Can Romantic Comedies Ruin Your Marriage
December 16, 2008 by Marye Audet
Filed under Relationships
It is COLD! It is one of those gray, cold, if-it-would-snow-it-would-be-warmer days that I have only experienced in Texas. Every once in awhile the sky spews some ice pellets and then goes back to icy broodiness. So, the lovely red laptop and I are cuddled in bed, catching up on work.
And I thought hookers were the only ones that could say that!
Kyrie woke up (in our bed) throwing up this morning so she is asleep next to me. Quite peaceful. Another Hallmark moment at my house.So as I was skating (it is too cold to surf) the internet I found an article in OneIndia that says that romantic comedies, like Notting Hill (one of my favorites) are bad for marriages because they encourage unrealistic expectations.
(My mom magnet is working again, Nick just climbed in bed on the other side of me, pretty soon the dog will be in here..)
I don’t know. I mean I can kind of see what they are saying.If you are believing that marriage can be like that 24/7 365 days a year then yeah you are probably going to be disappointed. But…ah..you knew that was coming, right?
(Here comes Matt, that same mommy magnet..I have four of my six kids in here now…Shiloh just came in…)
But…why shouldn’t we work as hard on our marriages to make them fun, fulfilling and romantic as we work on our jobs or hobbies? Most people I know will spend much more time researching some new thing they are interested in and never think about working half as hard on their relationship. I know a person that has the most average, mediocre marriage on the planet and will literally pour their energies into hobbies and interests but will do nothing but complain about how average and mediocre their marriage is.
True, movies are not reality. They are scripted. Yet, with a little effort you can bring those romantic moments into your marriage and make it special.
I see romantic movies as more of an inspiration..an idea file…a breeding ground for ideas and fantasy. Maybe I just need to grow up and be more practical.
Hell no. I would rather die than be mediocre. 
So, you? What do you think? Romantic comedies …yea or nay?
By the way, keep your eyes open..I will be posting a very cool giveaway in the next 24 hours.
Image:morguefile
What??? I can’t just keep searching around until I find the guy who will make my life like “When Harry Met Sally” 24/7??? Marye, you continue to disturb my most deeply held preconceived notions. ;D
Romantic comedies: Pro.
After all, if you’re so out of touch that you think a comedy is a complete and accurate depiction of reality, then there probably isn’t much hope for your marriage anyhow.
Humanly speaking, of course.
Heather.. I love that movie. I am sorry I am upsetting your life. It seems to be my gifting.
Dhave…It isnt really like that? I mean..you…Cathy…a fairy tale…
Marye mentioned in a post about how she felt certain conversational topics to be boring, insipid and mind-numbing, if I remember correctly…
Well those are the very terms I’d use for romantic comedies…just mentioning the words Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts – the twin Evils of the genre – and I get that nauseated feeling reminiscent of the yellow-matter-custard post-nasal drip one gets during a sinus infection
Marye, you LIKE that pap?!? bleeding hell… Ya know, Meggy likes those things too.
If I know Meggy wants me to to watch one of those stinkers with her, you’ll find me in the loo an hour or so beforehand, white-knuckled and bending over the lavatory….I think I’d rather one of her 6 hour mall trips than sit through one of those things…
The exception is “As Good As It Gets” with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt. It was different in every way so, it gets four stars from me.
I do. But I also like the Die Hard movies alot. My son Chris, the one in the military, and I used to watch them together.
They are mindless pap. But I like a little junk food once in awhile.
All in all I dislike watching movies or t.v. ..unless they are food related.
“…I dislike watching movies or t.v. ..unless they are food related.”
Or sex. Or food with sex or is it sex with food? ;O
I’m not a big action-film buff, though I loved the ‘Matrix’ Series..whatelse? I liked the Indiana Jones series – which is action/adventure..there are a lot of very beautifully made action films from Hong Kong and even PRC of recent times – “Hidden Tiger, Crouching Dragon”, “The House of Flying Daggers” and others which I love.
Marye, LOL! Yeah – something else we have in common.
David, You bring up food and movies after the thread on “A Boy and His Dog”???? ROFL!!!
I,,,I brought it up?!? LOL You KNOW its gotta be Marye’s idea if its edible.
Just food for thought….
I dont like movies with sex..
I liked Mostly Martha (Original German version of Reservations Only), Chocolat, Ratatouille, The one with that Geller person,
I have a love/hate relationship with The Notebook..it is the best movie I never want to see again.
Food fufills a need. Sex fufills a need. I don;t see the difference. To me they are the same. Both have the possibility of making you fat.
I think what we mean here is sensualité – english has such a small repertoire of words to describe the many things around us.
My poor choice of words.
Anyways, the films you listed above all have sensualité as their theme – the food element is just one manifestation – and a subdued one that the thick philistine – like myself – usually miss.
Also, as far as fat goeth, speak for yourself ( or your gender rather ) one of them doesn’t make us fat… Popeye notwithstanding.
No one believes the romantic comedies depict true life – but usually there is something spot on and very funny that the happens and it so closely mimics real life that we have no choice but to laugh, both because it is funny and from relief that we’re not the only ones out there that experience/try/say or rell the situation at hand.
Andrea, I think that is it. All movies are unrealistic to one extent or another..heck LIFE is unrealistic to one extent or another.
well, since the discussion is romantic comedy…Hitch is my all time favorite movie. I never laughed so hard or was touched so much. Even though Hitch’s initial motive for finding out all he could about a woman was for his protection, it is still the most romantic thing a guy can do… to actually want to know who you are, and then, to cater to that.
“… to actually want to know who you are, and then, to cater to that.”
Actually, that’s usually the way it happens. I’ve only known of a couple of women to cater their interests to the man.
I remember a few romantic comedies now, that I liked … ‘Big’ with Tom Hanks and ‘Being There’ with Peter Sellers and Anne Bankroft.
Cheers,
Sorry, that was Peter Sellers and Shirley McClain
>>Actually, that’s usually the way it happens. I’ve only know
<<
DAvid…seriously, you have to be kidding? I can’t say more or the secret society of women will find me and kill me..but…SERIOUSLY?
Ya, I think that’s true. Especially in the early phases of the ‘chase’, guys are always trying to find out.
“Oh, wow, I’m getting my major in basket weaving too”…Oh, ya, I’m really into Impressionism” and then running around trying to find out what “Impressionism” is.
Of course women do that in a very sly way but its different.
Maybe we’re talking about different things here. I didn’t see the film Ginger was referring to.
Sorry for butting in