Modern Romance
(**NOTE: I wrote this post on the date listed, but actually posted it 6/2/06 out of respect for those who don't go to screenings...Didn't wanna give anything away. Who loves ya, babies!?!)
Albert Brooks had it right when he filmed Modern Romance. Over 25 years ago, he went on over 20 dates and tried to find "the one" only to find out that she was with him the entire time. It's funny that we all find love at one point in time but because he or she doesn't match with one or two of the bullet points on our list, we forgo them to continue to "look for love." I can't tell you how many times I've been the perfect girl for some guy who just couldn't deal with my mouth. Or was intimidated by my intelligence. No one seemed to care that I was a little overweight, which puzzled me cuz I sure as hell did. But I digress, on to today's point.
This week's Newsweek has an interesting article about a woman's real chances of finding marriage after 40, saying that it is still a possibility. I can say this: NO ONE in my inner circle is married or a mother. It's not just cuz we're no-nonsense btiches, it's because we know not to play ourselves. When we have sex, it's understood and it's protected. If it's not, we take full advantage of the "gone before dawn" rule and the morning after pill. We know that in order to maintain a relationship and raise a stable child in this world, we need to FIRST have ourselves together. So again, we don't play ourselves. The question remains: Once past the legal drinking age, has modern romance become wistful?
I remember being young and in love at 18, the world was a brighter, better place. All I did was study, participate my student association, socialize and get my back banged out. There were no parents, no curfews and definitely no rules. Fast forward to 23, when I got into my next "relationship." I was such a bitch I'm sure he's gay but right now he's chosen to date a white girl. But the change that occurred was that I'd become jaded and any romantic gestures from him were demeaned by my cynicism. There's that saying: laugh as though you've never laughed before, love as though you've never been hurt before, bl-bl-bluh. At 18, I was all about that but now I find it hard to trust anyone but myself. Anyone I may love or have feelings for will never know it. Is it because I'm guarded and don't want to let anyone in? No matter what, I'm left pining away for the guy I simply won't take a risk on, hence the "wistful" aspect of romance.
The staple for "lobster love" is the unforgettable Friends, with the whole "will they, won't they" saga between Ross and Rachel. Scully and Mulder from The X-Files, Wolverine and Jean Grey from the X-Men movies, Mike and Susan from Desperate Housewives and my personal favorite, McDreamy and Meredith from Grey's Anataomy. All those couples love each other but for some reason don't stay or get together but through it all, they're by each other's side, a constant source of love. But as usual I digress, I've got a point.
Last night, Kristy and I went to a screening of The Break Up with Vaughniston and Jon Favreau. We LOVED it!! It is the perfect date movie as far as I'm concerned. The usual Vaughn banter with EVERYONE (not to mention a GREAT performance by Jon Favreau, he reminded me of why I once thought anything he did was funny) and good delivery by Jennifer Aniston on a woman's perspective (not necessarily mine, but a typical woman).
It was a good time...until the end. The usual shenanigans ensue with each of them trying to outdo the other, Jennifer trying to make Vince act right, Vince trying to show her he didn't care. All antics of course are supposed to lead to an epiphany of sorts, a kind act and reconciliation. Apparently, the writers of this movie had something else in mind. They did in fact break up (even after he cleaned the house and made dinner for her, complete with a plea to give him another chance), sold the condo and (here's the kicker) went about their separate lives. Fast forward a year or so later, they run into each other and through choppy conversation and reminiscent stares, they say "keep in touch" and go on with their lives. You read correctly, they do NOT get back together. And THAT'S what disturbed me.
I rented Prime last week and the same thing happened. Uma Therman and my new crush Bryan Greenberg were in this hot and heavy love affair in which they broke up, got back together, broke up, got back together and broke up again. At the end, though, he's peeking in a restaurant window, staring at Uma (like a lovelorn puppy), who's obviously his ex. She sees him and gives him a smile filled with love and memories and joy that they were once even together. He smiles wistfully (there's that word again) and walks away.
WHAT!?! Has art finally perfected the imitation of life? The harsh reality that not everyone ends up together even though they love one another is coming through loud and clear on the big screen. So is this the path of modern romance? Or at least once you're in your 20s? I know this is the time to play around and find the one you want to be with, but sheesh, can't we fantasize anymore? Are we living in the days where even true love cannot prevail? Those were some of the questions I was left with at the end of the movie, but one stuck with me for a while: Could this really be the state of modern romance!?!
Albert Brooks had it right when he filmed Modern Romance. Over 25 years ago, he went on over 20 dates and tried to find "the one" only to find out that she was with him the entire time. It's funny that we all find love at one point in time but because he or she doesn't match with one or two of the bullet points on our list, we forgo them to continue to "look for love." I can't tell you how many times I've been the perfect girl for some guy who just couldn't deal with my mouth. Or was intimidated by my intelligence. No one seemed to care that I was a little overweight, which puzzled me cuz I sure as hell did. But I digress, on to today's point.
This week's Newsweek has an interesting article about a woman's real chances of finding marriage after 40, saying that it is still a possibility. I can say this: NO ONE in my inner circle is married or a mother. It's not just cuz we're no-nonsense btiches, it's because we know not to play ourselves. When we have sex, it's understood and it's protected. If it's not, we take full advantage of the "gone before dawn" rule and the morning after pill. We know that in order to maintain a relationship and raise a stable child in this world, we need to FIRST have ourselves together. So again, we don't play ourselves. The question remains: Once past the legal drinking age, has modern romance become wistful?
I remember being young and in love at 18, the world was a brighter, better place. All I did was study, participate my student association, socialize and get my back banged out. There were no parents, no curfews and definitely no rules. Fast forward to 23, when I got into my next "relationship." I was such a bitch I'm sure he's gay but right now he's chosen to date a white girl. But the change that occurred was that I'd become jaded and any romantic gestures from him were demeaned by my cynicism. There's that saying: laugh as though you've never laughed before, love as though you've never been hurt before, bl-bl-bluh. At 18, I was all about that but now I find it hard to trust anyone but myself. Anyone I may love or have feelings for will never know it. Is it because I'm guarded and don't want to let anyone in? No matter what, I'm left pining away for the guy I simply won't take a risk on, hence the "wistful" aspect of romance.
The staple for "lobster love" is the unforgettable Friends, with the whole "will they, won't they" saga between Ross and Rachel. Scully and Mulder from The X-Files, Wolverine and Jean Grey from the X-Men movies, Mike and Susan from Desperate Housewives and my personal favorite, McDreamy and Meredith from Grey's Anataomy. All those couples love each other but for some reason don't stay or get together but through it all, they're by each other's side, a constant source of love. But as usual I digress, I've got a point.
Last night, Kristy and I went to a screening of The Break Up with Vaughniston and Jon Favreau. We LOVED it!! It is the perfect date movie as far as I'm concerned. The usual Vaughn banter with EVERYONE (not to mention a GREAT performance by Jon Favreau, he reminded me of why I once thought anything he did was funny) and good delivery by Jennifer Aniston on a woman's perspective (not necessarily mine, but a typical woman).
It was a good time...until the end. The usual shenanigans ensue with each of them trying to outdo the other, Jennifer trying to make Vince act right, Vince trying to show her he didn't care. All antics of course are supposed to lead to an epiphany of sorts, a kind act and reconciliation. Apparently, the writers of this movie had something else in mind. They did in fact break up (even after he cleaned the house and made dinner for her, complete with a plea to give him another chance), sold the condo and (here's the kicker) went about their separate lives. Fast forward a year or so later, they run into each other and through choppy conversation and reminiscent stares, they say "keep in touch" and go on with their lives. You read correctly, they do NOT get back together. And THAT'S what disturbed me.
I rented Prime last week and the same thing happened. Uma Therman and my new crush Bryan Greenberg were in this hot and heavy love affair in which they broke up, got back together, broke up, got back together and broke up again. At the end, though, he's peeking in a restaurant window, staring at Uma (like a lovelorn puppy), who's obviously his ex. She sees him and gives him a smile filled with love and memories and joy that they were once even together. He smiles wistfully (there's that word again) and walks away.
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WHAT!?! Has art finally perfected the imitation of life? The harsh reality that not everyone ends up together even though they love one another is coming through loud and clear on the big screen. So is this the path of modern romance? Or at least once you're in your 20s? I know this is the time to play around and find the one you want to be with, but sheesh, can't we fantasize anymore? Are we living in the days where even true love cannot prevail? Those were some of the questions I was left with at the end of the movie, but one stuck with me for a while: Could this really be the state of modern romance!?!
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