Recently I (against my better judgment) watched the movie "Eat, Pray, Love," based on the book of the same name. It was what I expected--not bad, not great, decent Friday night entertainment (particularly when paired with a glass of wine--fine, TWO--and a loaf of bread). The funny part to me is that I have a very good friend who really did do that. She decided her life was better spent traveling the world, so she quit her job and is doing just that. Rock star.
But there is something nagging at me about the film. At the end of the movie (if you haven't seen it and don't want me to "give it away" quit reading...go ahead, I'll wait...you gone? ok) Julia Roberts' character, after months of debating what she will do when her "real life" resumes, runs off with the hot Brazilian. Yay. Very happy for her. And in fairness, it wasn't an easy decision for the character. Whatever.
So my question is this--is there a happy ending for women who DON'T get rescued by some guy? Because if there is, I'm not seeing it celebrated. It just seems to me that our reflection of the world doesn't include happy ever after, unless you are in a "perfect" relationship. Well, I don't know about you, but I have yet to see that relationship in the flesh. Moreover, as someone who would desperately love to be rescued out of the money hell in which I am currently finding myself, I despise the fact that the solution seems to be marrying the first guy on Match.com who is desperate for an adorable kid and a decent (the past years have been tough) looking wife. My insurance problems would go away. That whole "how do I feed my kid this month" thing would, as well. So why is that the solution? I hear you--it's not. But then why is it celebrated as such?
It just irks me that Julia Roberts is pushing the end-all solution of "find a guy"! Excellent, I'll get right on that. In the meantime, all of you married folks, congratulations on your lives being perfect. Wait, what, they're NOT? Better call Hollywood....
Go rent Blue Valentine. You will happy to be single!
ReplyDeleteHave i ever mentioned that I HATE the book Eat, Pray, Love??? That woman annoyed me from start to finish. . .
ReplyDeleteThat said, I think looking at men as rescuers is part of the problem. Aren't they all just a bit too needy and childish to actually be a hero on a white horse??? ;)
In fact, you should realize that your son is at the peak of his maturity until he reaches your dad's age?? (j/k!)
And if that doesn't work, the fall back is, "The Good Girl." That will make you fall to your knees, thankful, that you are single :)
ReplyDeleteI had the same problem with the book and movie. I just did not feel that the ending was a "happy" one. The whole premise of the book is that the author loses herself in relationships and travels the world to discover who she is when not defined by the man in her life. 2/3 of the way through her trip, she gets wrapped up in some guy, drops everything she planned to do in this location, despite the fact that other people were involved in those plans, and ran off with him. So clearly, she learned nothing. She just found yet another relationship to lose herself in. Quite disappointing, if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Emily. You summed it up perfectly!!
ReplyDelete