Really, I'm not complaining!

[AndyC]

I know this scenario will be familiar to many of you.

Last week, my wife and I got talking about 80s movies, and she found out I'd never seen Dirty Dancing or Flashdance. She decided I absolutely needed to see these movies. This was such a reversal of what normally happens that I went right out and rented both, along with Footloose for good measure.

It was a lot of fun. Of course, I had to guess at just how the story would go, and predict what role each character was to play. I pointed out that the common thread of these movies seemed to be a class struggle - poor kid teaches rich kid how to have fun (or what dancing is all about) while rich kid teaches poor kid self respect, and that people are not all bad. Usually the adults and friends have a lesson to learn about judging a book by its cover. The movies also play on the fantasies of teenage girls. You can dance at a professional level with a few days' teaching. You can bypass years of lessons if you just feel the music. Not all that different from the movies that had teenage boys beating the commies.

My wife defended the movies, of course. "It's not that formulaic, just give it a chance." She thought I wasn't enjoying myself.

I had to explain that it was all part of my enjoyment. These movies are fun and entertaining. They are also cheesy, unrealistic, and very much a product of the time they were made. I wasn't complaining, I was just enjoying them to the fullest, savouring the bad with the good. I thought she understood that, but I guess she thought it was only appropriate for clearly awful movies. She accepted my explanation nonetheless.

Anybody else have this problem?

[Scott]

Well, they are kinda like girl films with the dancing and all, but they are enjoyably good films. For me I wouldn't watch them twice.

Your situation is kinda like a guy trying to show his wife the greatness of a Spaghetti Western. All that fun macho stuff the girls can't relate too.

[AndyC]

That's true, but she was also poking fun at some of the cheesiness, just not to the same degree.

Really, what interested me most was the misinterpretation of my comments. How often have you tried to relate the delightfully cheesy aspects of a movie to somebody, only to have them think you hated it because you find so much fault with it?

[Scott]

They just don't understand. : ) I tried showing my wife FOOD OF THE GODS. It started out ok and then the guy goes into the barn and is pecked by a giant chicken and she just turned and looked at me. It was a classic moment and I didn't try to explain it to her.



Post Edited (07-20-04 12:45)

[Acidburn]

Actually Footloose is one of my favorite movies and dirty dancing is one of my wifes favorites.  So I get to watch both of them quite often.  

Jump Back!!!!

[Scott]

The best dance movie is ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. It's just a jump to the left.

[odinn7]

I understand exactly. Anything I watch, I tear up and find fault with. My wife gets so mad at me and tells me that I hate everything. I have tried to explain to her numerous times that this is how I enjoy movies...she just doesn't get it. Dumb broad... :- )



Post Edited (07-20-04 14:03)

[Scott]

Well, I'm not criitcal of a film unless it is down right boring. I like wackiness or neat stuff in film and get a kick at how they came up with such stuff weather by accident or on purpose. I'm generally positive about most things even so called "bad" things.



Post Edited (07-20-04 15:55)

[Susan]

AndyC wrote:
 pointed out that the common thread of these movies
> seemed to be a class struggle - <<

That pretty much sums up most 80's movies. particularly the Pretty in pink, breakfast club type movies. The 80's was all about the working class vs the yuppies

Btw yes i have your problem. the whole FUN of watching a movie is to be able to critique it to the fullest. That makes it fun. When I do that I have people say "why didn't you like the movie? Why are you so critical?" Because i'm a critic at heart and...i never said i didn't LIKE the movie.

Some movies I like because they're good. Some I like because they're bad. And some I don't like, but I love that it made me anxious to rip it apart. Anything that makes me indifferent should have never been made.



Post Edited (07-20-04 17:42)

[Kory]

Now now, don't totally generalize girls vs guys.  I'd take a spaghetti western or a Bruce Campbell flick ANY DAY over a chick flick.  ANY DAY!!

Just know that we're out there...

[Newt]

I have a similar problem with my hubby - he does not like it when I predict what comes next in a movie we are watching.  (Sometimes they are so formulaic, the action or lines MUST be what they must be.)  He thinks I am bashing his movie.  I will speak the (required!) next line for one of the actors, or say "this is where he (insert action here)" and giggle myself silly when it DOES happen.  It's FUN - but hubby does not see it that way.  

What I don't get is how he can consider the things I say to be 'spoilers' of a sort....duh!