Weren't the Oscars grand? All that song and dance just made you feel like a kid again. Hugh Jackman's opening number also probably reminded you that you never saw The Reader. Well, let me save you the trouble: the film wasn't re-writing history. What you expected should happen at the end of the Nuremberg Trials is exactly what happens. Supwise! So it's officially time to move into the lighter fare of springtime. Whether your lady wants to see Jonas Brothers: the 3D Concert Experience or rent HSM3 (both are STELLAR options), let this be the one-stop guide to discovering The Chick Flick: your girl’s best friend (and the window to the inner girl in you).
The title of this week's post might be a bit misleading. I'm not writing much about Madea, despite the fact that she probably deserves to go to jail by now. What I will reflect on briefly, however, is the fact that, despite the huge success of Tyler Perry's admittedly puerile films, Hollywood is still systematically disconnected from awareness of the draw of the ethnic audience. Word on the street is that Perry is now making plans to take his franchise global. So we're no more in a post-Medea America than we are in a post-racial America, despite the fact that Barack Obama is king.
But separate from the Madea franchise, there is, historically, some great girl cinema with predominantly colored casts. What happened to the days of Waiting to Exhale (which hey, I didn't know at the time, was directed by Forest Whitaker) and What's Love Got to Do with It? And remember How Stella Got Her Groove Back? (A lot of sex with Taye Diggs, that's how!) Now, it's been re-made by Lifetime with Heather Locklear seducing a--supwise--young, white man (the delicious Robert Buckley), and it's called Flirting with Forty. I'm pretty sure it has aired every weekend since it's December release date. Apparently, a lot of women want to flirt once they're forty. But...come on, why the whitening treatment?
This all, in case you were wondering, is coming off the heels of my belated realisation that He's Just Not That Into Monogamy, my GBF from three weeks ago, boasted some starkly uni-color casting, give or take a couple gay men and chatty interview women. I kind of assumed the film was attempting to be representative of the spectrum of modern dating experiences in America...and perhaps I was giving it too much credit there...but having actually quite enjoyed the film, I now am left wondering: Where are the interracial relationships? Why no Blasian babies?
In revolt against this ever-expanding romcom norm, therefore, I'd like you and your lover to consider re-visiting some ethnically and culturally colored romantic classics of the recent past. Beyond the three I've listed above, please consider the following rentals:
VOLVER (2006)
Why I'm recommending it: Single, strong-willed, Spanish females.
What you'll say recommends it:
- Pedro Almodovar directed it.
- Penelope was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her role in this film.
- The entire female cast won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.
- You don't watch enough films with subtitles these days.
What you might really be thinking: Penelope is hot.
What your girl might be thinking: Penelope is hot.
HITCH (2005)
Why I'm recommending it: Look at that; a bi-racial couple.
What you'll say recommends it:
- It's kind of the guy's version of He's Just Not That Into (Talking to) You
- #1 performing box-office romantic comedy of 2005.
- It's a Will Smith movie, and it can't be any worse than Wild, Wild West.
What you might really be thinking: Eva Mendes!
What your girl might be thinking: You could use some dating training.
LOVE & BASKETBALL (2000)
Why I'm recommending it: Sports + sex; what's not to love?
What you'll say recommends it:
- Sports + sex; what's not to love?
- It's better than Something New (sorry, Simon Baker), but it still has Sanaa Lathan.
What you might really be thinking: Window into the pro-basketball possibilities you failed to pursue early in life.
What your girl might be thinking: Yeah, right.
L'AUBERGE ESPAGNOLE (2002)
Why I'm recommending it: A stew of European young adults living the good life.
What you'll say recommends it:
- Cedric Klapisch is a phenomenal director. Romain Duris is a great actor.
- Audrey Tautou is in it. Remember her? From Amelie?
- Again, a +1 to your effort to enjoy reading subtitles.
- The entire film is a metaphor for the formation of the European Union, so it's almost like a history lesson. And it is, in fact, an apt look at European education, careers and the crooked path it takes to get through either.
What you might really be thinking: Audrey Tautou-la-la.
What your girl might be thinking: New summer plan: vacation to Barcelona!
IMAGINE ME & YOU (2005)
Why I'm recommending it: Lovely little lesbian love story (ack! over-kill on the alliteration...), despite the lack of an ethnically diverse cast.
What you'll say recommends it:
- 10th highest grossing rom-com of 2006, for what that's worth.
- Features Piper Parabo doing a fantastic British accent. Features Matthew Goode being a fantastic British man.
- It's not easy coming out...and there's something you've been meaning to tell her....
What you might really be thinking: Don't see nearly enough lesbians on the HDTV these days.
What your girl might be thinking: Yeah, right.
WHY DID I GET MARRIED?
Why I'm recommending it: Since Tyler Perry was my tipping point, thought I should offer something he did...and until the most recent Madea Goes to Jail, this was his best-performing film.
What you'll say recommends it:
- The only two rom-coms that outpaced it in 2007 were Knocked Up and Enchanted, and you already saw both of those (thus becoming, to this day, a lovable mix of McDreamy and Seth Rogen).
- Based on Tyler Perry's stage play of the same name. Love the theatre, but a DVD is easier to bring home with you.
- Addresses a very key relationship question.
What you might really be thinking: Hopefully will answer said question, for the sake of your future relationship(s).
What your girl might be thinking: Are you trying to tell her something?
You know what I notice? Quite simply, as evidenced by HJNTIY, many films before it, and even some of the choices I've listed above, most romantic comedies are more than a little "uni-colored." It is reflective of America, where most couples are still of the same demographic, be that racial, social, monetary, ethnic or religious. I live in a city, so I see more mixing around me, but let's face it--we're usually attracted to those that look like us. Romantic comedies display that. And except for movie stars like Will Smith or, I suppose, Simon Baker, who have managed to cross the color line, most audiences don't want to see mainstream mixing. Why hasn't that changed? Clearly, the need for Madea has not yet diminished.
Well, at any rate, should you pick one of these GBF's to watch this weekend, let me know your thoughts. And if you have other mainstream movies (or those of the wide-released-via-art house persuasion) that you feel have Will Smith'd the big screen, let me know. I'm curious.
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