Rain-X Won’t Keep Your Cheeks Dry
Romantic comedies get a bad rap. Even more so, the male species gets a bad rap when it comes to romantic comedies. Granted, there are guys who refuse to watch anything that looks as if it is geared towards women or that seems to focus on that weak inferior emotion, love. To all these fellas, I say, “BULLSHIT!”
If you don’t like a certain type of film, then whatever, that’s your taste and who am I to say that you’re wrong. You’d just better have a real, valid reason why you are refusing to watch something other than simple sexism.
This has an obvious negative effect on the reception of a potentially fine film, but it also has a negative effect on a fair minded male who, when confronted with a ‘rom-com,’ is criticized if he has anything beyond positivity to say to a female about a beloved crappy movie. Several times I have stated that a piece of shit movie was a piece of shit movie only to be countered with, “Well, you’re a guy, of course you didn’t like it.”
What the hell?!? Does my gender mean that I don’t recognize art? Does it mean that I do not have emotions that can be stoked just as easily by a well put together piece of film as a female? Sure, I admit that I may not be able to relate to a sassy but put-upon and clumsy lady hopelessly out of love until she meets the man of her dreams who is <gasp!> about to marry “the wrong girl.” I’ll even admit that I can’t relate to a woman trying desperately to win over a guy who is in a perfectly fine relationship with another simply to satisfy her own personal feelings. Frankly, I find that kind of behavior a bit selfish and cruel. But, you know, I’m a guy. I wouldn’t understand.
(If you want to see an excellent portrayal of people unable to remain satisfied with their current relationships, see We Don’t Live Here Anymore. It isn’t a comedy by any means, but this movie will rip your heart out stomp it pick up the pieces put them on a bagel eat the bagel shit the bagel with your tattered heart pieces then feed your shit stained heart to its dog. Yep, it’s that hardcore.)
That is basically the plot of the majority of the insipid, uninspired trash that is dumped on us yearly. My point here is a dumb fucking movie called 27 Dresses. Ree’ asked me to pick up some stuff that she’d like the last time I went to Blockbuster, so I got this, P.S. I Love You, and The Water Horse for Damien. (The Water Horse is pretty great, by the way, especially if you have kids with active imaginations.) She hated 27 Dresses, too.
First of all, Katherine Heigl, who I thought was pretty great in Knocked Up, had approximately zero personality in this. Secondly, the writing was horrid, all the dialogue completely lame and unrealistic. How many conversations can someone honestly have with various people about the pros and cons of a wedding? Especially the ‘love interest’ who has nothing good to say about weddings. Let’s see, females like weddings…..males do not. Hell, this one gives you the sexism up front, you don’t even have to search for it or create it yourself. Terrible jokes and one-liners. Ugh, just awful.
I do need to tell you that I did not see all of the movie. I fell asleep, fortunately, but in some cases you really don’t have to see the whole turd slide out the asshole to know that it’s going to stink.
Now that that’s out of the way, I’d like to take the opportunity to direct you towards what a real romantic comedy should be. The most obvious choice that comes to mind is 13 Going on 30. Goddamn fantastic film, it’s funny as hell, sweet, and truly moving. Catch and Release isn’t bad at all, either. You Can Count On Me is excellent. Is it coincidence that these films all feature Jennifer Garner and/or Mark Ruffalo? I don’t think so, they are both natural actors with instantly likable personalities. They both seem like real people that wouldn’t turn up their noses at you if you met them in person. Whether that’s true or not, I have no clue, but they project the attitude well.
The final, and greatest romantic comedy I’ll leave you with today is Chuck and Buck. Ok, I admit, it is a little formulaic. It does concern a lonely person pining for “the one that got away” who is now in a happy relationship. It does try to generate sympathy for a character who is essentially trying to get another person to cheat on their mate. Should it make a difference that the lonely person is a really fucking creepy guy longing for his childhood best friend whom he shared an experimental gay experience?
No, it shouldn’t.
Steve
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
i would just like to add that we usually like the same movies….just sometimes i might want to watch something with a little more heart than whatever has come in the mail lately…..i am not a huge fan of the generic rom com myself either, but i do like the ones that are done good….like 13 going on 30!!!!….love love love that one!!!!…..you know the ones we like hun!!!….but when you said that i asked you to pick up something i’d like (????) i can’t help that i’m also not a fan of these cheesy ass horror movies that are ALWAYS japanese or whatever & did i say CHEESY AS HELL????…..it gets old after a long string of those coming in the mail….i just wanted something that i would be remotely entertained by…to add to your whole thing about guys thinking girls like a certain kinda movie & girls thinking guys like a certain kinda movie….when did i say that night i wanted rom coms????!!!!! (even tho i know you were just trying…but really)…seriously 27 dresses was the biggest piece of crap movie ever……well, i didn’t watch it all either btw……but def. the biggest p.o.s. in a LONG time…….love you still!!!!!