Chick Flicks

[Scopehound]

So I need to rant here for a minute. I’m horribly anti chick flicks. It’s not a macho “I’m not into girly crap” thing. I have no problem with romance or love stories. But I don’t like chick flicks. My wife and I have this argument from time to time and I think I finally figured out why. Chick flicks make it impossible for guys to look good. After watching, say, the notebook, all of a sudden my providing for my family, loving my wife dearly, remaining faithful, and being an all around good husband doesn’t seem so great. Chick flicks say that a guy isn’t good enough unless he fights for you against insurmountable odds, cures your cancer, and runs across New York City to stop you and profess his undying love for you seconds before you get on your plane.

It’s basically the equivalent of a woman on a beauty magazine. Sure she looks good, but you’re never going to find that in the real world. My wife doesn’t have a terminable disease and/or amnesia that I have to prove my love in spite of. She’s never left me so I could hire 10 people to help me make some grand gesture to prove how much she means to me. The most I can do is stand on the hood of my car with an iPod above my head and get mad that I couldn’t find a boombox anymore.

That being said, I have made a decision to see movies with her anyway because I was being a dill hole. Though I frakked up by complaining about her choice for valentines day because it has Channing Tatum in it. (I hate that guy) Hence the reason I’m venting my frustrations here instead of digging my hole deeper with her. Am I far off on this one? Keep in mind, I am sucking it up and doing it anyway, but is my logic valid?

[Aset]

As a general rule, I am not a “chick flick” fan. I have to be in the right mood for it & that is very rare.

That being said, these stories focus on random moments that are supposed to be the pinacle of the “relationship.” The moments aren’t what makes a relationship, it’s the things you do after that do. It’s the day you do the morning routing with the kids by yourself because your wife was too incapacitated with the flu to do her normal part. It’s the day you didn’t say anything when she screwed up that important thing. It’s every day you go to work gritting your teeth so your family has a Christmas. It’s the little shit no one notices that makes it all worth the crap.

That being said, yeah indulge your wifes choices now & then.

[5thHorseman]

I think that’s kind of the point of movies, to show you ideals in whatever their subject matter is about. Sometimes you want to live up to them, sometimes you just want to appreciate them, and sometimes you disagree with them even more than you would in “real life” because they’re so pointed.

I’m trying to think of an analogy, and the best I can come up with is a soldier not wanting to watch an action movie because it depicts fighting in a way that he could never live up to. Instead of feeling inadequate, however, most soldiers (I assume) whoop and holler about how great it was when the guy falling out of the airplane shot up into the plane’s gas tank, causing it to explode.

If your wife likes these movies, she’s probably just a hopeless romantic in the same way you (well, I. I won’t speak for you ) am a hopeless action movie fan.

If, however, she turns to you and asks, “Why don’t YOU ever stand outside the house in the rain and say you love ME?” then all bets are off.

[DawnAZ]

My husband isn’t into all this geek stuff at all- except when Spike does a Star Wars marathon. I can get him to most films I like if there’s action involved, and sometimes I agree to a flick he likes. Marriage is all about compromise. But hey, The Notebook is another matter altogether, Bridesmaids is palatable to almost everyone. Stick with that fair.

[Venona]

There’s two types of “chick flicks:” Good and Bad.

Good chick flicks portray a credible (although, sometimes far fetched) scenario, where BOTH characters have flaws, or a conflicting series of events that keeps them apart. This allows for both genders to identify with their respective characters, and usually involves excellent character development and the overcoming of issues that eventually allow the characters to be together in the end. Which is ironic, because it is far more plausible for the geeky dude to go after the popular hottie, than vice versa.

Bad chick flicks are impossible (or one-in-a-million) scenarios that are nothing but gooey mush, and usually portray the male figure as being a proper douche, OR a popular/famous individual falling for the complete opposite (athlete-gets-nerd, et cetera). In these films, men are portrayed as either shining knights with absolutely no flaws, or selfish dickwads who think they’re top dog. Women love the former, but hate the latter, so bad chick flicks will most always have the male lead presented in a manner in which the character evolves from the first type into the second.

Rule of thumb: If it has Hugh Grant, it’s probably bad. Hugh Grant is a talented actor, who portrays his characters very well. The problem is, they’re all obnoxious pricks that have a witty side to them (just like Hugh Grant, less the underage prostitutes).

GOOD:
-Something’s Gotta Give
-Love Actually (probably the best “chick flick” ever, and a solid good movie to boot. Porn, homosexuals, political figures and pop culture stars? Win. This film is also the exception to the afore-mentioned “Hugh Grant Rule.”)
-As Good As It Gets
-The Holiday
-Moulin Rouge
-Kate and Leopold
-Must Love Dogs

BAD:
-A Walk To Remember
-Notting Hill
-Valentine’s Day
-Music and Lyrics
-She’s All That
-Two Weeks Notice
-Serendipity
-Nine Months

My wife, The Lady Venona, has deleted “Pride and Prejudice” from the BAD category, for reasons unknown.