Movie Review

I've heard it said that one of the problems with movies, television, books, you name it, is that the story always ends at Happily Ever After.  Boy meets girl, girl falls in love but is unsure of herself and subconsciously repels boy, boy waits patiently for her to "find herself," boy performs a crazy act of stupid love, girl gets over her irrational fears, and they kiss in the rain.

We went to see a movie the other night that was none of that.  It started with the Happily Ever After and went downhill from there.  Then we saw the tiny house, the multiple jobs, the insecurity of young family, the children, the jobs, the dreams, the sacrifices, the priorities, the growth, the tears, the little fights, and the big rewards.

Now, normally I enjoy a movie because it whisks me away to a new place, makes me forget my troubles, and makes me dream just a little.  This film offered none of that, but was a hauntingly familiar tune of daily labor, life's disappointments, and the sweet moments that make all those things worth the time and energy.  There was no extra drama, no unusual twist, and thanks to all things holy, NO ALIENS.  It was everything good about the world.

And the dog was fun too.

Go see Marley and Me.

Comments

[Jodi]

Some movies, I would agree, but I remember always really liking Mrs. Doubtfire because it didn't end happily ever after. I mean, sure the ex-wife accepted that her ex-husband sometimes pretends to be a woman, but the parents didn't get back together. I guess what I really liked was that it was realistic...in life we can learn to accept things and be happy, but that doesn't mean everything turns out the way we would like it to.

[Laura]

James, James, James.

You give me such great internet advice, and yet no new blogs. And that is depressing. And I am lonely. Lonely for James-blogs.