Category: Alternate Reality

Since the beginning of moving pictures (ok, the 1940’s), we have been sold (force-fed, even) on the notion of relationships built from the magnetism of opposites attracting. For example:

The Shop Around the Corner • Sabrina • Arthur • Can’t Buy Me Love • Say Anything • When Harry Met Sally • Pretty Woman • Curly Sue • He Said, She Said • Housesitter • Dirty Dancing • French Kiss • Top Gun • The American President • Tin Cup • The Bodyguard • You’ve Got Mail • Clueless • Runaway Bride • Save The Last Dance • Maid in Manhattan (yes, I’ve actually watched this!) • Love Actually • Knocked Up …

This list is obviously not conclusive but for some reason does house a lot of Meg Ryan. Can anyone say “movie formula“?

And now, recent movie releases like “Management” and “The Proposal” keep knocking the nails into the coffin. Is it as simple as profitable comedic opportunities? Is it capitalising on the voyeuristic nature of wanting to see a collision course? Is it like the curiousity of wanting to see the offspring of mixed parentage?

Differences do intrigue more than the similarities but yet, in the situation – all you do are seek out the likeness. You could be in a relationship with someone vastly different and once you’re in it, you get more excited by the similarities rather than the disparities. I think this proves nothing more than opposites attract but likeness endures. 

Let’s call the whole thing off.

 

My first taste of Robert Downey Jr. came from the movie adaptation of Less Than Zero (which if I may say so, as a sidenote, is the only acceptable screen adaptation of a Bret Easton Ellis book. If you think American Psycho was done well, you obviously have not read the book). That being said, I don’t think it’s really possible to adapt an Ellis novel for screen holistically – he writes with such an intricacy of layers. I’m hopeful for The Informers – but I think they’re running out of Ellis novels already. I hope they make it as 80’s as possible – American Psycho didn’t quite capture the necessary 80’s vibe.

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Since then, he has featured in some of my all-time favourite movies, such as: Chances Are, Soapdish, Heart and Souls, Only You (seriously hilarious movie) as well as a bunch of Ally McBeal episodes. I even enjoyed Gothika. Then he did Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (which is definitely in my Top 15). His chemistry with Val Kilmer (who almost stole the show) as well as great intro sequence and typographic treatment made the whole movie a true viewing pleasure.

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He added a touch of satire to Zodiac, which was also a very well done movie, great acting.

And now, he’s everyone’s darling again – with Tropic Thunder, Ironman and (I wanna watch this one!) the upcoming Sherlock Holmes. I’m really happy for him – he’s been very open about his less than perfect life, which always lets people feel open about embracing him. He’s both so clearly flawed and talented – the ultimate push pull. Robert Downey Jr. still wholeheartedly has my heart.

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The day I watched Say Anything was the day I developed impossible ambitions (hopeless expectations) – the Lloyd Dobler Complex. Minus my obvious one sided love affair for John Cusack and passion for Cameron Crowe movies, Lloyd Dobler has to be one of the greatest romantic characters written.

Lloyd Dobler – the guy that everyone loves. His best friends are girls but he hangs with the guys equally as well. He looks out for Diane Court at the party, walks her home. He’s open about how crazy he is for her. He holds her face when he kisses her. He listens to her when she talks. And god bless his heart, he holds a boombox outside her window, playing Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” when she breaks up with him.

What goddamn horseshit. It’s characters like these (plus a great soundtrack) coupled with movie-obsessed personalities like mine that has led to the meaningless romanticising of the Valentine’s Day theory – “The One“. This great guy with the goods and packaging. In the formative years, they can be very misleading because you fail to realise that people write characters like these because they don’t exist. Not everyone can pull off trenchcoats.

And with that, I shall reluctantly release Lloyd Dobler to the past – I set you free and give you leave to go. Take Blane from Pretty in Pink with you.

Caught I Love You, Man last night (maybe a little late in the game) and trust me when I say the funniest parts were in the trailer. The best part however was not in the trailer and came in the form of Rush music featured and finally, a concert from The Band themselves. Good gracious. I almost pissed myself. (Love you, Neil!)

The movie however, lacked the dirty finesse of Apatow and instead, veered into slapstick land of farts, spew and poo. Jason Segel was not Russell Brand, rather, a sad verbal reminder of an Apatow film. Paul Rudd (God bless him, I’ve loved him since Clueless) completely overacted and the role written for was loose and overly white trying to be black. I’m not sure who even thinks that’s funny.

I’ll wait for Funny People.

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