Ever notice how in Romantic comedies and Dramas almost always the male lead is placed in a position of control or power. If not love and intimacy can only be achieved through a male perspective. Which is ironic as most of these movies are marketed towards women. This may be completely off or nothing new to some people, but their are plenty of examples to what I'm trying to say here.
For instance,
Knotting Hill
"After all... I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."
Despite all of the fame that Julia Roberts' character has she is in one scene completely vulnerable to the "Average joe" that is Hugh Grants character. And he still is able to reject her only to realize later that he wants to be with her and makes one of those dramatic speeches in front of a crowd to win her over. In real life if someone like me even had a chance with a famous person and then rejected her, if we came back later with our mind changed she would more then likely act like she had no idea who you were and say, "uh no thanks, stalker."
Love and Othe Drugs
"I've never known anyone who actually believed that I was enough until I met you. And then you made me believe it too."
While Anne Hathaway controls the relationship for about 2/3's of the film. Jake "dreamy" Gyllenhaal in a way is left with the choice of being in a committed relationship who is almost literally deteriorating as years will go by. Despite her acknowledgment of her disease and essentially letting him go so he could live his own life, his decision is final and once again the equation is only solved by his choice in pursuing their relationship. Cue cliche chase scene and long drawn out explanation for why they are meant to be. And scene
10 Things I hate about you
"I hate it when you lie. I hate it when you make me laugh, even worse when you make me cry. I hate it when you're not around, and the fact that you didn't call. But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all."
Not exactly one of ledger's most memorable films, unless you were a tween/teen in the late 90s, but none the less still caters to a similar formula. Despite the relatively interesting scene where Heath Ledger sings in the stands for Julia Stiles, the fact remains the same. His character is literally being paid to date her and this to many females I would assume would be a red flag to douchery. But of course with charming good looks and the ol "yea i was getting paid, but I ended up really liking you" formula the collective she will always forgive her man, even if she completely loathed him for 50 percent of the movie.
Twilight
Edward Cullen:" I don't have the strength to stay away from you anymore.
Isabella Swan: Then don't."
He literally stalked her, abandoned her, his brother tried to attack her and has an innate yearning to kill her. But she loves him regardless so its cool. Truly a relationship to strive for people. Its eternal, so its romantic though. Um....sure.
When I was first sitting on the toilet over analyzing these types of films my immediate counter film was,
500 Days of Summer
"I hate her crooked teeth. I hate her 1960s haircut. I hate her knobby knees. I hate her cockroach-shaped splotch on her neck. I hate the way she smacks her lips before she talks. I hate the way she sounds when she laughs."
This one really got to me, as I would think it would with any person male or female that's had their heart broken. Zoey's character is strong minded and hardly naive in comparison to Joseph Gordan Levitt's character. Joseph's character is premised in the film as someone who believes in love at first sight and knows he'll find the ONE. Unfortunately Zoey's character believes otherwise. Until that is the end. She may not give in to Joseph's boyish charm, but falls into the institution of marriage and ultimately agrees that true love does exist. "you just know" kind of shit. Despite her strength in being a free woman she ultimately has to come to the realization (within the films context) that love does exist, I better get married like RIGHT NOW!
Before you jump down my throat about the fact "their just movies", or "your reading way to into it Ray", lemme just say, uh no Im not. Films should inspire us to think critically, especially for those of us who have been blessed with opportunities in higher education. I recognize the entertainment value of movies and while I can enjoy senseless movies like anybody else, doesn't necessarily mean I should make my brain go numb and not think critically. Critical thought and discussion strives me as an individual and I need the stimulation. Fact is we shouldn't fall for these tricks and be influenced in our relationships by sappy romantic comedies. Something I figured I'd get off my chest.
-Just Ra
