The Chick Flick Is The Modern Fairy Tale
Of course I’m pretty much bedridden with this chickenpox and it’s actually a dream come true for a bookworm/tv addict/movie junkie like me.
Done the Star Wars saga, and happily settled in to watch some of the lengthier movies I usually don’t have time for like Shawshank Redemption and Emma, and some I haven’t had patience for like Fight Club and Burlesque.
God, I finally finished that one with a bit of fastforwarding through too many leg-opening scenes and ear- and head-splitting vocal acrobatics! I wish I could say I enjoyed it more but I can’t. Sorry, girls, not my cup of tea.
I did, on the other hand, enjoy Fight Club surprisingly. I’ve seen the rave reviews but had kept putting it off based on my initial impression that it’s just too much, well, fighting.
But of course, to those in the know, it’s actually a great story and that obviously got me through so much violence for over an hour which I’m usually not able to stomach.
I do like some action when it’s in context (hence my affinity for the superhero and sci-fi genres).
So after all that serious stuff (including a few re-runs of my favourite Oprah, Dr. Oz, Martha Stewart, The View shows), time to turn my attention to that old familiar friend of mine – the chick flick!
Apparently, a genre started by Love Story starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal (this bit of trivia I got from when Ali McGraw guested on Oprah in her last season).
Aaah, so nice to settle in and get sucked into the world of Noah and Allie and all the other star-crossed lovers in my humble little film library.
THE MODERN FAIRY TALE
Makes me wonder what a chick like me would do back in, say, the middle ages. Settle in to a book (if at all) from the Brothers Grimm collection and get lost in the stories of Snow White and her kin? I wonder.
I guess the good thing is that they knew they were tales, i.e. not true and will never happen in real life.
I think we’re actually disadvantaged compared to our sisters of old because most of us, at one time or another, may have actually believed that these stories could happen in our lives.
That when we look at our pitiful, ordinary lives, we are somehow less for not having the oh-so-romantic husband/boyfriend or that serendipitous turn of events that led us (or will lead us) to our greatest love.
Gah! Please! Take it from someone who met her first love at 17, married him at 19 and is still married to him 16 years later. It’s ain’t true. It’s a fairy tale.
Relationships are hard work, you are not always lookin as hot as the heavily styled leading lady (especially when you have the chickenpox), and your guy will never (read: n-e-v-e-r) be able to read your mind nor come up with that grand romantic gesture that would seal your love forever (ever, ever, ever!).
THE SEASONS OF LOVE
Okay, maybe I’m just a bit too cynical given that hubby and I are in the middle of raising our 3 kids (aged 13, 10 and 4) so I’ll tone that down a bit and say this instead: love has its seasons.
Right now, we’re in the ‘planting’ season where managing a household, raising smart, responsible and kind children, and making the most of our productive work years are all top priority.
We have moments of enjoying what we’ve planted, like our eldest kid’s primary school graduation or the errant family holidays we take whenever we can.
But for the most part, budget is tight, schedules are frantic and our bodies are dog-tired at the end of most days.
I can say this for myself, in all honesty, it takes a lot of prayer, meditation, trial and error to be patient, kind, gentle and beautiful for my husband.
And I can also say that most of the time, I am the one who sets the tone for whatever little interaction will happen for us in our day. So if I start out cranky, our day will likely have a negative vibe unless I change my tune.
I used to think it was such a responsibility to have this but now I realize I just have that much influence over my husband and ultimately my family in my role as wife and mother.
EVERY FILM LIVES IN ITS OWN LITTLE WORLD
So the end of the matter is don’t be fooled. Most chick flicks will only show the dramatic moments, and will likely linger on the season of love when all is rosy and romantic.
Just enjoy the story for what it is, and suspend your animation willingly, and then happily plunge back into your own world after the film.
Because in your world, especially if you’re a mom and wife, you set the tone.
You can write the script (or at least make sure it doesn’t have any foul words in it), design the set (yes that means cleaning up and cooking dinner), and pretty much direct the show with your energy (if you’re cranky, all your ‘actors’ will be cranky so the opposite will also prove true).
And then you can live happily ever after (sigh).
