Okay, I love a romantic comedy as much as the next guy. Wait, what guys? Were any guys anywhere near this movie? None with balls. Audience-wise, there were a lot of “girl dates.” Girls-night-out sort of thing. There were some older couples and some dudes that were clearly willing to do anything to score. Like, how you are when the relationship is really new or really old. As for me, I went stag. I couldn’t even get my man to go with me. He put his foot down and, frankly, I respected him for it. Once I got into the movie, I was extra glad. It was too embarrassing. I mean, we all know the plot to every rom com that’s ever been written or will ever be written, and this was no exception. No, it was more than that. It was as if this movie challenged itself to not try any one thing new. It really dug its heels in and declared, “I am a romantic comedy, I will not stray from the agreed-upon plot points one iota. In fact, I will give you scene after scene that you’ve experienced before AS WELL AS many lines you’ve heard before. I will be completely familiar and non-threatening in every way!” Thanks, “Made of Honor.” As you know, these two folks, Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Somebody, are so totally wrong for each other that THEY’RE SSSOOO TOTALLY right for each other! Right? That’s the dream, apparently. According to romantic comedies, at least. As if we’re all like, “Man, I wish I’d fall in love with that guy at work that I hate. If only he’d learn a big lesson so he could see we belong together… just like in the movies.” Patrick Dempsey plays a perfect guy. Somehow, that’s his type all of the sudden. Remember the 80’s and “Can’t Buy Me Love?” He had to pay a chick to look like she was dating him. Now, he’s McDreamy and all that. In this movie, he invented the coffee collar, that little sleeve you get at Starbuck’s, so your hand doesn’t get too hot. Since he had this big idea in college he’s essentially super rich and can spend all his free time having sex with women strangers. His best friend is a girl who he’s never slept with. Uh oh, I think we know where this is headed. Of course, she’s secretly in love with him, but he’s just such a playboy. When will he grow up? As soon as she leaves town, apparently. Literally. My favorite moment of the film is when PD is playing b-ball with the guys. You know, they’re always talking about all the chicks they’re boning, except for the boring married guy. And one day, McDreamy says, “I think I love What’s Her Name.” I mean, he knew her name, of course, however the character was so generic I don’t find it relevant for the purposes of our discussion. Just like that… “I think I love her, man.” Oh, brother. Yet, she’s gone off to Scotland to find an even perfecter man and PD has to go through physically comedic humiliation after physically comedic humiliation to get her. It’s not bad, it’s just a movie that you’ve seen before. If you see this with your partner, and you get all romantic about it, I’m thinking you need to get out more. Enjoy. Laura House
