A Dude's Guide to Chick Flicks

There are other blogs out there dedicated to movie reviews, like this one by a colleague of mine.  I call him a colleague because we work for the same organization that employs over 27,000 people.  I've met him once.

Anyway, I don't have the time, inclination, or expertise to make a meaningful contribution to the field of cinema critique.  But there seems to be a lack of guys who are willing to stand up and call it like it is... in the world of chick flicks.

I've already written about my thoughts on the genre itself, so I will just stick to sharing my opinions about the best and the worst "rom coms" from a guy's perspective.  I will even have the audacity to speak to the entire male gender in the process.

The Top Five Chick Flicks for Dudes
(or, My Five Favorite Chick Flicks)


5. What Women Want

There are tons of reasons this makes the top 5:

• All guys have dreamed of being able to read women's minds, or for that matter, to understand them in any way.
• It reminds us of brighter days for Mel Gibson, who was once very cool.
• It juggles about 3 or 4 storylines at once, thus escaping the boring, predictable simplicity of most chick flicks.
• The movie is ultimately about Nick Marshall's growth, not their relationship.

4. You've Got Mail

You've Got Mail is by far the most typical movie on this list.  That's its biggest weakness -- a very typical, linear, predictable, yet unpleasantly unrealistic plot.  However, the great performances by Hanks and Ryan allow it to still be great, and then these drawbacks become a strength.  By virtue of its being a "typical chick flick," chicks like this flick.  Meaning you can enjoy it alongside a lady, should you be so lucky.


3. Forget Paris

As you'll see, the top 3 of this list share a lot in common.  Specifically, nonlinear plots and unpredictability.  Forget Paris is an excellent example of that, plus you get the bonus of Billy Cystal's awesomeness.  He plays an NBA ref, which is also sweet.  There are great interview snippets with old married couples throughout, a plot that jumps back and forth from past to present, and a great story of love's endurance.


2. (500) Days of Summer

This movie has pretty much everything going for it.  An awesome cast (seriously, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is rising toward the top of my man-crush list... I don't keep an actual list..), a great soundtrack, wonderful animation themes, a plot that skips around through time, but more than anything else, it is raw and honest.  This is what is missing from most rom coms, and the reason I think most guys hate them -- their picture of emotions and romance doesn't line up with our actual experiences.  But in this movie, it does.


1. When Harry Met Sally

This movie contains most of the features that I mentioned for the other 4 films.  On top of all those things, WHMS just contains awesome dialogue.  Any dude can be drawn into those conversations, particularly the debate about whether or not a man and woman can be friends.  And, for the record, the answer to that question is, "No."  [Perhaps than can get its own entry!]

Dishonorable Mention
(or, the Some of the Worst Chick Flicks for Dudes)

Sweet Home Alabama - tacky, predictable
A Walk to Remember - sad; too sad
The Notebook - I hate this movie on too many levels to describe briefly
Something's Gotta Give - don't EVER see this; naked old people
Mona Lisa Smile - by women, for women, about women

Men, I hope this is helpful.  Women, I hope this helps you understand how what we think about movies typically made for you...

What do you think about chick flicks?

Jon