Chick Flicks versus Dick Flicks

by Cathie Jennings

Listen up, guys.   If you call my relationship movies chick flicks, then I’m gonna call your action movies dick flicks.  OK?  Dick flicks rhymes.  It’s descriptive.  And it’s to the point, shall we say.  This lady you call a chick is fighting back against all you guys who demean, belittle and ignore chick flicks.   When your “better half” drags you to a “date” movie, you do want something halfway intelligent to mumble about the movie afterwards, don’t you, Dick?

It’s a fact that chicks of all ages enjoy stories about relationships, questions of the heart, love and sex that lasts longer than a few minutes.  Likewise, it’s true that dicks like stories that feature non-stop action and CGI effects as the hero goes on a quest to overcome insurmountable challenges.  Violence ensues, which research has shown to be a sexual turn-on for dicks, but alas not for chicks.  When men do take a break from the action to re-evaluate their relationship with women, it’s often in the form of a quest for old girlfriends, to ask them what went wrong.   See High Fidelity, Broken Flowers, and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.

Dicks have usually overlooked relationships because it interrupts the unrelenting slash and burn, rape and pillage battle thrills.  Truth is, the best dick flicks include compelling relationship stories as well as white knuckle, ketchup-colored gore, and slam-bang, thank you ma’am action.  Think about action classics like Braveheart (Special Collector’s Edition), Die Hard Trilogy Includes Die Hard,Die Hard 2 Die Harder,and Die Hard With a Vengeance, and Gladiator (Widescreen Edition).

One possible explanation for this chick versus dick disparity might be their different approach to sex.  Chicks like it long and slow with the hope for future encounters.  Dicks, on the other hand, like it quick to expel the battlefield excitement, ready to prepare for the next fight, grind house flick, or comic book blow back blockbuster.

Here’s the Cliff Notes on the meaning of Chick and Dick.  Chick is a 15th century term that means one of three things:  1. A domestic chicken, especially a newly hatched one, or the young of any bird; 2.  Child; or 3. Slang girl or woman.  According to Merriam-Webster, Chick Flick is a 1988 term that means a motion picture meant to appeal especially to women.  The name derives from the sassy girl power novels of the 80s called Chick Lit.  Some have been turned into funny movies, like Legally Blonde, The Devil Wears Prada (Widescreen Edition), and Confessions of a Shopaholic.

Dick, a nickname for Richard, dates back to 1553 with three meanings.  1.  Chiefly British, fellow, chap.  2.  Usually vulgar, penis.  3.  Detective.   Let’s set penis envy aside, since Freud forfeited his right to comment on how women feel about that when he failed to answer the key question haunting men for centuries:  What do women want?  Did Herr Freud ever ask a woman?

A new generation of filmmakers is creating a new hybrid of romantic comedy termed a “bromance,” where men bond in a non-sexual way.  See I Love You, Man.  The not-really-a-dick, metro-sexual boy-men are now playing the roles formerly relegated to chicks—insecure, jilted, heart-broken, and teary-eyed.  For example, in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Unrated Widescreen Edition), it’s the forlorn TV composer (Jason Segel) who gets jilted by his self-absorbed actress girlfriend (Kristen Bell). There are even complete role reversals.   In Made of Honor, Patrick Dempsey plays the “Oops, I forgot to tell my college best friend that I loved her” role that Julia Roberts played in My Best Friend’s Wedding (Special Edition).

The appeal of action flicks will endure for men.  There is no end to the Game Boy and comic book merchandising machine that can churn out umpteen sequels and fuel the Hollywood global business model.   But the new, gentler male trend is encouraging.  Men now are entering the chick flick arena and going a couple rounds in the ring to explore how the heart wins over brawn.  Even affable action hero Will Smith revealed his warm fuzzy side as a date doctor in Hitch (Widescreen Edition).

In the end, it’s the beautiful chicks who are the real knockouts in the battle of the sexes.  Younger men now seem less afraid to spar with the ladies, using weapons of self-deprecating humor and a mellow all-inclusive outlook, thanks to a little weed, rather than the scathing sarcasm and alcohol binges of their fathers.  So there’s hope that the clash between chick flicks and dick flicks will be resolved in a truce of mutual respect, or, worse case, a die-off of older dicks.

New Blog for Movie-Loving Women Over 30

by Cathie Jennings

The new LaughandCryMovieGuide.com blog is a place for movie-loving women over 30 to share conversations about comedy and drama that entertain and enrich our lives. It’s time to give voice to what we women over 30 like in our movies. Ladies, let’s tell Hollywood what motivates us to leave the comfort of our home and go to the theater to see a film.

As the self-appointed Laugh & Cry Movie Guide, I’m here to start the discussion about movies for women, from my female, midlife, movie buff’s perspective. I want to share the emotions and feelings that my favorite movies evoke and why I love to them watch again, and again. I’d like to hear about your favorite films and compare notes.

I am a movie lover, not a fun killing critic, who wants to view a film, have fun, be entertained, and savor the lingering, feel-good mood. Most film commentary in general, and for relationship movies specifically, is usually from a condescending, snarky, heckling, intellectual male point of view, even if it’s a female reviewer.

This blog is dedicated to discussing issues of the heart, the mysteries of the human condition, and the power of storytelling to transform a woman’s feelings in the end. The emphasis is on movies that entertain, have a feel-good effect, and inspire hope of fulfilling women’s life dreams.

In my opinion, it’s time we speak up for relationship stories and the power of real heartfelt emotions. We women “shock and surprise” Hollywood executives when we show up in theaters for romantic comedies and turn them into hits over $100 million. Recent successes are Sex and the City: The Movie (Widescreen Edition),  Mamma Mia! The Movie (Widescreen), and The Proposal (Single Disc Widescreen). After all, Hollywood’s marketing know-how appears to stop with teen boys domestically, and action movies globally. This is a place to tell Hollywood what we ladies over 30 want and need in our movies.

Critics who are not in the target audience have no basis or right for giving an opinion about a movie. As Robert Englund, the Freddy Krueger actor in the Nightmare on Elm Street series, points out, “They send those (critic) guys who masturbate to Meryl Streep to review us. You don’t send those guys to review a Wes Craven movie.” By the same token, you don’t send jaded, patronizing, disdainful men to review romantic comedy. Joel Schumacher, director of action films like Batman Forever and romantic comedy like Cousins, puts it this way. “Have you ever met a child who said, “When I grow up, I want to be a critic? Ever?”

Ladies, I’d love to hear from you about what recent movies you loved that critics hated.

10 Fun Ways to Stimulate After Movie Discussions

by Cathie Jennings

Here are 10 fun ways to enliven the conversation after viewing a movie or DVD with friends. Allow everyone to contribute and keep focused on sharing the emotions that the movie generated for each person. You can’t argue with a person’s feelings, taste and emotional responses. If they laugh or cried and you didn’t, both of you are right. So allow ample time for each person to share their sentiments. Remember, great storytelling is about igniting the imagination, generating heart tugs and goose bumps, and inspiring a new point of view in the end. Everyone’s emotional experience is different. So there may be diverse reactions to the film among your group. Celebrate your differences. That’s the fun of entertainment!

Here are 10 questions to get a lively conversation started after viewing a movie.
1. What was the theme of the film, and was that message effectively delivered?
2. Were there any questionable story elements or plot developments that distracted you from the theme?
3. How did you feel about that message? How were you expecting to feel after the movie? How did the movie actually make you feel?
4. Did your mood change after watching the film? Did it change your perspective on the subject?
5. What had you heard about the film? Was it similar to your experience viewing the picture?
6. Would you want to see the film again? Why/why not?
7. Would you recommend or show this film to friends? How would you describe it to them?
8. If you’d seen the film before, did you feel the same way about it this time? What changed? How have you changed? What motivated you to see the movie again?
9. Did you notice anything unique about the motion picture, like cinematography, costumes, etc., that enhanced your viewing experience?
10. What other movies or stories did this film remind you of? If you liked this movie, what other movies do you feel you might enjoy?
What ice-breaking questions do you use to invigorate your after movie discussions with your friends?