Romantic movies make up most of my Netflix list (right alongside "Criminal Minds" and "House Hunters"). It's not just one type of romantic movie, but the comedies, the tear jerkers, and the happily-ever-afters. Why am I so obsessed with them?
Well, sometimes, I wish I was one of the women from those movies.
When I was in high school, I wished that I had the rebel, Patrick Verona, singing, “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” to me, like in "10 Things I Hate About You." I wanted Mr. Darcy to love me “most ardently.” Deep down, everyone wants a charming Jack Dawson showing us the ways of the world without even leaving the boat.
All of these movies have defined what I want in a boyfriend and what I’m looking for in a relationship. Even though I am definitely not ready for one or looking for love any time soon, I’ve always had these standards of what I want from a guy. I look at the men from these movies and want them to be my reality.
Nobody wants to be a Bridget Jones from "Bridget Jones' Diary," singing “All By Myself,” eating Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and watching her biological clock tick away. Bridget is the epitome of what a lot of women fear that they will end up like— well, until she lands the dashing Mark Darcy, that is.
We want loves like that of Noah and Allie, true love's kisses like those between Wesley and Buttercup, and adventurous romances, such as Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck's in "Roman Holiday." I feel like many other people fall into this trap, too. Binge-watching these films can cause us to set expectations for our future partners. It can be our downfall, but it has taught us not to settle for anything less than what we deserve.
They show us that there is so much to be invested in loving another person. Love needs to be passionate, sweet, and so much more, in order to be what a romantic movie-watcher would consider alright.
From watching "The Beauty and the Beast" at age 5 to "Pretty Woman" at 18 years old (and "The Beauty and the Beast" still), I now look at love like this.
Love is like a romantic movie— Oscar-worthy at some moments— and, then, there are some sob-fest parts in there, too. It's beautiful, it's scary, and it's all worth it in the end. Romantic movies might exaggerate some things, but they do show us that all of this can happen and is possible. People say that they give us unrealistic expectations, but, in fact, they give us more hope for the future.
Whether you are looking for your Prince Charming or not, romantic movies are perfect for any time when you just need a reminder about your own "happily ever after." Don't end up like Bridget, mulling over the fact that she is so alone. It will all work out in the end for every single one of us. Maybe, someday, I'll get my Mark Darcy. For now, though, the life of "Bridget Jones" is fine by me.
