"Chick Flicks"
 

<a href="http://suicidegirls.com/news/culture/20264/">So, everyone be honest, do you enjoy "chick flicks?" I have enjoyed a couple, although I don't generally like them and have barely seen any. Part of that may be because onodrim and I just about never, ever watch them. I distinctly remember enjoying The Truth About Cats & Dogs though. Other factors probably played into that as well, such as the fact I like Janeane Garofalo. Which leads me to my next question: if you're a guy, and you find yourself enjoying the occasional "chick flick," do you think your opinion of the female star plays a role in your enjoyment of the movie? Finally, to everyone, what do you think about the report's findings regarding stereotypical responses? Men, are you disappointed if your female date is not scared at a horror movie? Or maybe it would be better to ask are you pleased when she's scared? Women, for all the talk about liking sensitive men, would you think less of him if he suggested seeing a "chick flick?" What about if you took him to one and he enjoyed it so much he cried at the end?

Dave loves them just as much as I do and has been known to cry.....No way could I EVER think less of him for that

I didn't participate in the poll because I think I am neutral on "chick flicks." In fact, I'd be hard-pressed to name many movies I would definitively call "chick flicks." I'm more interested in the merits of the film as a whole, rather than its target audience.

I honestly think of it as a comprimise: I go to some chick flicks, she goes to a couple of action movies :D It's mostly about spending time together :)

In general, I find that the plot just doesn't do anything for me - good for an two hours of entertaiment, and that's that. Not that most action films are any better (objectively speaking), but they make me go "oooh" and "aaaah" from all the explosions :P

The genre of the film I'm watching has little to do with my enjoyment. I like chick flicks that are well-made. If it's got good writing, witty dialogue, convincing acting, and cute leads, then I'll enjoy it. If the jokes are dumb and the actors are stale, I'll dislike the movie.

Same goes for any genre, really. I hate bad action movies, but I'll watch something like Ong Bak or the newest James Bond film any day.

I am one of the women that hate chick flicks. Give me a good action movie any day but I usually only watch chick flicks if they are reccommended to me. It would appear that my boyfriend is of the same opinion except I have a hard time getting him to go to some of the more stupid action movies (like Snakes On a Plane). No chick flicks though, unless he's really really bored.

I tend to like/be interested in seeing something other than "chick flicks". I've seen a few that I enjoyed, but I'm usually not interested in seeing them at all and skip them. I'll take an action movie over a chick flick any day of the week.

I would enjoy them more if they had better stories. usualy they're predictable from start to finish just from the trailer.

Marriage is all about compromise. My wife and I have totally different tastes in movies. I like actual films with intelligent scripts, and good acting. And plot. My wife likes chick flicks. So, in the spirit of compromise we only ever watch her movies.

Most chick flicks are terrible, uninspired, unentertaining tripe that sets male/female relationships back by pandering to stereotypes. Makes men feel like they need to be heroes and women feel like they need to be Cinderella'd off their feet. :)

I've enjoyed the occasional chick flick, but for the most part they all follow the exact same plot with bad acting and unrealistic endings. Lets face it, how often has a man declaring his love in the middle of a woman giving a presentation at a board meeting ended with anything short of a restraining order?

Like a few of the men who have already posted, I enjoy them if the script is good, good acting, witty banter, etc. If they're totally cookie-cutter then I can't stand them.

Example: I enjoyed The Notebook, I despised that one with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts where she's a famous actress and he's... some dude?

-Tamerlain

I find most of them pretty insipid.

Fortunately, I'm married to a chick who prefers Jackie Chan to Hugh Grant.

I like the good ones. I thoroughly enjoyed Where the Heart Is, Jersey Girl, Say Anything, the Korean version of The Lake House.

I even enjoy Adam Sandler chick flicks (Click, Punch Drunk Love, 50 First Dates). Sure, they tend to be formulaic, but even something done to a formula can be done well.

Mostly it's that they're safe and familiar and feed into the fantasy of people being able to connect and overcome obstacles.

Jackie Chan is fun, too.

as far as chick flicks go - the only thought going through my head is "When Harry Met Sally." Easily one of my favorite movies of all time. The endless attempts to recreate it were crap. "Kate and Leopold" made me want to throttle something - I was forced into that one by my then-girlfriend's cousin. I knew it was going to be shit before it started. Mo-breakdancing-hommed that shit was awful.

Speaking of Hugh Grant, what is this piece of shit he's coming out in now? I've seen a few ads for it on my parents' tv, and i have to say it looks absolutely painfully awful. I'm pretty sure that movie didn't need to be made.

In terms of the genre and the stereotypical roles, I find that if I find myself slipping into stereotypical role expectations in these kinds of situations, its a sign that the relationship / connection is shallow and needs to be re-evaluated.

A good movie is a good movie is a good movie.

As long as the script is tight and avoids treacly cliches, I'm all in for a chick flick. Does High Fidelity count? That about sets the standard for Relationship movies if you ask me. I'm a big fan of Jane Austin adaptations as well.

On the other hand, That recent movie with Diane Keaton and Mandy Moore looks awful, and no matter how many time traveling space ninjas it has, I won't be seeing it.

God I hate chick flicks. I mean it is all about this true love improssible scenes, and please do not ever put Julia Roberts in another movie.

I have to admit I love them. Nothing like crashing on the couch with a box of tissues and a stack of romcoms to wallow in your singleness.

Can't stand most of them, period. My wife loves to watch them, and I don't. Thank god for 2 tv's. I may watch a little with her, but only a very little. As I watch sports/action/etc, she will go and watch what she wants. That is how we compromise!

Notice how they never have sequels to chick flicks? That's because the sequel would be one long train-wreck of a break up followed by a bitter, dragged-out divorce. :-)

That's absolutely a factor. Count me as another fan of Janeane Garofalo. :thumbsup: She's on my list of 3. ;)

In so far as whether or not I like "Chick Flicks"...as a whole...I can't really answer that. As with anything else in my life, it gets broken down to its base componant. In other words...it depends on the film. Some are good...some suck. Give me list and I'll tell you whether they get the BOR Seal of Approval or not.

My husband and I are indie/international film types, not really into the chick flick. However, I am inclined to love movies like "Garden State" (is that a chick flick? thought lots of guys liked it) and, when I'm really in Ben & Jerry's emo mode, "About a Boy." :)

If I'm going to watch Hollywood-produced crap, though, it's more likely to be something fun like "Pirates of the Caribbean" or "Harry Potter." Which are probably more kid flicks than chick flicks. :lol:

abaya - the book "About A Boy" is even better than the movie. If you haven't read it yet, you should!

:lol: :lol: ;)

i loves me a good chick flick.

The book About A Boy is about 150% better than the movie, which sucked ass. it's still one of my favourite novels and I always claim that Will and Marcus together make up my personality.

Say Anything is a chick flick? Thats one of Dave's all time fav movies and I def wouldnt categorize it as a chick flick

...unless we arent talking about the same John Cusack classic?

Yep, basically that's it for me too.

"My wife wanted a cat, I didn't want a cat. So we compromised and got a cat."

Rules of Engagement? Never seen the show, other than that bit in one of the comercials.

I hear ya. I really do not see the appeal.

I like some 'chick flicks'. That one with David Duchovny and Minnie Driver (I think), the heart transplant one... It's odd, I love that movie. And yet, my wife doesn't care for it. I'm usually not one for most typical chick flicks, but some of them I like. Must Love Dogs sucked some serious ass. But that Duchovny/Driver movie had some real 'heart' to it.

Julia Roberts was AWESOME in Stepmom. Would you call that a chick-flick?

And then there's kick flicks, i.e. movies that kick ass, like Apocalypto and Rocky Balboa. ;)

I don't usually mind watching chick flicks with my gf. Some of them are pretty good actually. The worst chick flick I've seen lately was Tristan + Isolde. It was so romantic that I fell asleep.

Yes, yes I would. Although not a very good one.

Terms of Endearment was a good tearjerker. It actually had a story, without trying hard to cash in on cliches.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. :)

Terms of Endearment is one of my all time favs

I also love How to lose a guy in 10 days and The Wedding Date (for the record I've never seen when Harry Met Sally or Sleepless in Seattle)

I remembered last night my all time favorite ---Bridges of Madison County. I absolutely love that movie and cry every time I see it.

That was the only movie I've ever walked out of. My girlfriend and I had read the book together and loved it, and we were so excited about the movie coming, and it was such a disappointment, we left halfway through it and went to a puppet theatre instead.

I hate Clint Eastwood but have heard many folks rant about how fabulous a movie it is. Thanks for reminding me to rent it. I recommend "Truly, Madly, Deeply."

Yes, it's a chick flick, and it mostly follows the formula. Quirky guy, middle class or working class, dates smart, attractive, motivated girl. Her best friend (in this case, her father) disapproves, which leads to a small/false crisis, a temporary break up, then they get back together after a second big crisis shows how they really need each other. It does it so well that it's the kind of movie people who don't normally like chick flicks like.

I suppose maybe it's like the genre fiction dilemma, especially with science fiction. Sometimes the best examples of a genre are defined as not being part of it because there's some negative association. Kurt Vonnegut, one of the great science fiction authors, is famous for early on having denied that he writes science fiction (he's since relented).

Say Anything is a chick flick, a teen romantic comedy. It's just one of the best ever made.

Yes, I love anything written or directed by Richard Curtis or starring Hugh Grant or starring Colin Firth. If it's a Jane Austen adaptation, or a period piece, I'm definitely there.

Yes, I love chick flicks. And for the record, Love Actually is one of my favorite movies. Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, and it was written and directed by Richard Curtis--yes, definitely a favorite!

It doesnt get much better than Love Actually, All 4 of my fav men in one place. Sense and Sensibility...awesome with Hugh and Alan....and the fight scenes with Hugh and Colin in both Bridget Jones movies make me giggle every time. Anytime Dave is flipping thru channels and any of those movies is on the flipping stops immediately lol

Thankfully, my wife has many of the same taste in films as me - James Bond, Jet Li, and the occasional war, superhero, sci fi, or drama film. I think she tried to sit through a chick flick once and didn't enjoy the experience.

Oddly enough, she does like romance novels, but not on screen girlie stuff.

+100000000!

I watch a wide range of films.

I have favourite films in all genres and do not discriminate. That said, if a film sucks it sucks. Most films that suck are ones that are formula driven that don't do anything interesting within the formula. As others have noted, just because it follows a formula doesn't mean it's going to suck, some of the best films are formula films. People don't like to watch films that break from form too much because they like to see their expectations met (this happens in all genres by the way). We are, generally speaking, slaves of the narrative form.

I'm over 50 and I like a good cry now and again. My kids get a kick out of it.

Indeed. I hate the genre in general because there is so much crap that is passed off as a movie. There are many that I do like, and that's because regardless of the fact that they're "romantic comedies", they're actually quality movies.

Most "romantic comedies" aren't worth the film they're captured on. The plot is severely lacking in most cases, the men are either flat/stupid or amazingly heroic, and the women are always enlightened but at least slightly vulnerable- in fact, the harder they come off at first, the more they fall to goo by the end (I'm looking at you, Miss Congeniality).

So no, i don't like them- because most all of them are just poor excuses for a movie.

(I'm also curious to know if this study was conducted with both the man and woman of the relationship in the same room. If so, that would seriously skew the results. Odd that it's not mentioned.)