There's something about March. When it comes to taking out that special ladybird, there are usually just as many girlie movies that get released in March as during the month of love. But it's sunnier outside, a little bit warmer. And you don't have to buy a diamond necklace to compliment those ticket stubs. I'd guess men with better halves dig this month more than February. So if you're planning on a date at the cinema to celebrate the other month of love, let this be your one-stop guide to choosing the right chick flick: your girl’s best friend (and your guilty pleasure).
This week, we've got a special serving of cinematic romance. First course is the Julia Roberts-Clive Owen starrer, Duplicity, which unites the two familiar hotties for the first time since 2004's Closer, a much darker character study that involved the awkward line, "He tasted like you but sweeter." In Duplicity, the two are con artists in cahoots to scam big who instead end up gaming each other, simply for the sweet pursuit of extended screen time and hijinks. The film is starting to be called a test to see if Julia, who has been raising a child and playing house for a while now, can still hold a box office ransom with her smile. Reviews so far are middling to favorable; I'm sure Mrs. Moder will do quite fine.
But our weekend meal doesn't stop there. Second course is a helping from a platter that's gotten very popular over the last few years--the guy's chick flick. The gick flick, if you will. Well, wait--just did a Google search, and apparently 'gick' is Irish slang for 'shit.' I guess we need a new name...how about Mangina Movie? Defining it now: a MANGINA MOVIE (man + vagina + movie) is a comedic chick flick made for guys. In short, it focuses on a male lead having female problems and overcoming them using both typical female and uncustomary male wiles. In long, it also usually has the crass humor and off-color set pieces that guys tend to enjoy in standard comedies coupled with a love story that guys and girls alike can appreciate. After watching once, men can re-watch mangina movies ad infinitum, claiming they "loved the jokes," when really, a little part of them blossoms into happiness every time they see their bumbling hero learn to love by credits' end.
40 Year Old Virgin is a mangina movie. Knocked Up is a mangina movie. So is Anchorman; so is Superbad...in fact, almost anything produced by Judd Apatow and/or featuring Paul Rudd = MANGINA MOVIE. (And though it doesn't fit this rule: Wedding Crashers? Full of mangina.) But they are all--every single one of them--fantastic. Utterly and almost unerringly lovable. That includes this week's plate #2: I Love You, Man (no, not produced by Apatow but yes, featuring Mr. Yaeger-né-Rudd).
Why she might want to see Duplicity: It's the British lover syndrome. A girl can but dream (and if she closes one eye, hey, maybe Clive is speaking just to her).
Why you might want to see I Love You, Man: Are you kidding? Paul Rudd finally getting a real chance to carry a comedy, and then there are fart jokes, and there's Lou Ferrigno, and there's a little dog, some guitar playing and a masturbation chair, plus Jon Favreau talking dirty to Jaime Pressley, not to mention the shrimp joke from the trailer, and the hot-dog eating and the male bonding, and the pet names and the, the, the...MANGINA.
Why you should both see both: I'll give you five reasons.
1. Who doesn't love a double-feature?
2. So you can both appreciate the term 'slapping the bass'
3. You've both wondered what became of that Mr. and Mrs. Smith sequel
4. Jason Segal & Tom Wilkinson, respectively
5. You were already seventeen once...so do you really want to see 17 Again?
Really, it isn't--and shouldn't be--a contest. There haven't been too many weekends (if any yet) this year that featured multiple, agreeable popcorn flicks that both sexes can enjoy. I'm excited to see Duplicity, and having already seen I Love You, Man, I can tell you that movie is FUNNY. So go. Run, I say. And start early: many theatres offer recession-friendly prices for first showings of the day, even on the weekends.
Now, if you're feeling really ambitious, I would encourage a look at that Zac Efron flick. It looks cute, he is cute, and the movie is family-friendly. But warning: I can't promise it's mangina-free.
