I have mentioned in previous posts that one of my big pet peeves is infidelity presented as romantic or something to be desired. Actually, it’s probably more than just a pet peeve - I’d likely turn off a show or movie, or stop reading something if it contains such a plot - it makes me that upset. One of the biggest and most popular examples of this I can think of is The Notebook. When this first came out, and even today, so many people hail it as a great romance story. They love it! I know several women who would name it as their favorite movie, or at least their favorite romance movie.
If the movie was simply about an older couple dealing with dementia together, i would love it. I thought that storyline was sweet, and the movie’s ending was one that made me teary-eyed, if I’m being honest. However, I very strongly disliked the story of how the couple got together.
I don’t mind so much the story of a couple whose parents don’t want them to be together, even though it goes over the top in some ways, like it does many times in this scenario. While I hope that my daughter, when she grows up, will take our thoughts into consideration when dating, I will concede that parents disliking their child’s love interests makes for good drama. I wouldn’t have been too bothered if the story was just about that. Then, though, Allie goes on and becomes a nurse and later gets engaged to someone else. Engaged - not single - she's taken.
Then comes the “romantic part”. She goes back to Noah, while still with her fiance, and sleeps with him. And all the girls swoon. They want a romance like that. Really? They would like a romance that starts with infidelity? They say it’s romantic because Allie loved Noah first, and they were meant to be. Well, yes, Noah and Allie were together first, and sure, maybe they were meant to be, but fact of the matter is when they got back together, Allie was taken. There is no way of getting around the fact that she cheated on her fiance...and there is nothing romantic about that.
If the movie was simply about an older couple dealing with dementia together, i would love it. I thought that storyline was sweet, and the movie’s ending was one that made me teary-eyed, if I’m being honest. However, I very strongly disliked the story of how the couple got together.
I don’t mind so much the story of a couple whose parents don’t want them to be together, even though it goes over the top in some ways, like it does many times in this scenario. While I hope that my daughter, when she grows up, will take our thoughts into consideration when dating, I will concede that parents disliking their child’s love interests makes for good drama. I wouldn’t have been too bothered if the story was just about that. Then, though, Allie goes on and becomes a nurse and later gets engaged to someone else. Engaged - not single - she's taken.
Then comes the “romantic part”. She goes back to Noah, while still with her fiance, and sleeps with him. And all the girls swoon. They want a romance like that. Really? They would like a romance that starts with infidelity? They say it’s romantic because Allie loved Noah first, and they were meant to be. Well, yes, Noah and Allie were together first, and sure, maybe they were meant to be, but fact of the matter is when they got back together, Allie was taken. There is no way of getting around the fact that she cheated on her fiance...and there is nothing romantic about that.