Ashtyn Britt
abritt@lc.edu
Now that Valentine’s Day has come and gone, another one of the time-honored traditions of the romantic holiday has also come to pass! By which I mean a new romantic comedy was released over Valentine’s Day for everyone to enjoy. I myself went with two close friends, having been waiting excitedly for quite some time to watch this movie. I can honestly say I haven’t been so moved by a romantic comedy since watching the movie “Just Friends” back in 2007!
Rebel Wilson plays her role brilliantly, starring as Natalie, a cynical and single architect in New York City with low self-esteem. Natalie has a lot of things that annoy her, but Romantic Comedies are at the top of the list! There’s a particularly interesting discussion Natalie has with her assistant as she lists off nearly every romantic comedy cliche. That list quickly becomes relevant again as, after being mugged and hitting her head, Natalie wakes up in one of the Romantic Comedies she despises so much and even goes over the list of cliches!
The self-awareness of Natalie’s predicament and her live commentary on how silly and unrealistic everything is makes the movie so much more enjoyable! Commenting on a character’s inconsistent accent and how the smell of the air in New York City has changed from filthy to a scent of lavender were a few wonderful details Natalie mentioned that had me nearly falling out of my seat. Her commentary of the love interests in the movie, played by Liam Hemsworth and Adam DeVine, is also a very welcomed change of pace from usual romantic comedies.
Watching Natalie pursue love and learning about its importance, as well as the various kinds of love, was a complete treat unlike any other I’ve ever seen. I don’t think there was a girl in the theater who didn’t in some way or another relate to Natalie. Finally we get a leading lady who acts the way that most women in the real world do when they pursue love!
What truly makes this film special however is the deeper message. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but I will say that it brought me to tears for the first time in a really long time. Not only am I glad I spent my money to view the movie in the theaters, but I also encourage everyone to go see it as soon as possible! I am also planning on pre-ordering the DVD so I can watch it repeatedly at home every time I need a good laugh! I can’t say it enough: go see this movie!
