Do people marry because they want to and are committed to it or because they have to?
That line was the premise for the movie Baggage Claim, a romantic comedy starring Paula Patton. The story revolves around a single 30-something who is being pressured by her mom to find a significant other after her younger sister announced her engagement. She then goes off to find Mr. Right in time for her sister's engagement party.
To be honest, I didn't like the movie that much. I thought everything felt a little too forced to make the viewers fall in love and laugh at the antics of the lead character as she goes on her search for the right guy. I did, however, like the speech she made at the engagement party:
You know, I spent the last thirty days looking for somebody, anybody to come here tonight.
So I could fit in. Be part of the club. So all of you would say, "We love you, Montana. You did it. We're so proud of you. You're a lady." But marriage doesn't make you a lady any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. That's a weird analogy.
So, um...here's my announcement. I'm not getting married. I don't even have any prospects. No, none, zero. I'm all alone. But I did meet somebody have been really, really needing to meet. Me. And it turns out... I like me. A lot. With or without a husband.
I like how the character opened up in her speech about how women are often thought to "have made it" once they have a husband and a family of their own, something that I have to disagree with. Getting married for the sake of fulfilling other people's expectations like what the sister was supposed to do is a wrong reason for marriage. It should be because you want to commit and are ready for it.
The part where she says that she is happy with herself with or without a husband is something I could relate to. At one point I felt like that girl who was pressured to find someone because everyone else expected that from me. Then I realized that being with someone for the wrong reason is just as bad an idea and that being alone was the best way to discover me. That way if and when someone comes along, at least I know myself well enough to decide if I am ready for a commitment or not.
I think the film had a lot of promise, I just wish that the characters weren't interpreted the way that they were in the film. They felt like caricatures of the stereotypes of men and women and parents when it comes to relationships. I can understand they might have been going for the comedy of it but it was just a bit much for me. It was also weird for the lead character to say she was happy single then that same night she runs after a guy she apparently was in love with but didn't know it. I'm all for romance but that was just weird.
Way too much baggage with this one for it to become a favorite. Sadly, that quote I mentioned was the only thing I liked about it.
No comments
Post a Comment