The other night on 2 Broke Girls, Caroline's boyfriend Andy wanted to say, "I love you" for the first time. However, every time he started, Caroline would become preoccupied with something work-related and Andy would be shot down. Max explained to him that Caroline was a romantic, or a rom-com (romantic comedy) kinda girl. He needed to find the absolute most ridiculous setting possible to say 'I love you" to make the situation perfect. For example, could he make it rain on the way to the airport or somehow make it rain while searching for her on top of the Empire State Building? Because that would be the way to go. Andy decided he better download some movies.
So I ask, is it wrong to want to live a rom-com? Do movies like this give us an unhealthy expectation of the men in our lives?
I'm not an overly feminine girl; however, I am a romantic. I listen to love songs all day long. I love the concept of soul mates and true love. The idea that a man would fall so deeply for a woman that he would put all else aside to win her heart sends shivers down my spine and puts goosebumps on my arms. It's a concept that has been around forever and will never grow old. It's a tale as old as time.
I admit to watching rom-com movies on Saturday afternoons when the boys are away; and yes, I always cry. Try not to shed a tear while watching Love Actually when Andrew Lincoln's character Mark holds up the cue cards at Keira Knightley's character Juliet's door professing his love for her. They know they can never be together because she is married to his best friend. But then she chases him down the street and they kiss. It's the forbidden love we've all been warned about but somehow touches us so deeply.
Blogger Lynsey Jones from MoscatoMom.com said her rom-com man ruining moment was when she saw 10 Things I Hate About You. "The 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' scene was awesome. It's like an original flash mob. He even got the marching band involved! That's impressive." She says.
The truth of the matter is, in real life, these things don't happen, or at least not very often. If we hold our significant others up to the standards of the men in these movies are we doing them a disservice? Or instead, should we accept no less than that of rom-com leading men? Blogger Annie Shultz from MamaDweeb.com actually asks her husband to watch rom-coms with her so he gets some fresh ideas. Her favorite is You've Got Mail. She said her husband will write her cute little emails every once in awhile. "They make me smile! Seeing that email from him is just so special," she said. "I love that he takes the time to write to me, even though we are married and live in the same house."
What is your opinion? Are movie star leading men putting too much pressure on real life significant others? And what rom-com ruined it all for you and why?
Follow Lee Allport at: http://www.facebook.com/mysentimentexactlee
Read more at my blog: http://www.mysentimentexactlee.com