Somehow I got into a conversation with my ex boyfriend today about the film
The Notebook of all things. It was my fault. I mentioned a satrical Vanity Fair article I read that opined how men almost subconsciously avoid films featuring actor Ryan Gosling for reasons they don’t care to admit. The writer of this particular article seemed to think The
Notebook, the sappy Southern love story set in the 40s starring Gosling, might have something to do with it.
If you haven’t heard of
The Notebook you’re living under a rock. It was a book before it was a film and I myself dodged the story for quite some time. It took a rainy day and the flu to compel me to see for myself what all the fuss was about. Yes, it is a lovey-dovey, sappy story, but to my surprise it moved me to tears and apparently I’m not the only one.
I’ve heard stories of grown men who wept watching this “chick flick.” When I mentioned it to Adam he was unfamiliar with the story. No surprise there. But, when I gave him the recap his instant reaction was absolute- no way. Still no surprise…
I completely get why men resist. To be fair, I stay clear of war and shooter-up movies because I have a hard time looking past the violence and testosterone-driven story. Interestingly though, the whole premise of
The Notebook is such an easy target for criticism from modern men and women alike. We live in a world where that kind of love story is foolish. I mean what kind of guy would write his girl a letter every day for a year? That’s the kind of devotion, passion and commitment that we only see in old movies or read about on Valentine’s Day. You know the stories I’m talking about ones of
happenstance or instant attraction that lasted a lifetime. These stories seem so old-fashioned. I wonder why? Is it fear of being vulnerable or fear of losing one’s independence? I’m sure it’s a combination of a whole bunch of things I really don’t feel like continuing to analyze, but it’s made me take notice.
