So here's an interesting situation: I had just got off the phone with a guy I had been seeing for a couple weeks, and he told me he still has feelings for his ex, who broke up with him 2 months ago. Most girls (I'm assuming) would be bummed out, grab some ice cream and pop in the movie, "The Notebook" to drown their sorrows. Not me. I kept my plans to go out and see the new Jennifer Aniston movie "Love Happens", which by the way is a very good romantic comedy. Sounds strange doesn't it?? Well let me explain why I enjoy rom-coms (romantic comedies). It's because they make me feel optimistic. They make me feel amazing about a future with endless love. And "Love Happens", "Love, Actually" and "The Notebook" all somehow have this same effect on me.
Call it cheesy. Call it nieve. Call it whatever you would like.
I call these movies 'optimism for a hopeless romantic'. Yes, that's right, I'm a hopeless romantic. Hard to believe, I know. But it's true. I want to believe my "one and only" is out there, despite all the pessimism surrounding this topic. I want to FEEL. Whether it's good feelings or a bad feelings. Because I think that any situation that causes intense feelings to occur, can only benefit you in the long run.
In my opinion, any feeling, strong feeling, is an amazing and beautiful thing. A simple smile can lift you up from the depths of despair and loneliness; while an unreturned phone call can turn any strong, intelligent woman into a paranoid mess. Again, I know. I've experienced both these situations. Many times in fact. However, that is why I believe rom-coms are so effective in displaying every possible emotional situation, that could cause both incredible happiness and also extreme paranoia in just one 90 minute sitting.
"The Holiday", starring Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Cameron Diaz and Jack Black, has one of my favorite lines ever written in a rom-com: "I'm looking for corny in my life". This line for some reason just sums up everything I had been trying to figure out for myself. I love corny gestures. I love romantic, silly, goofy experiences. They make me laugh and smile, which makes me feel a warm fuzziness inside. And despite what some women will say, this warm fuzziness, is the most incredibly satisfying experience. It's one I have only experienced twice, but am hoping to one day find again. But it's not an easy feeling to find, and it means opening up and allowing your vulnerability to show.
But maybe this is why some men don't like watching rom-coms? Do men feel that women believe that rom-coms are reality? Do they feel pressured to act in a similar way that the leading actors in rom-coms do? Or are they simply afraid of feeling this vulnerability themselves? Personally, I have no expectations for men to act like this. It is definitely nice to experience, but it's never been something I expect. Romantic comedies are more an idea of what romance and fun can be together. They're not supposed to be real, and in my opinion they're often not based on realistic events. Yes, it's true that some couples have had "fairytale relationships". Met in high school, fell in love, and now have a great marriage and family. But these couples do not represent the vast majority of people. Not in my view anyways. But that's not to say, that happiness and that 'forever' feeling isn't desired. So that's what rom-coms are for: to fulfill a desire that some women may not find, or to fill an emotional void until this desire is found.
To let someone in, to truly let them in, opens you up to a wide range of emotions. And you have to be willing and ready to experience every range of emotion, no matter the outcome. And you know what? I can not wait. In the meantime though, I will have to satisfy my emotional cravings by watching rom-coms. :-)
-xoxo
No comments:
Post a Comment