The Allure of Chick Lit, Chick Flicks, and other Chick-attracting things

chick flick n. A movie with themes, characters, or events that appeal more to women than to men (http://www.wordspy.com/words/chickflick.asp)

So, I spent my Saturday evening staying up to watch The Lake House. For my fellow chick flick fans, it's a good movie by the way. Anyway, I got to thinking while I was watching this thing... what is it with girls and their love for chick flicks? I mean, even the baddest girls around secretly have a favorite chick flick to call their own. And those girls who claim they don't? Well... I think they're lying.

I myself have tried to pretend that I do not share an affinity for this tear-jerking stuff. I mean, my favorite movie of all time is Seven, for crying out loud. Not exactly the most sensitive of movies ever made. But, time after time, I find myself at Hollywood Video debating over renting the latest action flick or the new chick flick. I seriously hold both the entire time I browse through the rest of the store... usually opting to get both when I finally let myself give in. So off I go... chick flick in hand... happily back to my apartment, with my ice cream and cosmopolitan mixer to spend a Saturday evening at home.

Well, tonight I think I finally let myself understand exactly what the power was that draws me to these movies. It's certainly not the acting... I mean, Keanu is nice to look at and all, but his acting skills give much to be desired. It's certainly not the soundtrack. Have you ever heard more whiny music in your life? You would think that breakup songs were written specifically for this purpose! And it's definitely not for the happy parts... they also call these movies tear-jerkers, after all. And I don't usually cry unless I'm sad.

No, I think it's more about the message of these crazy flicks that women like. Thelma and Louise showed how badass women could be. Fried Green Tomatoes makes you want to have a killer life in your youth, so you'll have awesome stories to tell when you are older. Bridget Jones makes you think, "Yes! I too can get Hugh Grant or Colin Firth! Chubby girls get some hot lovin' sometimes too!"

But there's a third part that none of us want to admit to... and since I know only 5 people are going to read this anyway, I might as well confess to it to. All people (men, this includes you too) want to know that romance and love still exist. You want the hope, at least, to stay alive. The news certainly doesn't help our hope any. Neither does daytime TV. But these dorky little movies... THESE, for some reason, help us to continue hoping for that real, core-shaking love. And, in my case... it's helped me to demand nothing less. Life is much too short to waste time on things that you don't feel passionately about. If you're going to be patient for something in this lifetime... why not love?