In commemoration of All About Steve opening this weekend, I’ve decided to compile a list of my favorite romantic comedies that I hate to love. You see, I want to see this movie. I love Sandra Bullock, and I've loved Bradley Cooper far before the whole Hangover craze. And, yes, I recognize that this film looks bad—not just bad, but fucking terribly shitty. Even Bullock’s awful wig in the commercials pisses me off. But the bigger problem isn’t the wig—it’s the fact that they’re making the female romantic lead into a crazy, psycho stalker. And this is where my pseudo feminist rears her ugly head and gets all sorts of pissed off. But that’s not gonna stop me from seeing this awful-looking movie.
So in honor of shitty/sexist romantic comedies, I’ve decided to share my list of movies I hate myself for loving—and, no, comedies that really offended me (Bride Wars), didn’t make the cut.
Read more after the jump!
So in honor of shitty/sexist romantic comedies, I’ve decided to share my list of movies I hate myself for loving—and, no, comedies that really offended me (Bride Wars), didn’t make the cut.
Read more after the jump!
Two Weeks Notice
Did I mention I love Sandra Bullock? Well, I also totally heart Hugh Grant, and the two of them together is comic gold. Granted Bullock plays Grant’s assistant…ooops, I mean lawyer at his swanky and rich condo company. He basically treats her like shit but is oh so charming, so naturally she must quit to work at a noble cause nonprofit. Then, of course, she gets jealous of her replacement—a cute, bubbly, slightly slutty young attorney. Siiigh. It’s classic case of you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone AND a man treating a woman like his slave while acting like a manchild. I hate to love you, but I do…
Did I mention I love Sandra Bullock? Well, I also totally heart Hugh Grant, and the two of them together is comic gold. Granted Bullock plays Grant’s assistant…ooops, I mean lawyer at his swanky and rich condo company. He basically treats her like shit but is oh so charming, so naturally she must quit to work at a noble cause nonprofit. Then, of course, she gets jealous of her replacement—a cute, bubbly, slightly slutty young attorney. Siiigh. It’s classic case of you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone AND a man treating a woman like his slave while acting like a manchild. I hate to love you, but I do…
Pretty Woman
Okay, first of all, no hookers look like Julia Roberts. Secondly, no rich millionaires look like Richard Gere. So, this is all total bullshit. But the thing that really gets me in the end is that Roberts NEEDS Gere to save her. Sure, she says the line, “She saves him right back,” but does she really? Not so much. He buys her fancy clothes and takes her out of her hooker life, and what does he get in return? Fine, love, whatever, but basically she is going to be his sex slave for life. Can you imagine any fights they ever have? “Honey take out the trash. “Umm, sweetie, I saved you from hookerdom.” But, the ending doesn’t negate Roberts and Gere’s smoldering chemistry and Roberts’ infectious charm.
Okay, first of all, no hookers look like Julia Roberts. Secondly, no rich millionaires look like Richard Gere. So, this is all total bullshit. But the thing that really gets me in the end is that Roberts NEEDS Gere to save her. Sure, she says the line, “She saves him right back,” but does she really? Not so much. He buys her fancy clothes and takes her out of her hooker life, and what does he get in return? Fine, love, whatever, but basically she is going to be his sex slave for life. Can you imagine any fights they ever have? “Honey take out the trash. “Umm, sweetie, I saved you from hookerdom.” But, the ending doesn’t negate Roberts and Gere’s smoldering chemistry and Roberts’ infectious charm.
Because I Said So
Okay, I’m not proud of this one. This movie is downright awful, but every time it’s on TV, I can’t help but sit down and watch. I’m so sick and tired of the cliché clumsy girls who are so damn cute that their clumsiness wins over their men. It doesn’t happen in real life. Men would not be charmed by women who fall over repeatedly or get balloons stuck to their rear ends. And, I also take offense to Diane Keaton’s character being stuck in a dead end marriage where she never had an orgasm. This is Annie Hall, we're talking about! She wouldn’t take that shit. And then, don’t get me started on the overbearing mother stereotype. Oy vey. But…fine, Mandy Moore is adorable, and any movie starring Lauren Graham is partially delightful—minus that whole Evan Almighty thing…
Okay, I’m not proud of this one. This movie is downright awful, but every time it’s on TV, I can’t help but sit down and watch. I’m so sick and tired of the cliché clumsy girls who are so damn cute that their clumsiness wins over their men. It doesn’t happen in real life. Men would not be charmed by women who fall over repeatedly or get balloons stuck to their rear ends. And, I also take offense to Diane Keaton’s character being stuck in a dead end marriage where she never had an orgasm. This is Annie Hall, we're talking about! She wouldn’t take that shit. And then, don’t get me started on the overbearing mother stereotype. Oy vey. But…fine, Mandy Moore is adorable, and any movie starring Lauren Graham is partially delightful—minus that whole Evan Almighty thing…
Nine Months
Another Hugh Grant gem in which he plays a manchild not ready for kids…oh, until the end of the movie, when he IS ready for kids. Hmm… how do men in romantic comedies change so quickly? It’s absurd—every woman knows you cannot change a man. Granted Robin Williams’ accent is atrocious in this movie, and the chemistry between Tom Arnold (yes, Tom Arnold) and Grant is steamier than Grant’s and Julianne Moore’s, but whatever, this movie makes me laugh and is ultimately sweet in the end—albeit wildly unrealistic.
Another Hugh Grant gem in which he plays a manchild not ready for kids…oh, until the end of the movie, when he IS ready for kids. Hmm… how do men in romantic comedies change so quickly? It’s absurd—every woman knows you cannot change a man. Granted Robin Williams’ accent is atrocious in this movie, and the chemistry between Tom Arnold (yes, Tom Arnold) and Grant is steamier than Grant’s and Julianne Moore’s, but whatever, this movie makes me laugh and is ultimately sweet in the end—albeit wildly unrealistic.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Talk about the ultimate clichéd battle of the sexes rom-com. This movie makes fun of clingy women and flighty men til the couple realizes they should ultimately be together at the end. It makes women look like psychos, but, again, the charming appeal of these Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey (whom I normally don’t even like) really sells this movie. Maybe I’m just secretly jealous of that yellow dress at the end. Shit…I’m such a girl.
--Darcie Duttweiler
Talk about the ultimate clichéd battle of the sexes rom-com. This movie makes fun of clingy women and flighty men til the couple realizes they should ultimately be together at the end. It makes women look like psychos, but, again, the charming appeal of these Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey (whom I normally don’t even like) really sells this movie. Maybe I’m just secretly jealous of that yellow dress at the end. Shit…I’m such a girl.
--Darcie Duttweiler
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