamonds. This is what Testosterone Poisoning is parodying, for good reason: Rated M For Manly does occasionally make fun of itself, if unintentionally.

While non-gorefests can exhibit RMFM traits (e.g. the Old Spice commercials) but plenty of examples from the violent side of the tracks exist. Expect actors such as Rob Brown, Clint Eastwood and Arnold Schwarzenegger, often with guns in tow. They glorify the act of manliness and all that it entails, to the point of taking Refuge in Cool and demonstrating that they feel Truffaut was right.

From the get-go, we can see this isn't going to appeal to everyone. It exists solely to display and encourage every possible 'manly' trait imaginable. As a result, you don't see films about thin, lanky accountants in this situation (usually, but being an accountant doesn't preclude anything for this trope necessarily - it simply isn't typical). It would be naive to say it is appealing to every entertainment seeker when the very trope conjures up images of explosions, muscles and ceaseless arrays of bullets.

There are various reasons someone could use this trope, even if the audience isn't all excited about it. First - and this accents the fact it is a stereotype - it is incredibly easy shorthand for the Macho Man type. Ever look at Brock Samson and assume he couldn't fight his way out if needed? Most people wouldn't say the same thing about Homer Simpson, especially after the two are shown in action.

Second, you can easily shoehorn in the 'this man is insecure' plot. Comedy plots occasionally place a body-builder into a role that isn't typically associated with his image, such as a cook or family man. Heck, that almost qualifies with Junior, an Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle wherein his character gets pregnant. These types of characters are not known for their versatility out of battle and it shows, sometimes painfully so if the comedy isn't up to snuff.

Thirdly, it can also be used to sell titles when you feel it isn't 'manly enough' without the edit. Yes, this can go a bit overboard or strange. The Legend of the Mystical Ninja for the SNES reached our shores and subsequently made one of the playable characters look strangely like Belushi. This demonstrates the one unusual bit of this trope: it can also cause the cover to lie about what lays underneath. Some examples, such as Dynasty Warriors, may not lose much when this is applied but others, such as the Mystical Ninja example, may fool the reader (or player, in this case) that they're about to cross the threshold into SNL manliness.