Whatever happened to constance?

I just watched the movie “Enchanted”. It was funny, cute, endearing at parts, but like most chick flicks out there, it had this common denominator that really ticked me off.

Adultery parading as true love. It seems like that is an intrinsic part of the story for every chick flick I’ve ever seen. Let me lay out the formula

Couple one is somewhat sophisticated, typically city slicker, and are “in love”. Within the first few scenes of the movie the guy proposes to the girl, says she the girl of his dreams, squeals of joy ring out, and they kiss.

Couple two, is not as sophisticated as couple one, they have little more spunk, and are usually hopeless optimists. (You know, the kind that want to change the world) They, like couple one, are “in love” and want to get married but are not yet.

Now, through some chance, or freak of nature, whether it be e-mail, newspaper, magic, radio announcement, ex-boyfriend, serendipity etc. The guy from couple one, and the girl from couple to happen to come in contact…and they hate each other. The other is so different from themselves that they can’t stand to be around each other. So they part ways. Through the next twenty minuets of the film you will see “fate” or some bizarre circumstance bringing them together.

Then it happens…that all inevitable scene where they seem to be arguing, and then have this moment of realization where they don’t want to live there lives without each other…which is not bad at all…EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THEY’RE BETROTHED TO SOMEONE ELSE!

So the man from couple one and the woman from couple two essentially (and sometimes literally) leave their partner at the alter to go pursue this new relationship that has come up. Yet, being the hero and the heroine they can’t straight up walk away, so to cover up their faithlessness, they whine. They whine about why it would be a bad decision for them to marry their first partner, or why they don’t make them happy, but the new person does.

“Oh Richard you don’t want me!”
*after just kissing the new guy* “Oh I wanted it to be you”
“I’m actually not in love with you…I’m in love with your brother”

And it goes on…These rootless characters sway to every whim as long as their happiness is intact. What ever happened to Constance? What ever happened to steadfast? What about unchanging? What about for better or for worse?

“but he completes me”

No, he does NOT complete you, and whoever tells you otherwise is lying. We all have been lied to my friends. We have legitimized treachery in the name of intrigue. We have exchanged love, for temporary thrills. We have been taught that romance comes out of affairs, and that plot twists or synonymous with breakups.

I’m ticked…I’m really ticked.

I realize these are just movies, but the vast majority of their target audience does not. You can tell, by their speech, by their blogs, and by the frivolousness of middle school, high school, and even adult relationships. You can tell by the women’s magazines in the grocery stores. “Ten things to do to feel great in bed”…and not one of them is read your bible. That statement seems amazingly irrelevant, but have you read the bible? There’s a whole book dedicated to just that.

I’m kind of all over the place tonight so I’m going to try and consolidate my thoughts.

I am going to be a one woman man. When I sit my (so far non-existent) child on my knee and tell them about the time I proposed to their (so far elusive) mother…do I want to say “Well, I had to leave a few brides at the alter, but eventually I found one I liked long enough to make it through the ceremony” or “Well, she was the best choice.”…No… “Your Mother was the only choice.”

The only choice…That is true love. Of this I am convinced.

-James

Wednesday, March 26, 2008