June 12, 2006
Should they really have broken up in The Break-Up?
If you didn’t see the movie The Break-Up, stop reading, go see it, then come back and read on. If you saw it, did you love it as much as I did? I know, I know, it got terrible reviews, but you know what? I don’t care. I love Vince Vaughn and his fast talking mini-speeches. And I love Jennifer Aniston because, well, I can never really pinpoint exactly why, except that I’m still a huge Friends re-run fan. I also loved the supporting cast in The Break-Up.
Anyway, moving on to the relationship in the movie. Clearly, they are in love and they care about each other. But they proceed to make each other miserable, doing things to hurt each other and make each other writhe with jealousy, including fake dates and strip parties. By the way, I was very upset with Gary when he failed to show up to the concert. Of course, I’m taking the woman’s side here, but I just felt like he missed out on his last chance to get Brook back.
One reason I adored the movie so much is because I could relate to it so closely. I think every couple has had some of the exact same fights as Brook and Gary. (As an aside, I know that one reason the critics said the movie was so bad was because all they did was fight, scream, argue, and fight some more. But I think that Vince Vaughn is hilarious whether he’s fighting or flirting!) Most women have said the same words Brook said to Gary. My favorite part is when Brook asks Gary to do the dishes with her and he refuses. When he finally agrees because she keeps asking, she tells him nevermind because she wants him to want to do the dishes. When he asks who would ever want to do the dishes, she replies that she wants him to want to offer to do the dishes. And more than once in the movie, Brook tells Gary, "You just don’t get it."
But, when it comes down to it, does any man or woman really ever get the opposite sex? Or do we all just have to learn to live with our differences?
On one hand, it seems like Brook should have just told Gary that she still wanted to be with him, instead of parading other dates around in front of him to make him jealous. On the other hand, just like she wanted Gary to want to offer to do the dishes rather than forcing him to do them, Brook also wanted Gary to want to offer to be with her instead of forcing him... which is exactly the reason he missed the importance of showing up at the concert.
Ok, so the question is... should Brook and Gary really have broken up? Maybe they didn’t ever really belong together. But maybe, just maybe, that spark we still saw between them at the end of the movie meant that they are truly meant to be together.
And, yes, I do understand that it’s just a movie and these are just characters. But, their fights and problems are applicable to so many real-life couples.
Posted by Lovette on 2:30 PM | Comments (5)
June 1, 2006
C'mon, can it really stay in Vegas?
Of course you've heard the now infamous, and intriguing, phrase: "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Makes you want to escape to Vegas just to get away with doing something naughty, doesn't it? But that's only true if you plead, and remain faithful, to the fifth. You can't come home from Vegas and then sit around contemplating if you should confess. You just have to keep your mouth shut to make the expression a reality.
Consider this situation...
A bunch of twenty-something girlfriends go to Vegas. Half of the girls have boyfriends. While in Vegas, the girl group meets a twenty-something guy group and they hit it off. Yes, just as friends, nothing more. Promise. Really, I promise. Get your mind out of the gutter.
Anyway, they hang out during the vacation, have tons of fun, laughs, and drinks. At vacation-end, they all exchange contact info, and go home to their respective states.
A few weeks later, the guys call the girls, inviting them to visit a few states away, where the guys live. The guys were fun and friendly, so the girls agree to go. Why not, right?
Suddenly, though, Vegas is no longer staying in Vegas, contrary to the popular motto. So, one of the "attached" girls, Amber, develops a conscience - apparently because the Vegas locale can’t protect her anymore – and tells her boyfriend of the harmless plan to visit the guys. As you can imagine, he gets extremely upset and accuses her of wanting to cheat. Basically, he flips out. But, can you blame him?
After witnessing the catastrophe of her friend, one of the other girls, Mandy, ponders the decision of telling her own boyfriend, Tim, of the intended visit. One option is to be honest and dish the details, alleviating her guilty conscience. However, Mandy is predicting a displeased reaction (to say the least) and wants to avoid upsetting her beau and having him worry while she's away. So maybe she should keep quiet.
If what happens in Vegas really stays in Vegas, should Mandy keep secret this visit to the new guy friends? At least she would spare her boyfriend's feelings.
Or should the innocent, friendly trip – yes, I’m still sticking to the just friends and nothing more – spill into the confession zone? Does Tim need to know every time Mandy visits friends, whether they're male or female? Whether they met in Vegas or a local bar?
Ok, so maybe we know the most moral and ethical thing to do. The question is, what would you do in this situation?
Posted by Lovette on 10:30 AM | Comments (7)
