We’re Buying This Dress: Runaway Bride (1999)

Favorite Moment # 8

Runaway Bride (1999)

So many  of you might  find the moment that I choose in this as strange, as there are other more standard romantic scenes, but this one is my favorite.

Ike Graham, (Richard Gere), has written on article on Maggie Carpenter, (Julia Roberts), a “maneater” who has jilted grooms at the altar 6-7 times for the sheer fun of it.

Unfortunately, he got his facts wrong and is out of a job. To redeem his name, he has gone to her hometown to find out the facts; hoping that Maggie will run on fiancé #4.

At first he dislikes Maggie as he is a divorced, bitter, disillusioned about love, and an “unromantic” guy. (Sounds like him and Robert Phillips would be pals). But over time, he starts to develop feelings for her.

Will Maggie continue to run? Or will she finally walk down the aisle?

My favorite romantic moment comes about halfway through the film. Maggie decides that since Ike is going to be following her around anyways asking all kinds of questions, she might as well get some money out of it. She charges him to interview her which Ike agrees to. Maggie is thrilled as it gives her the chance to buy the dress she really wants, but was out of her budget as it is $1000.

Yay!!!

However when she gets there, the dress shop owner, Mrs. Whittenmeyer, doesn’t want to sell it.

“Maggie Carpenter: I’ve changed my mind 
Mrs. Whittenmeyer: This [dress] is a thousand dollars.
Maggie Carpenter: And I have a thousand dollars. 
Mrs. Whittenmeyer: The other one is only three hundred, dear.
Maggie Carpenter: Um…is that dress for sale?  
Mrs. Whittenmeyer: It’s just a lot of money to spend on one of your dresses, Maggie. After all, you only wear them for about ten minutes or so.“

Maggie s heartbroken, realizing that no one believes that she will ever go through with a wedding.

But here’s where the romantic part comes in. Ike becomes furious at Mrs. Whittenmeyer being so cruel:

Ike is not having Maggie be treated this way. He takes the situation into his own hands.

“Ike Graham: [Mrs. Whittenmeyer refuses to sell a wedding gown to Maggie] You sell wedding dresses, right? 
Mrs. Whittenmeyer: Yes, I’ve been selling wedding gowns for thirty-five years. 
Ike Graham: Wonderful! Because we are here to buy one! But not just any one [points to a gown in the window]  She wants “that” one! 
Mrs. Whittenmeyer: It’s a thousand dollars! 
Ike Graham: Listen, Aunt Bea! Conversation has never worked for me, let’s try ‘visual.’  [jumps into the window and pulls the mannequin down, knocking its wig off] We’re buying the dress! And anything else she wants!” 

As there are no pictures or videos of this scene, that I adore so much, I had to take screenshots of the scene and make my own gif. I’m a little rusty, so I apologize for its crudity.

The reason I love this part is not only the take charge attitude Ike has, but this is where I believe Ike starts to really care for Maggie. He realizes how harsh his words were, and how his article is affecting her. He also starts to see that there is more to her than a “maneater”.

So romantic

To start Romance is in the Air from the beginning, go to Boom Box of Love: Say Anything (1989)

For the previous post, go to I Don’t Dance or Sing, Except When I’m With You: Enchanted (2007)

For more Richard Gere, go to Carried Away: An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

For more Julia Roberts, go to You May Screw Up, but You’re Not a Screw Up: Mystic Pizza (1988)