I Can’t Pretend, I Have to Be: Casual Sex? (1988)

Most Romantic Moment #1

So you are probably wondering what am I doing watching this movie, well it wasn’t really the one I wanted. You see I was at Big Lots and they were having a 20% everything sale. That sounded great to me, so I went and looked around. I found a DVD set for $4, of which three were Michael J. Fox films and the other two were ones I had never heard of.

AWESOME!!!

Well you all know how I feel about Michael J. Fox

I love him, so this seemed like a deal too good to pass up.

So my friend and I were watching some of the films, when we decide to check out this one, Casual Sex?, as we both like Lea Thompson.

I have to admit this movie surprised me a lot. It was rated “R” but didn’t really show anything, you know nothing like Game of Thrones, and actually dealt with the issues of sex. How you can get diseases, pregnant, sometimes the person just wants you for the sex, how sometimes you get involved with a person and they turn out to be nothing like you expect; and how hard it can be to meet anyone whether you desire sex or a relationship. It was pretty good.

So the film is about two women, Stacey and Michelle, who have not had the best luck in love.

Stacey is constantly falling for artists, of which she not only changes herself for them but they always leave her in the lurch.

Melissa has only been with two men, and the second one, her ex-fiancé broke up with her as he was “going through a selfish phase.” Ugh, Men.

The girls decide to leave the LA area and head on some kind of getaway in hopes to meet the perfect man.

They decide to head to a health spa in which they meet a variety of possibilities. There is Vinny “the Vin Man” from New Jersey who hits on everybody and is always talking about his “attributes.”

Jamie, one of the spa workers who seems sweet and caring:

Matthew, a psychologist, who is looking for material for his newest book on psycho-sexual tendencies of pre-menopausal females.

And Nick, a fitness instructor who dreams of becoming a rock star.

Will the girls find the man of their dreams? Or will they be disappointed once again?

Most Romantic Moment: From Vin Man to Vincent

So the most romantic moment comes from the most unlikely source, Vincent otherwise known as Vinny or the Vin Man.

Vincent is from New Jersey, a pre Michael “The Situation”. He is gross, annoying, and just doesn’t understand that women are not interested in crudity.

Men

However, as he keeps striking out with the women, one of the spa instructors gives him a book, The Pretend You’re Sensitive Handbook.

He tries it out on Stacey, but as she has her own stuff going on she wants nothing to do with it.

Vinny: Stacy, how nice to see you. Do you have a few minutes? I mean, it occurred to me, I don’t even know where you work.

Stacy: Where I work?

Vinny: Yeah, you know, your career plans, your dreams, your aspirations… I really want to hear all about them.

Stacy: What I want? I don’t even know — ask me what anyone else wants. Give me three seconds, I’ll figure out your whole entire life.

Vinny: Would you maybe want to share something with me about your childhood, perhaps?

Stacy: Vinny, what the hell are you talking about? I’m in a big rush. Look, I have to go talk to Melissa, because if I don’t figure out something about my life soon, I’m going to crack!

Vinny: I respect your strength, Stacy, and I think you’ve got a lot of potential!

After striking out once again, Vinny runs to the spa instructor and tells him that he can’t do this. He can’t pretend, he has to be it. He decides to leave, catching a ride with Stacey to the bus stop. There we see a look at the real Vinny as he asks Stacey for advice. He wants to have a real relationship with a woman; like a friendship but more, but doesn’t know what to do. What do women want?

She doesn’t have the answers and drops him off at the bus station. We think that is the last of him, but then we are given this surprise.

Stacy: [reading] ‘Dear Stacy, I hope you don’t mind me writing to you…

 Yes, Vinny writes Stacy a letter and tells her about how his life has been changing. He wants to be a different person, but no more pretending, he’s going all the way. He starts reading books,

Cooking, changing his wardrobe to more appropriate clothing (and no more super “Vs” showing off the chest,

Giving up all those aspects of the Vin Man and transforming himself, from the inside out, into a new person, Vincent.

The sweetest, most romantic thing about this is that he made all these changes on his own, no “promise of getting the girl”, no other motivation than he wanted to be better and strove for it, turning himself from jerk to heartthrob. And once he feels his change is complete, he travels from Jersey to LA to see Stacy and prove that he is not only a new man, but ready for a real relationship.

What a guy!

For more Valentine’s posts, go to Now That I’ve Met You, I Can’t Imagine Life Without You: Sabrina (1954)

For more ’80s films, go to We’re in the Future: Goodbye 2015

For more Jane Austen quotes, go to We Wish You a Merry Christmas

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)

Wanna Grow Old With You: The Wedding Singer (1998)

Romantic Moment #5

The Wedding Singer (1998)

The Wedding Singer  is my favorite Adam Sandler movie. I also love this movie because of how jam packed it is with ’80s music, moments, and outfits.

I LOVE the ’80s

Almost every line in this film is amazing! I can’t describe how much I enjoy this film; I pretty much have the whole thing memorized.

The film is about wedding singer Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler) being jilted at the altar by his long time girlfriend Linda.

Julia (Drew Barrymore) a fellow co-worker and friend; tries to get him out of his depression by having him help her plan her wedding. Soon Julia and Robby start developing feelings for each other.

Julia’s fiancé is a self-centered jerk that is cheating on her, so Robby tries to tell her how he feels. But through a series of misunderstandings, each thinks the other doesn’t care for them.

It all comes to  head when Julia decides to fly off to Vegas to be married and Robby chases after her.

Most Romantic Moment: Oh It Could Be So Nice, Growing Old With You

Robby jumps on the last flight, scoring the only available seat in first class. There he befriends everyone by telling them the story of him and Julia. Billy Idol has a priceless part in this. Love him!

After Robbie finishes, they discover that Julia is on the same flight with the jerk fiancé, Glen. Robbie, Billy, and the rest of the first class passengers take over the intercom system and Robbie sings a romantic song he wrote for her.

Now this song and moment is really romantic for three reasons:

First: He WROTE HER A SONG! AND IS SERENADING HER! Now what can be more romantic than that? This is on boom box level. Every girl dreams of having a song written, dedicated, and serenaded to her. It’s one of those romantic clichés we all dream about.

So romantic

Second: He wrote this song because of what Julia told him about her views on love and finding “the one” were.

“Robbie: How did you know that Glenn was the right one? 
Julia: The right one, ah… I always just envisioned the right one being someone I could see myself growing old with. 
Robbie: Yeah. 
Julia: And… Glenn would be a really good-looking older man. Like Blake Carrington. 
Robbie: I’m gonna probably look like Buddy Hackett.“

He knew that finding someone to grow old with was most important thing to her; so not only did he choose to write a song for her about her ideals, but she also has the knowledge that she inspired him, she’s his muse.

So romantic

Third: If you actually review the lyrics of the song they are really meaningful. I had to do a write up for one of my classes on what song I thought was most romantic; and I chose this one. I love this song because it shows the commitment and value that he is placing on their relationship and marriage. A friend of mine once said that, “Love is knowing someone is always there for you, for better or for worst, sickness or in health. No matter what happens or what hardships you face, you face them together, and always knowing that you are not alone.”; and I feel this song really captures that sentiment.

[Billy Idol (Speaking):] Good afternoon everyone. 
We’re flying at 26, 000 feet, moving 
Up to thirty thousand feet, and then we’ve got clear skies 
All the way to Las Vegas, and right now we’re bringing you some in-flight 
Entertainment. One of our first-class passengers would like to sing you a song 
Inspired by one of our coach passengers, and since we let our first-class 
Passengers do pretty much whatever they want, here he is. 

[Robbie Hart (Singing):] 
I wanna make you smile whenever you’re sad 
Carry you around when your arthritis is bad 
Oh all I wanna do is grow old with you 

I’ll get your medicine when your tummy aches 
Build you a fire if the furnace breaks 
Oh it could be so nice, growing old with you 

I’ll miss you 
Kiss you 
Give you my coat when you are cold 

Need you 
Feed you 
Even let ya hold the remote control 

So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink 
Put you to bed when you’ve had too much to drink 
I could be the man who grows old with you 
I wanna grow old with you

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 Carried Away: An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

For more on The Wedding Singer, go to Love Stinks

On an unrelated note, this marks my 100th post! Yay! I hope you all have been enjoying reading as much as I like making ’em. Happy 100th Post!

Took me less than six months! I’m impressed with myself.

For the 200th post, go to A Letter of Love: Persuasion (2007)