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ENLARGE
I stumbled on “Sleepless in Seattle” the other day. The '90s romantic comedy had me wondering.
What would I do without chick flicks?
The thought probably never crosses most guys' minds. Maybe not all guys. I don't know what I'd do without NFL football. So who's to say men don't love a little chick flick action every now and again?
And not that kind of action.
I once spent 12-plus hours watching Lifetime Television with my friend Deja during my funk in Flagstaff. So the importance of films made especially for women obviously serve their purpose. I at least came out of the situation more in tune with my needs.
I discovered I don't need much, besides a TV, to blow off an entire day.
One of my favorites from the Lifetime overdose is the movie “Ice Princess,” starring Hayden Panettiere. This was prior to Hayden becoming an A-lister on “Heroes.” Ms. Panettiere plays a figure skater who helps a fellow skater go from “scholastic to fantastic,” according to the movie's tagline. Since when is scholastic not fantastic anyway?
Since Barbie declared math is hard, I guess.
There's nothing like a total makeover in a chick flick to help us all realize our potential as women. And with lines such as, “She's got eyes in the back of her horns,” and “You know, I may not be as smart as you are, but I'm not an idiot,” what more does a girl need to rid herself of the boy blues? It may sound silly, but movies with simple plots, unlikely love interests and sick figure skating moves can make me forget about my woes.
At least for 98 minutes.
That's how lost I became when I rediscovered the magic that is “Sleepless in Seattle.” After throwing on some unflattering PJs, wrapping up in a soft blanket and going sedentary on the couch, an unbelievable romantic scenario unfolded before my eyes. Who hears the sound of someone's voice on the radio and knows he is her destiny? Who meets their soul mates, for the first time, on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day?
Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, that's who.
They could give even the worst of relationship murderers hope. These two have so much unbelievable chemistry they made another romantic comedy in the '90s, “You've Got Mail.”
That's back when it was a big deal to get an e-mail.
Whether it's “Four Christmases,” “Family Stone” “Dirty Harry” or “Sex and the City,” the chick flick, especially when the holidays aren't so jolly, has comforting qualities. Typically, except in the case of “Dirty Harry,” the women in chick flicks band together to overcome adversity. In “Sleepless in Seattle,” Meg Ryan and Rosie O'Donnell make quite the pair to meet the widowed Tom Hanks, whose son calls in a radio show to talk about needing a new mom. In other chick flicks, “Mamma Mia” comes to mind, they break into song which always works for me when I need to get the guy.
That is so not true, but I can still dream about a voice like the women of Abba.
I think what I like most about chick flicks is that ladies always prevail. Look at “Dirty Dancing.” Nobody put Baby in the corner, and we all grew up to be independent women for it. I like to imagine all it takes is one look — like Tom Hanks gave Meg Ryan at the airport in “Sleepless” — to end up on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day with the same outcome. Or maybe just one steamy summer night, like Danny and Sandy had in “Grease,” to drive away in a car that flies on graduation day wearing hot pants next to a cute guy in a leather jacket. See, anything can happen in a chick flick.
Tell me more, tell me more.
April E. Clark is relying on romantic comedies for inspiration lately, but is mesmerized by the trailer for “Brothers.” She can be reached at aclark@postindepdent.com.
What would I do without chick flicks?
The thought probably never crosses most guys' minds. Maybe not all guys. I don't know what I'd do without NFL football. So who's to say men don't love a little chick flick action every now and again?
And not that kind of action.
I once spent 12-plus hours watching Lifetime Television with my friend Deja during my funk in Flagstaff. So the importance of films made especially for women obviously serve their purpose. I at least came out of the situation more in tune with my needs.
I discovered I don't need much, besides a TV, to blow off an entire day.
One of my favorites from the Lifetime overdose is the movie “Ice Princess,” starring Hayden Panettiere. This was prior to Hayden becoming an A-lister on “Heroes.” Ms. Panettiere plays a figure skater who helps a fellow skater go from “scholastic to fantastic,” according to the movie's tagline. Since when is scholastic not fantastic anyway?
Since Barbie declared math is hard, I guess.
There's nothing like a total makeover in a chick flick to help us all realize our potential as women. And with lines such as, “She's got eyes in the back of her horns,” and “You know, I may not be as smart as you are, but I'm not an idiot,” what more does a girl need to rid herself of the boy blues? It may sound silly, but movies with simple plots, unlikely love interests and sick figure skating moves can make me forget about my woes.
At least for 98 minutes.
That's how lost I became when I rediscovered the magic that is “Sleepless in Seattle.” After throwing on some unflattering PJs, wrapping up in a soft blanket and going sedentary on the couch, an unbelievable romantic scenario unfolded before my eyes. Who hears the sound of someone's voice on the radio and knows he is her destiny? Who meets their soul mates, for the first time, on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day?
Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, that's who.
They could give even the worst of relationship murderers hope. These two have so much unbelievable chemistry they made another romantic comedy in the '90s, “You've Got Mail.”
That's back when it was a big deal to get an e-mail.
Whether it's “Four Christmases,” “Family Stone” “Dirty Harry” or “Sex and the City,” the chick flick, especially when the holidays aren't so jolly, has comforting qualities. Typically, except in the case of “Dirty Harry,” the women in chick flicks band together to overcome adversity. In “Sleepless in Seattle,” Meg Ryan and Rosie O'Donnell make quite the pair to meet the widowed Tom Hanks, whose son calls in a radio show to talk about needing a new mom. In other chick flicks, “Mamma Mia” comes to mind, they break into song which always works for me when I need to get the guy.
That is so not true, but I can still dream about a voice like the women of Abba.
I think what I like most about chick flicks is that ladies always prevail. Look at “Dirty Dancing.” Nobody put Baby in the corner, and we all grew up to be independent women for it. I like to imagine all it takes is one look — like Tom Hanks gave Meg Ryan at the airport in “Sleepless” — to end up on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day with the same outcome. Or maybe just one steamy summer night, like Danny and Sandy had in “Grease,” to drive away in a car that flies on graduation day wearing hot pants next to a cute guy in a leather jacket. See, anything can happen in a chick flick.
Tell me more, tell me more.
April E. Clark is relying on romantic comedies for inspiration lately, but is mesmerized by the trailer for “Brothers.” She can be reached at aclark@postindepdent.com.
