Rom-Coms Have A Lot To Answer For

Here's a trailer for what looks like an early contender for most annoying movie of 2009. Firstly there's the awful title: Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past. Secondly there's the rehashing of a tired format A Christmas Carol, It's A Wonderful Life Scrooged, etc etc. Thirdly there's the presence of Matthew McConnaughey in rom-com mode complete with supposedly cheeky, charming, swagger.

But fourthly and most importantly (so important that it gets a whole paragraph to itself) is the suspicion that this is yet another rom-com that tells women that men just need to be changed. This is pretty much the message of 90% of rom-coms and is bordering on a reverse misogyny at this point. Almost every rom-com says men need to be shown the error of their ways so everyone can live happily ever after. Imagine that sentence with 'women' at the start. We'd be shut down for sexism. Also, this narrative myth in movies doesn't help women either. It screams at them, don't bother with that nice guy who treats you right. That asshole who screws around and treats you like shit just needs you to transform him. Not all men are bastards. Just some. And no matter how many rom-coms tell you otherwise, you can't change those few.

Oh and fifthly, Matthew McConnaughey is in it. We've said that already but at the end of the day, fuck him.