When I saw the trailer for The Vow, my heart immediately went mushy and I told everyone I knew that I had to go see this movie the day it came out. (For those of you wondering, it’s being released February 10th.) Starring the ever-fabulous Rachel McAdams and completely gorgeous Channing Tatum, the movie tells the story about what happens to a couple after one of them sustains a memory-erasing head injury. Epic? Yup. Dramatic? Sounds like it. Will I cry? You bet. And I’ll love every minute of it.
Inspired by my excitement for the release of The Vow, I collected the hottest (hottest!) pictures of my #1 celeb crush, Mr. Tatum himself. Feast your eyes and get ready to see more of him in a gooey, ultra-emotional, super romantic state when the movie premieres! Gah!
How is that we can roll our eyes over the most cliché romantic comedies and still fork over $12 (if you include a bag of Sour Patch Kids) to see the latest and greatest in rom-com cinema? Hollywood isn’t real life, but I can’t help but wonder what it would be like…
Bridesmaids has been rocking it in theaters, earning over $100 million dollars. (Sidenote: loved it when my guy friends were pretty open about the tough decision of choosing between Bridesmaids and The Hangover Part II.) For pretty much the first time ever, the chic flick wasn’t a romcom but just a shout out to ladies, a story about friendship and general hilarity. Because the movie did so well in theaters, Hollywood apparently has a whole slew of women’s interest movies coming up that also won’t be classified as a romcom. Don’t get me wrong, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days still ranks pretty high on my list of faves (Helloooo Mathew McConaughey) but there a lot of other issues that I’d like to see addressed.
1.) Pregnancy
Ridiculous cravings, outlandish tempers, and random bodily issues paired with baby showers, friends who drink without you and– oh yeah– that whole weight gain thing. Sounds like a recipe for success to me. Read More »
Now, normally I’m a tough movie critic, especially when it comes to movies which target women. Often those movies are predictable, one dimensional, and full of supposedly comedic moments which tend to fall flat. So when I went to see Bridesmaids, one of the most anticipated female movies in a long time, I was hopeful but also skeptical. The movie looked good but so do a lot of movies. I’d been tricked by trailers before. (I’m looking at you, Gigli!)
But you know what? Not this time. Bridesmaids and Kristen Wiig both lived up to the hype and I can say with complete honesty that Bridesmaids was genuinely one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. The characters were three dimensional. The plot made sense. The situations were relatable. And the comedy was there in every form, from sarcasm to slapstick. These women were not afraid to make you laugh, or to make themselves look like fools in the process. I’m not going to spoil it for you by giving you a scene by scene rundown of everything that happened, but I will give you a few teasers, and a few reasons why this movie is a must see for women everywhere.
1. It’s about fun. These women know how to laugh at themselves. From Annie and Lillian’s explicit rundown of Annie’s latest sexual escapades to the enthusiasm with which they plan their bachelorette party in Vegas to the actual plane ride to Vegas, these girls make each other laugh, and they make me laugh too. These women aren’t always calm, cool and collected, or the epitome of poise and elegance, but then again, neither are we and neither are most women. And it’s nice to see a comedy about women embracing that for a change.
2. It’s about friendships. Really, isn’t that what a bridal party is supposed to be? Your nearest and dearest BFFs all brought together because of their love for you? Sure, there are some hiccups along the way – like when Annie and Helen, who’s in the running for Lillian’s BFF, both refuse to let the other have the last word, resulting in the two of them breaking out into song. Or when Annie throws a fit and the very expensive bridal shower Helen throws for Lillian. But at the end of the day these women care about each other, and that really shines through. Read More »
Because I spent kindergarten through 8th grade at a single-sex school, I didn’t have too many interactions with guys until I was about 14. That means that for much of my life, most of the stuff I “knew” about people with Y-chromosomes came from poring over the pages of mags like Seventeen and Glamour.
Maybe that’s why for nearly a decade and a half, I was under the impression that boys were an entirely different species that thought and acted in ways totally opposite from those of women. I had no idea how to talk to dudes because I figured that I could have absolutely nothing in common with any of them. They were from Mars, and I was from Venus; they got mini-Hotmobiles in their Happy Meals while I had to make due with miniature Barbie dolls. As far as I knew, that was just the way the world worked.
Since then, of course, I’ve learned that guys and girls really aren’t that dissimilar. Sure, maybe they’re more likely to enjoy movies that feature explosions and we’re more likely to watch anything starring Meryl Streep, but real people prove that even such widely agreed-upon stereotypes have plenty of exceptions—especially since those old clichés also assume that all men and women are hetero.
But even though dudes and chicks can’t actually be separated into two conflicting groups, magazines still insist on bifurcating men and women into opposing sides. Hell, the entire women’s magazine industry is predicated on the assumption that all men behave the same way—and that women can only understand men if they read publications that promise to decode their mystifying manners. Read More »
I was a huge Disney princess fan growing up; I had the Sleeping Beauty sleeping bag, I dressed up as Belle for Halloween…every year, and I even still know all the songs by heart. And can occasionally be heard singing them in the shower. Recently, as yet another way to procrastinate studying for my finals, my suitemates and I Netflixed the Disney version of Cinderella and spent a girls night enjoying one of the greatest classics of all time.
Much like the Golden Girls and The Simpsons, looking at one of my favorite childhood movies from a slightly more mature perspective was a completely new experience. I was alarmed by some of the things I saw. No, there weren’t any dirty jokes that once went over my head, but there were some seriously flawed messages being conveyed to the young and impressionable viewers. One, that evil people all have really big butts. The other, Disney’s very jaded, very antiquated definition of success for a woman.
At the end of any princess movie (or romantic comedy, for that matter) the girl is successful because she gets the guy. It doesn’t matter how awesome her life was before (Hello, Ariel was a princess and got to live under da sea!), she isn’t successful unless someone’s put a ring on it.
I hate the idea that success for women is defined simply by meeting the man who can make everything better. And I hate that I spent a good chunk of my life buying into that crap. As a single lady in the 21st century, I very much believe that before you can fall in love with someone else, you have to know and be confident in who you are. That’s what a healthy relationship develops from. And that confidence is what ultimately leads to a woman’ success, married or not. Read More »
With the exception of a short love affair that ended via email (which the boy addressed to Natalie), I’ve been single for a long three years. And I’ve been totally OK with that for the most part. I’ve really gotten to figure myself out; my good qualities (I’m incredibly generous to those I love) and my not-so-good qualities (I’m what some people might refer to as a judgmental bitch).
While finding a boyfriend has always been on my “things that would be nice” list (along with winning the lottery and looking like Rachel Bilson), it was never something that I was actively seeking. I don’t mind spending time by myself. I don’t mind making independent decisions. I don’t mind doing everything I want, including watching The Hills in my underwear while eating a bowl of Kashi Go Lean Crunch.
But last night, as I was doing just that, something happened. When Justin Bobby handed Kristin his rocker leather coat and snuggled up to her as they watched the sunset I actually started crying. Yes, crying. Over an annoying fake couple on a bullsh*t show.
“I want that,” I thought to myself, as I used my sleeve to wipe snot from my upper lip.
My reaction surprised me. I had no idea how badly I wanted a boyfriend, but the tears-turned-deep-sobbing were telling another story. And then I realized that there were many other aspects of my life that were equally as telling.
Yeah, after taking a deeper look, I’ve realized that I am most definitely ready for a boyfriend. And by “ready,” I mean, “I’m sick of watching Sunday night TV alone and I need someone to play with my hair while I lay on their lap…now.”
Not sure if you’re ready? Here are a few tell-tale signs your jonesing for a BF: Read More »
Maybe it’s not the nights that will get me, but rather the entire days. This morning I read the newspaper (again), and I can’t decide if I feel 55 and retired, or 15 with a current event quiz looming.
I did get some comforting feedback from this little “project” today though, by a few friends who I met for lunch, informing me that maybe I am not the only romance addict out there — that maybe it’s an entire generation of twenty-somethings raised on Disney movies, and coming of age with hundreds of rom-coms (romantic comedies). While it is encouraging to hear I am not alone in this thought process, I would like to ask, is everyone else as hung up on this stuff as I am? (seriously, looking for feedback here…)
I have been able to hold out strong thus far, though, it was my trip to the gym where I was really shaken. I love going to the gym; since I don’t have cable I usually can catch up on a few terrible/wonderful (depending on if you are honest enough to admit you watch them) shows while working out. Read More »
As a little girl, when my parents wanted a little quiet time, instead of popping in a Wee-Sing video they put on Dirty Dancing or Grease. By the time I was eight I could recite every line. And while the abortion references escaped me, the whole good girl can change a bad boy idea did not.
I got older and my favorites gravitated towards Pretty Woman, Cruel Intentions, 10 Things I Hate About You, and as a result, I have suffered a life-long affliction with bad boys.
Not the bad boy in the sense that they served jail time, smacked me around or started bar fights. No, they were bad boys in the sense that they were bad for me, and I stuck around like a barnacle on a humpback trying my best to fix him (you know, just like I learned from Julia, and the rest of the girls..)
It is a classic formula, the one I equate to my relationships: one bad boy with a fatal flaw (every ex I’ve ever had) + one good girl (me) + an undeserving amount of love, support and patience that will change them into the perfect man (the problem) = reality.
Case and point: The cheater, a repeat offender. The boyfriend, did not believe in romance – an obvious problem for a girl who believes the premise of The Notebook is not asking too much. The real bad-boy, with regular altercations with the law and other bad-boys. And, the self-proclaimed “laid back” boyfriend, too laid back for a job or to be counted on. Read More »
Now, normally I’m a tough movie critic, especially when it comes to movies which target women. Often those movies are predictable, one dimensional, and full of supposedly comedic moments which tend to fall flat. So when I went to see Bridesmaids, one of the most anticipated female movies in a long time, I was hopeful but also skeptical. The movie looked good but so do a lot of movies. I’d been tricked by trailers before. (I’m looking at you, Gigli!)
Because I spent kindergarten through 8th grade at a single-sex school, I didn’t have too many interactions with guys until I was about 14. That means that for much of my life, most of the stuff I “knew” about people with Y-chromosomes came from poring over the pages of mags like Seventeen and Glamour.
How to Screw Up the First Date
Why Jennifer Lawrence is the Coolest Actress Ever
Men in Black Take on The Avengers
Jeopardy Without Trebek?!
Stop Sleeping With Your Ex!
