Media Analysis: Relationships and Dating in Contemporary Film

Introduction:

On the silver-screen, dating and relationships typically always end with a fairytale sense of "and they lived happily ever-after" despite any and all conflicts that take place between the opening title and the closing credits. The most notorious of genres that demonstrate this ideology are the Romantic-Comedies and their subgenres which are often referred to as ‘Chick Flicks’. Although often very predictable and unoriginal in plot, these films seem to always garner a huge fan-following from their targeted audience (adult and teenage females) by following the very simple formula of: girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love, conflict, girl and boy split up, revelation, girl and boy get back together. One reason as to why these films achieve the fame that they do is simply because they give their viewers the happy endings and warm-fuzzy feelings that they paid for. However, not all Romantic-Comedies follow this formula and end with the audience “aww”-ing. Conversely, many recent films of this genre have taken a much more realistic approach to the world of dating within the last few years. This article will take a look at a few films that display traits of both the overly-optimistic and the more realistic view of dating and how they both have had a hand in shaping the way that we view dating in our society.


Optimistic Approaches to Dating and Relationships:

Music and Lyrics directed by Marc Lawrence (Warner Bros., 2007)

First and foremost, I have to admit that as corny, cheesy, and predictable as this film’s plot is, I actually really enjoyed watching it. Music and Lyrics is a Romantic-Comedy in its truest sense. It is a film that revolves around the notion that love conquers all obstacles while at the same time maintaining a light-hearted feeling throughout the story.

Music and Lyrics stars Hugh Grant as a near-has-been 80’s Pop Star named Alex Fletcher and Drew Barrymore as Sophie Fisher, an insecure housekeeper who has a knack for creative writing who was hired to tend to Fletcher’s home while he is away on tour; performing at high-school reunions, amusement parks and county fairs. Although Fletcher considers himself to be a music legend and pop icon, his fandom is increasingly diminishing. On the brink of depression, Fletcher manages to catch a break when a young, contemporary, pop princess named Cora Corman (Haley Bennette) commissions him to write a song entitled “A Way Back Into Love” for her upcoming album which he quickly agrees to write on the belief that it will jumpstart his dying career as a musician. Fletcher hits several roadblocks on his writing path and desperately coaxes Sophie into assisting him.

Throughout the course of the film, the two gradually become more and more infatuated with one another but seemed to be destined to fail because of Alex’s lust for re-attained fame. Sophie leaves Fletcher (with the finished song) but attends the concert in which their song will be unveiled. To her dismay, she notices that her name is left out of the billing for the song that Alex is to perform, thinking that he took full credit for the song, she becomes depressed but is instantly reassured by Alex’s performance of a brand new song that he had written himself in attempt to win her back. After a performance of “A Way Back Into Love” by Cora and Alex, the two songwriters embrace and the film ends happily.

As stated earlier, Music and Lyrics is a Romantic-Comedy to its very core. It manages to portray a love story with a comically light heart and follows the formula perfectly. Although this film is highly enjoyable to watch, it casts an unrealistic depiction of what romantic relationships are. The actions that take place onscreen are highly fictitious and unbelievable. Impractical love stories such as this one may have a harmful affect on the way viewers perceive their own relationships in real life. Those who are caught in a relationship that is most likely not bound to succeed, remain together merely on the hope that they will have a movie-script ending of their own.


Realistic Approaches to Dating and Relationships:

The Break-Up directed by Peyton Reed (Universal Pictures, 2006)

The Break-Up is an oddball of a Romantic-Comedy. Some have commented that it is neither romantic nor comical (Peter T. Chattaway, Christianity Today Magazine, 2006) while others just settle to say that it is more of a serious film with a comedic side that integrates romantic elements into the plot (Brandon Fibbs, brandonfibbs.com, 2006). Regardless of what critics say, this is a film that accurately demonstrates the harshness of a majority of real-life relationships. Nevertheless, don’t let these comments disinterest you from watching this movie; it has some pretty funny moments and it is unique in that it provides genuine entertainment for both men and women.

The plot follows the formula stated above but manages to cover the first two steps within the opening title and credits. Once the actual dialogues begin, it is evident that the two main characters, Gary Growbowski (Vince Vaughn) and Brooke Meyers (Jennifer Aniston), are as mismatched as two could be. Gary is selfish and flakey whereas Brooke is controlling and a perfectionist. The two constantly argue with one another and this leads them to the decision of splitting up despite some efforts shown by both sides to stay together.

As the story unfolds and the two leads become more and more vindictive towards each other, the film begins to become somewhat unpleasant to watch because of the realism shown in their arguments. At times, I even found myself recognizing some of my own faults in Vaughn’s role. However, just as in real life, conflict always has (at least) two sides. While being able to see myself in Gary’s shoes and reacting the way he does onscreen, I was also able to spot similarities and make connections between Brooke and certain people in my life. Due to the realistic approach to relationships that this film takes, viewers are given a chance to truly see themselves from an outside perspective. This rare opportunity allows us to analyze ourselves and our own relationships and to determine whether or not the current status that they are in is worth the effort of sacrificing time and energy or not.

The Break-Up is definitely not a typical Romantic-Comedy. There are instances in the film that lead you to believe that the two leading characters could actually get back together and work things out between themselves, but that would honestly leave me with a sense of disappointment from a film by this name. If first-time viewers are expecting a lovey-dovey story of two people in love, then they are definitely in for a huge surprise. Indeed this is an emotional roller-coaster of a film but unlike a majority of Romantic-Comedies out there, this ride lacks brakes and is on a collision course with a brick wall. Funny movie though. Go watch it.

- D.Ha