Its been a few years, but I still remember the day that I accidentally watched one of my (now) favorite movies. I was wasting away my afternoon in bed with Netflix and soup, and after telling myself that I needed to get up (multiple times), I accidentally hit play on "Comet".
A few minutes in, and I was hooked; my afternoon was done for, and I settled into the idea of continuing my Netflix marathon.
Between the lineup of Justin Long and Emmy Rossum and the premise of love and parallel universes, "Comet" reeled me in quickly. But what I loved most about this movie was the painfully realistic quotes that each character offered up. Love is, at best, messy. My love-life has consisted of a "Comet" relationship, and perhaps that's why I latched onto this movie so easily. But even if you've not experienced in the tumultuous nature of chaotic love, feast your eyes on some of the quotes that broke my heart effortlessly.
1. When Dell doesn't want to let her go.
Dell: I feel like I'm in the wrong world. 'Cause I don't belong in a world where we don't end up together. I don't. There are parallel universes out there where this didn't happen. Where I was with you, and you were with me. And whatever universe that is, that's the one my heart lives in.
2. When Dell helps Kimberly realize the power a relationship has over people.
Dell: Oh, yeah, that's the problem with relationships
Kimberly: Danger?
Dell: Or worse.
Kimberly: Worse?
Dell: You could change the other person.
3. When Kimberly realizes that loving someone doesn't always meet society's standards.
Kimberly: You were really, really smart, but also selfish, crass... Not always in an entertaining way, mind you. You hated your job and life and you were completely comfortable being miserable. You're horrible on paper. And I loved you. Being with you made me realize it... Doesn't have to look good on paper to feel good.
4. When Kimberly perfectly describes what a "beautiful night" really constitutes.
Kimberly: It's beautiful when the weather is not hot or cold. Kinda like you don't notice it. Kinda like it's perfect because everything is so balanced. You don't even feel it. And while you're feeling that non-feeling you look up in the sky and you almost think that's why. Because how everything is right now, all the stars and planets and us and the ground, and the cells and molecules right now... is exactly the reason why now is comfortable.
5. When Kimberly is literally every single one of us about (at least) one of our past relationships.
Kimberly: No matter how bad our relationship got, I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for it. Because I needed it. I needed you in this life.
6. When Dell is so right about the need to feed our own ego and how it affects the way we love one another.
Dell:Why does it feel so impossible to let you go? It's an addiction, you know. That's all it is. It's a biochemical addiction. It's so stupid. If you think about it relationships are all totally narcissistic. Basically, you're just looking for someone who'll love you as much as you love yourself. That's all it is.
On their own, these quotes may not resonate as deeply, but in the context of the movie- they were literary magic for me. Being in love with someone does not equate to being together, and sometimes (more often than not, in my case) love just isn't enough to carry you through. "Comet" is no longer streaming on Netflix, but if you come across this movie, I highly recommend grabbing a glass of wine and settling into your next good cry.
