The line at the Avco Cinema was long. Really long.
It made sense, considering I was there on the Saturday night of
the opening weekend of “Elf.” I was there on the
Saturday night of the opening weekend of one of the biggest
non-trilogy-related winter movies for college students. I was there
to see “Love Actually.”
Now, I already know what you’re thinking. How could any
self-respecting guy voluntarily go see a media-labeled romantic
comedy? I wasn’t on a date. I wasn’t doubting my
sexuality. And I wasn’t completely out of my mind.
Instead, I was simply out with my girl friends, not to be
confused with girlfriends. I suggest every guy try it at some
point.
As the only guy in a group of girls going to see a romantic
comedy, I was in an interesting (and surprisingly entertaining)
position. In addition to watching the movie, I got to watch my
friends’ reactions to it, which were usually as enjoyable as
and frequently more enjoyable than the film itself. It’s fun
to be just one of the girls, even if only for a night.
To explain, I give you a compacted (and only slightly
fictionalized) account of the minutes leading up to the start of
the film. With me were C. Clayman (CC), L. Hilde (LH), and S. Rose
(SR).
Actually, that’s too obvious. I wouldn’t want to
reveal their true identities. I was really with Cai C., Lindsey H.,
and Sam R. Welcome to my Saturday night:
(JT, CC, LH and SR enter a darkened movie theater as a trailer
for “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” begins.)
CC: This makes me want to dance.
LH: Me too.
(CC and LH start dancing up the aisle as SR giggles. JT looks
around the theater, seeing a sea of women pregnant with
expectations. The four sit down.)
SR: I can’t wait to see Alan Rickman. His accent is so
sexy.
(The three girls giggle.)
JT: Oh come on, he must be 60, and he’s got quite a gut
going.
SR: He looks quite svelte in “Harry Potter,” thank
you.
JT: He’s also wearing black clothes and a cloak, both of
which are rather slimming.
LH: I need to run to the bathroom.
JT: The movie’s going to start any second. That was the
last trailer.
LH: I’ll make it.
(LH squeezes out the row and skips up the aisle. The girls
giggle.)
SR: I need water.
CC: Oh, get me some, will you?
JT: Isn’t that just going to make you have to go to the
bathroom during the movie?
CC: Maybe.
SR: Let me out.
(SR squeezes out as LH comes back in.)
JT: So what exactly is this movie about again?
LH: Love.
CC: Actually, it’s all about Colin Firth.
LH: You mean Hugh Grant.
JT: You both meant Keira Knightley, right?
(CC and LH look at JT and giggle. SR returns with two cups of
water and hands one to CC.)
SR: Did I miss anything?
LH: Nope, we made it.
(The opening credits begin to flash onto the screen. The girls
each giggle and fake swoon when the names of their favorite men
come on screen. Grant appears on screen as the film begins.)
LH: I’m in love.
JT: Actually?
E-mail Tracer your top three chick flicks at
jtracer@media.ucla.edu.