I get suckered into watching girlie movies a lot. Especially on nights that I am at home by myself. I'm here to tell you though, chick flicks are terrible for your relationship. Maybe I seem a little cynical, but it's the truth. When I was in college I sat through psych and gender communication courses and they showed us study after study about this very thing. I've come to realize, it's true! Let me explain.
Think about this- in the movies, there's usually 1 of 2 story lines.
a) A guy and girl who are long lost lovers. They were in love long ago, or one was in love with the other one (usually in high school or summer fling), but life moved on and now the long lost lover enters back into their life and the main character (usually the girl) has a decision to make. Does she stay with the man she is currently married to/in relationship with? Or does she "follow her heart" and be with the one that got away?
b) The "friend" who is in love with the main character, but the main character is in love with someone else. Usually the more handsome/beautiful/attractive one and the "friend" is the supportive and funny one. The main character usually ends up realizing the love that the "friend" has for them and then end up together- happily ever after.
Ok. Let's dissect. Here's something that always makes me mad. In example a), the main character never or rarely chooses the relationship they are in now, and even when the do choose to stay in their committed marriage or their new love, they are made out to be the bad guy. There's something wrong with this picture. In example b), the truth is that this rarely happens in real life. The part about "friends" being in love with them is often true, but the chances of them actually falling for each other is slim. Sorry to break it to you.
Not only that, but of course the characters are always gorgeous and perfect. He brings flowers on dates, knows exactly what to say, opens doors and thinks of little details and special things to do for her. Oh, and can usually do something special- like cook or play an instrument, or has a really unique hobby like making stained glass windows (or something crazy like that). She of course looks gorgeous with a full face of makeup on even when she's just woken up and is skinny and beautiful. We're left sitting in the audience thinking, "why doesn't my boyfriend/husband do that for me?" or "dang it. now I have to do stuff like this for her, or I wish she looked like that!"
Truth be told! :)
Let's face it. Very few of our relationships look like the ones on the sliver screen.
Here's a more realistic love story.
Girl gets heart broken by a boy who she thought loved her. Boy falls in love with a someone who wouldn't give him love back. He moves on, meets girl, they fall in love. They realize that love goes beyond butterflies in their stomachs and empty compliments. They marry, and life is not perfect. They have their rough patches and their wonderful moments but they are in it for the long haul, and are not throwing in the towel. They become each others best friends and before they know it, they become the combination of both a) and b): they've loved for so long they're now each others long lost loves and have become each others best friend.
(hypothetical of course)
Being ordinary or having rough patches doesn't make your love story inferior. It makes it real.
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