5 Lessons To Learn from Rom-Coms
Romantic-comedies is a genre in films that deserves to die in hell while sitting on a chair made of gold. They are annoying, yet heart-warming. They make you believe in the universe's ways of finding your soulmate while leaving you in a snotty, sniffling mess. They trick you into buying high-end designer clothes, while you continue live in your shoebox of an apartment. They teach you about the empowerment of having a vagina, while you're still stuck on 'why he didn't call? Why doesn't he like me?'.
See, absolute demon!
Rom-coms have the power to tap into our basic human desires to love and be loved; whether you're a 15-year old teenager, a 40-year old single mum, or a man who watches the sap as a crash course to a woman's crazy mind. You clever lot!
Think about it, where would all the Katherine Heigls, Kate Hudsons, Jennifer Anistons and Drew Barrymores of Hollywood go, if we didn't buy into the crap they sell about love, life, relationships and career. They force us to get bikini waxes from incoherent Ukrainian women before the first date, just as much as they make us want to magically meet our versions of 'the ones' at the local coffee shop.
From powerful careers, to perfect blow-outs, to a sassy gay bestie and a token dickhead; chick flicks have the power to make women around the world ooze out optimism, enough to make us sick to the stomach, laugh till the last breath and secretly cry, all at the same time.
Here are five lessons we must all learn from a rom-com... coming to a Netflix/theatre near you.
Female writers/journalists/reporters first fail in love and then they fall in love.You have the job, you have the social life, you have the kick-arse wardrobe, but as per the rules, you have to fall in love with the biggest jerk of an asshat before you can meet your Prince Charming. And this offer is exclusively available for television reporters, newspaper columnists and magazine journalists. You cannot, absolutely cannot set sail on perfect shores right from the start because no other leading lady could do it, so how can you? Plus, you won't be able to write about your unfortunate love life, if you don't swim in the wrong end first. But once you've shed the tears and 'learnt' from the misfortunes of the break-up, you're allowed to marry that dreamy bloke who, turns out, is your ridiculously good looking best guy friend from high school. Oh. As seen in:Never Been Kissed, Bridget Jones Diary, Sleepless in Seattle, Going The Distance, The Devil Wears Prada, Morning Glory.
Move to New York City if you're serious about love.Despite the men to women ratio in NYC being completely against the favour of the ladies, chick flicks want us to believe that the Big Apple is the place where true, inconvenient, uncompromising and mad love can be found. Single and live anywhere else; you're doomed! It could be the magic of the park or the optimistic bright hue of the cabs, but roms-coms see something in those five islands. Remember how Carrie finally found love after six season and two (awful) movies, and how Sally and Sara tested destiny with their serendipitous moments in Central Park. Apparently, this city narrates a better love story than what Paris, London, Los Angeles or Tokyo could ever tell. As seen in: Serendipity, How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days, Breakfast At Tiffany's, When Harry Met Sally, New Year's Eve, 13 Going On 30, Bride Wars.
Interrupting a wedding always works. Almost always.This is an easy one: be shameless, ruthless, heartless and stupid. Don't stress if the love of your life is marrying someone else. Who cares about the wedding costs, presents, venue bookings and broken relationships to follow? Bring out your inner-Julia Roberts and kiss your goddam crush on the day of his wedding so he can toss his future family and marry you. Do check if you can borrow the ex-bride's dress...As seen in: My Best Friend's Wedding, Made Of Honor, The Sweetest Thing.
The stud finishes last, the common man always win and the prostitutes are the nice guys. You won't find love at the Christmas party because your dream man is actually that nerd from high school who always helped you with your homework. No, it's not that bad boy with tattoos and piercings who your mum disapproved of, because he's now serving time in jail. But say you're in your 30s and still single, go for the tried-and-tested option, get yourself a prostitute or a gigolo, because roms-coms are proof that this breed of humans have a heart of gold and bodies of Greek Gods. Yes Channing, I am talking about you... say hi to your Tatum!As seen in: Pretty Woman, Magic Mike, Girl Next Door, Grease, A Walk To Remember, Legally Blonde, Love Actually.
It's time to farewell Matthew McConaughey's pretty face from chick flicks. Ladies, let go, the man is gone. Our beloved Steve/Ben/Tripp/Finn ran for the hills when he got offered a role that didn't just revolve around a wide-angle and a close-up of his washboard abs. Can you imagine the man getting an Academy Award for his pimp-tastic role and body in Magic Mike? Sigh! Adios, hottie.