Not So Romantic Comedies

SPOILER ALERT!!!!
If you haven't seen any of these movies, I will be giving away some plot details (as if they aren't already predictable). I apologize in advance

I went to see Juno with one of my female friends and they showed a trailer for Definitely, Maybe. My friend leans over to me and says, "Awww that looks cute". I was thinking that movie is about a guy telling his daughter about his past relationships. How appropriate is that? Who in the world would want to watch that?

The sad truth was that a lot of women would watch that movie and movies just like it.

It reminded me of a girl I dated who must have uttered the phrase, "Just like in Love Actually…… (fill in her irrational comparison)" at least a hundred times. Not only that, but she quoted the movie like a preacher would quote bible verses during a sermon.

I think she believed what she was watching was real. I had to remind her that Love Actually is not a documentary. Sadly, after surveying friends and co-workers I realized that the young woman was not alone. Brace yourself fellas, because most women see these movies the same way no matter age, race, class, or even their level of education.

After subjecting myself to hours of "romantic comedies" I realized that most of these movies weren't romantic, most of them were unrealistic, and unapologetically sappy. They were so unrealistic to the point where I felt I was watching the Sci-Fi Channel only all the movies involved earth and people falling in love.

Wow! That was quick

A common theme in these movies seems to be how fast these couples fall in love. How To Lose a Guy in 10 days basically gives it away in the title. After spending 8 days not being themselves the two suddenly fall prey to Cupid's arrow? I find that hard to believe. Has this ever happend? Dishonesty is exactly how I want to start off my next relationship.

Anyone who has ever been in love, or at least thought they were, knows how insane the premise for that movie is.
Fools Rush In may hold the Guinness record for falling in love after 24 hours with a three month gap in between. I wish I could find love that fast! It's like fast food relationships. We all know how healthy fast food is.

That's Soooooooooo Inappropriate

Some of the relationships in these films are wildly inappropriate. Somehow women seem to be okay with relationships in these movies that any rational/normal person would be completely against in real life. Don't believe me?

One of my sister's favorite movies is While You Were Sleeping. The movie is about a subway worker who is obsessed with a stranger. Before she can fall for him, he falls into a coma. His family then mistakes her for his fiancée. Instead of telling the truth, she goes right along with the story. To top it all off, she falls for his brother. How is that okay?

If I read this story on CNN it would be a scandal, and I think most women I know would would be outraged. In this movie you are made to feel for Sandra Bullock's character. She's just a woman looking for love…………..not a liar.

The most draw dropping example is my favorite movie of all time Love Actually. One of the stories the movie depicts is a man who's madly in love with a woman that is recently married. What's the problem? It's his best friend who she is married too. Once she realizes how he feels, he shows up at her door with cue cards (how cute) professing his love to her. Did I mention that it's his best friend's wife? After the cue card stunt, he walks away with this accomplished look on his face, and she chases him down and kisses him. IT'S HIS BEST FRIENDS WIFE!

Maybe that was too soon?

The promiscuity in these movies is off the charts. What's not even on the charts are how damaging it really is.

In the opening scene of How to Lose, one of the characters is complaining that this guy is not calling her back. She mentions that she slept with the guy after two days. After discussing the issue with her friends they come to the conclusion that she calls him too much. Ummmm maybe you shouldn't have slept with someone who doesn't know your last name. I'm not a gambling man, but I would bet that may be why he's not calling you.

Last time I checked, women don't like other women who sleep around. I hear it all the time with my friends, at work, at the gym. If I told my friends I was dating that girl my female friends would give me the "I don't know about her" speech. My female friends also love that movie. Go figure

When Pigs Fly

There are moments in a lot of these films where I say, "Yeah right!"

Fools Rush In is one of moments for me. It's a wonderful story about a man who's on business from New York to Vegas. On this trip he has a one-night stand. He doesn't hear from the girl for three months and finds out she's pregnant. He decides to step up to the responsibility and propose? Maybe he skipped a few steps. I think that's ridiculous

Pretty Woman falls in the category. She's a prostitute (yes she is) and you want her to find love. How ridiculous is that they should do a Pretty Woman II: I Thought You Were Going to Quit.

How To Lose lost me early in the film. The wonderful scene where they are at the Knicks game. It's the NBA Finals and she asks him to get her a drink with 1:00 left in the game. Not only did he go once, but he went it TWICE. He eventually misses the end of the game. I still refuse to acknowledge that scene. As a sports fan you don't know how painful that was to watch. I know some die hard Knick fans. There would have definately been a homicide at MSG that day.

Now I really don't dislike these movies. I think they serve a purpose in film, an even greater purpose for young women. It is good to know that people want the finer things in life like love, happiness, romance. I think both men and women essentially want the same things. I just need women to realize how out of control these movies can be. Women should not be allowed to reference them in arguments, discussions, or use them as measuring sticks for their lives/relationships. When you get down and out (as we all do), don't sulk on your couch eating ice cream thinking, "When is a guy going to come me off my feet". It happens................just not like you see in the movies.

On second thought, the next time I'm in an argument I'm going to make my point saying, "Noooooo because in Batman Begins…"