I tend to hold the Bechdel Test in the same light as the Body Mass Index (BMI) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index]:
-Both are extremely simple to calculate and require no special training or equipment.
-There are far better ways to accomplish the goals of the test, but might require more time, effort, or specialized training.
-Both have their uses in illustrating very broad trends in large populations (issues in female representation in movies/the prevalence of obesity).
-Both have too many shortcomings and limitations to be used as some kind of value judgment when applied to individual subjects (your movie is not automatically feminist just because it passes the Bechdel Test/Having a BMI of 25 or higher doesn't necessarily mean you're at an unhealthy weight).
-Both are extremely simple to calculate and require no special training or equipment.
-There are far better ways to accomplish the goals of the test, but might require more time, effort, or specialized training.
-Both have their uses in illustrating very broad trends in large populations (issues in female representation in movies/the prevalence of obesity).
-Both have too many shortcomings and limitations to be used as some kind of value judgment when applied to individual subjects (your movie is not automatically feminist just because it passes the Bechdel Test/Having a BMI of 25 or higher doesn't necessarily mean you're at an unhealthy weight).