I watched a romantic comedy today. In its entirety. Not the most riveting start to my first ever post on my first ever blog, but this was a breakthrough for me.You may be thinking to yourself, " I really should be getting to that important thing I have to do ... I should be doing anything else." but if you'll hang in there - I promise, there's a point - and I'm getting to it.
... There's a scene in the movie " How the Grinch Stole Christmas " - where the Grinch's heart grows three sizes ... I think that happened to me tonight ... I've been a Romantic Comedy Grinch. I've been a Romantic anything Grinch really - and tonight for the first time in two years I watched a romantic comedy and finished it, by myself ... like a big kid.
Now granted, its not like I've never seen a chick flick before, I went to the theatre just like everyone else did and shed a tear or two when Jack died; though we all know he could have fit with Rose on that floating door thing. I cant say that I've ever made the conscious decision on my own to watch a romantic movie. I always go with group of friends or cousins, I roll my eyes at cheesy lifetime movies with my mom - that genre of film just has never appealed to me. Besides the singular James Cameron movie,admittedly it has ALWAYS made me feel awkward, irritatingly so - to watch the big film kiss every one else seems to wait for - even expect in a film - that's a set of issues entirely for another post - back to chick flicks. I always felt like it was my duty as a girl to at least relate in some way to romantic comedies so I didn't openly object when my girlfriends would pop in a cheesy "happily ever after with a boyfriend and a makeover" DVD. We watched the films, I ate my chocolate, made mental notes of the outfits I liked, and got in touch with my feminine side. Though to this day I've never seen "the Notebook", or " a Walk to Remember " ... everyone has their limits.
After a rough breakup, okay during a rough break up, almost two years ago (I'm rounding up) some movie came on - who really cares what movie it was - you know the gist anyway - leading lady and leading man meet in a cute unexpected way - followed by a quirky romance - break up due to some kind of inner turmoil or unavoidable circumstance - find out that they cant live without each other, kiss and make up then decide on an uptown apt with a dog, all is well forever and ever - roll credits with catchy pop song. blegh. gag. expletive. Anyway - somewhere during the softly lit apology kiss closeup between the actors and the uptown apartment scene - I got angry. I got angry because my version of the story was nothing like that. Sparing you the ugly details what came next was the Grinchy shrinking,closing of my heart over the course of two years.
Never again did I voluntarily watch a romantic comedy or let a love song play all the way through on the radio. If I was outvoted by my more optimistic family and friends and found myself by default watching another feel good love story it was never without a snarky comment.Of course this comment was given at every opportune moment through the movie but I especially took pleasure in injecting some kind of sarcastic pessimistic commentary right as everyone else was on the brink of tears during the film lovers inevitable reunion - as drearily as possible Id say - " I bet he goes off to war and dies. or runs off with field nurse." .... At the risk of never being asked to the movies again, I privatized my strike on all things warm and fuzzy. Id get up and go to the bathroom, or get a snack, or fall asleep, twiddle my thumbs or tie my shoe - anything but sit and watch ... until tonight that is.
I don't know what came over me - I'm battling the flu and maybe I took too many extra strength Tylenol - but tonight I sat and watched a romantic comedy on TV, without anyone else to force me into it. I watched "the Holiday" - starring, ironically - Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz. The revolutionary thing is ... not only did I watch,but I felt something NOT irritation or disgust.I said "awww" at all the cheesy kissing. When Cameron Diaz's character leaves London and the handsome Jude Law behind I rooted for her to turn around and go back ... "Is she crazy!? go back and get yo man!" - after the credits rolled, everyone was together and happy and loving each other, dog and all ... I had, dare I say it - a warm and fuzzy feeling. I'm gettin' soft.
It occurred to me that in the past few months, I've re-added the "love songs" station to my Pandora Radio account. I've attended several weddings. I've now watched my first full length romantic comedy since 2010. Before you jump to any conclusions I'm still single haha - All the more amazing. Love conquers all, I guess - the stubborn,the brokenhearted, the pessimistic - and even the Grinch.
