Heroic Dimples: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
For centuries, many cultures have portrayed cheek dimples as a reflection of the ultimate heroism in a person. This is no different in fiction. In the same way high cheekbones clue the audience that a character is [[Villainous Cheekbones|sinister or not to be trusted]], cheek dimples tell them there is goodness in this character. No matter the length, width, shape, position or depth, dimples can show the character's innocence (especially [[Children Are Innocent|if they're young]]), their positive morals, or [[Anti-Hero]] roguishness.
In-universe, other characters may point
Interestingly, as sacred and revered cheek dimples are, they are not an extremely rare trait [[Reality Is Unrealistic|in real life]]. In animation or illustrations, facial lines are used sparingly
Might also be paired with a [[Lantern Jaw of Justice]]. Sometimes part of "[[The Reveal]]" if [[When She Smiles]] occurs. A possible symptom of [[Adaptational Attractiveness]].
{{examples}}
== [[Comic Books]] ==
* [[Shazam]] is almost never seen without his cheek dimples, as well as his alter ego Billy Batson. Other superhero characters vary on whether the comic artist had time/remembered to draw the dimples in, but Shazam's are common enough to be a trademark of his.
* Desperate Dan in ''[[The Dandy (comics)|The Dandy]]'' is a giant, intimidating-looking cowboy, but his cheek dimples highlight his good
* ''[[Blackhawk]]'' takes this [[Up to Eleven]]; almost all the members of the eponymous team have dimples.
== [[Film]] ==
* 1978's ''[[Superman (film)|Superman]]'' ironically lampshades the dimples the eponymous character had in the comics (albeit [[Depending on the Artist]]). When [[Lex Luthor]]'s assistant/henchwoman Miss Teschmacher describes their enemy by pointing them out and calling him cute, it seems to convince
* Mr. Incredible from ''[[The Incredibles]]'' is the only superhero main character with dimples in both cheeks, possibly a nod to classic comic book characters and how long it's been since he and others went into hiding.
* Irene Dunne spent her entire movie career playing good characters, with dimples to match.
* Fittingly, both [[The Mark of Zorro (1920 film)|the 1920]] and 1940 versions of ''The Mark of Zorro'' respectively starred dimpled actors Douglas Fairbanks and Tyrone Power as the eponymous hero.
* ''Five Easy Pieces'' features Betty recalling a conversation about dimples with her mother. When she was four, she asked her mother why she had a "hole" in her chin. Her mother explained that when everyone is born, they are put on a conveyor belt in front of God. Then, God pokes a finger in the chin of people He's uninterested in, creating a cleft chin, and pinches the cheeks of people He finds cute, giving them dimpled cheeks.
* The human man Ariel falls in love with in Disney's ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]'', Prince Eric, is a tall, dark and handsomely dimpled [[Nice Guy|nice guy]].
* John McClane, the star of the [[Die Hard|''Die Hard'']] franchise.
* As the God of Mischief, Loki's dimples in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] imply his roguish dubiousness and frequent double-crossing of many around him.
* [[The Nth Doctor]]-like franchise run of the ''[[James Bond (film)|James Bond]]'' films led to some actors (notably [[Sean Connery]])'s natural genetics adding to Bond's heroism, attractiveness and his mischievous sexual exploits on the job.
* In ''The Little Colonel'', Colonel Gray quips to Lloyd that her dimples made her cute enough to capture an entire regiment as successfully as any weapon or army.
* Criminal-in-hiding Babe Stewart in ''No Man of Her Own'' unintentionally convinces Connie of his charms because of his dents, shown when Connie gushes to her co-worker about how this already-attractive man has "lovely dimples" [[When She Smiles|when he smiles]].
* The eponymous main character of ''[[Coco]]'' mentions to his family that he finds it weird how he has a dimple in one cheek
* To distract her parents from asking invasive questions about her romantic life at the family Christmas gathering, Trudy in ''Holiday in Handcuffs'' plans to pair up with a dimpled handsome man as soon as she can (according to her, a man with dimples would be a more convincing boyfriend than a man without). Luckily for her, minutes later, she bumps into a tall, dark and handsome man with dimpled cheeks in a store, so she kidnaps him at gunpoint.
== [[Literature]] ==
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'''Edie:''' Because of my dimples. Dimples are a get-out-of-jail-free card.}}
* The eponymous Anne of ''[[Anne of Green Gables]]'' wishes she had dimpled cheeks like Diana, and compliments Mrs. Allan's.
*
== [[Live-Action TV]] ==
* Al the hero cop from ''[[Unforgettable]]''. In the episode "True Identity", his dimples are mentioned by Gwen when she convinces him to attend a mixer where a duchess will be. Later in the episode, Gwen refuses to hand over her company's client list, so Al tries to convince her by telling her to "look at my dimples", implying he looks innocent enough to get what he wants, regardless.
{{quote|'''Al:''' Oh, come on. Play nice. Look at my dimples. You know we'll just get a subpoena anyway.}}
* The eponymous leading duo of [[Buddy Cop Show]] ''[[Rizzoli & Isles (TV series)|Rizzoli & Isles]]''.
* The ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'' episode "Iced" uses the [[Rule of Cute]] factor when agent Warrick mentions he got much attention from girls in high school. Catherine says it makes no sense because he always claimed he was "a dork" back then, but Warrick replies his dimples helped him a lot, even if he didn't get as much attention as his "cooler" peers.
* ''[[CSI: Miami]]''{{'}}s Detective Jesse Cardoza's dimples are lampshaded by a witness he and colleague Calleigh interview in "Dude, Where's My Groom?", much to Jesse's embarrassment and Calleigh's amusement. When the interview finishes, the witness suggests interviewing her boss next before leaning in flirtatiously, calling him Dimples and walking away with a smirk. [[No Guy Wants to Be Chased|Flustered]], Jesse decides to interview other witnesses, but not before [[The Gadfly|a tickled Calleigh]] asks Dimples what he wants to do next.
* Demon hunting hero Sam Winchester in ''[[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]''.
* The heroic detective Thomas Magnum in ''[[Magnum, P.I.]]'', which also helps enhance his [[Mr. Fanservice]] appeal in and out-of-universe.
* Private detectives Maddie and David in ''[[Moonlighting]]''.
* Cat Valentine in ''[[Victorious]]'', who is naïve and [[The Ditz]] of the cast.
* The eponymous ''[[Supergirl (TV series)|Supergirl]]''{{'}}s early-seasons ally, police detective Maggie Sawyer. She even earned the [[Fan Nickname]] "Detective Dimples".
* Sherlock and Watson from The BBC's ''[[Sherlock]]''.
== [[Music]] ==
* [[Eminem]]'s "White America" briefly uses this trope as part of the track's theme of pointing out systemic racism and biases in American society.
{{quote|''Look at these eyes, baby blue, [[Innocent Blue Eyes|baby just like yourself]]''
''If they were brown, Shady'd lose, Shady sits on the shelf''
''But Shady's cute, Shady knew Shady's dimples would help''
''Make ladies swoon, baby (Ooh, baby!) — Look at my sales!''
''Let's do the math: If I was black, I would've sold half''}}
== [[Puppet Shows]] ==
* Gerry Anderson seems to be a fan of this trope, judging by its frequency in his [[Supermarionation]] works.
** ''[[Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons]]'': Spectrum captains Blue, Magenta, Ochre, and the former Captain Black.
** Shane Weston in ''[[Joe 90]]''.
** Father Stanley in ''The Secret Service''.
== [[Video Games]] ==
* Police detective Sebastian Castellanos in ''The Evil Within'' has dimpled cheeks that add to his heroism, especially in the sequel. He doesn't smile much because he's a serious man (and a tortured alcoholic much later), but they're deep enough to still crease his cheeks when he's stopped talking.
* ''[[Resident Evil 5]]''{{'}}s versions of Chris Redfield and Albert Wesker have long, wide and shallow dimples. Chris is the hero and Albert is the villain, but Albert's life-long experimentations and getting vaccinated with modified viruses has made him a conventionally attractive [[Ubermensch|superhuman]], {{spoiler|and (as he discovered years before) a successful creation of an ideal man.}}
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* In ''[[Archer]]'', Cyril has the innocent type, whereas the eponymous Archer has the roguish type. Barry Dylan's is a mixture of the former two's: an anti-heroic [[Casanova Wannabe]] who is often humiliated by other characters; and has [[Man Child]] tendencies.
== [[Other Media]] ==
* [[William Shakespeare]]'s sonnet ''Venus and Adonis'' portrays Adonis as strong and heroic, and his dimples make him even more attractive. After failing to flirt with him, Venus gets distracted by them when he grimaces back at her words, and forgets how annoyed his silent rejection made her.
* [[Santa]] has "merry" dimples in ''[[A Visit from St. Nicholas]]''.
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Goodness Tropes]]
[[Category:Graphical Tropes]]
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[[Category:Pages Original to All The Tropes]]
[[Category:Personal Appearance Tropes]]
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