Jen recently asks, "what makes a 'chick flick?'
I agree with a lot of what is presented at her site, except for every single assertion that seems to betray the yang to the chick flick's yin, which is of course, "guy movies." Air Force One, Gladiator, and Braveheart are unmistakably guy movies. If people are being thrown out of supersize jet planes, body parts are being dismembered on screen, or if blood actually splatters on the movie camera at any time, it is, by definition, a guy movie. women are welcome to watch, if they're able to stomach it, but it's not a chick flick, no matter how hunky chunky the leading monkey happens to be.
There also seems to be an ambiguous cinematic realm out there, where it is difficult to ascertain whether or not a movie is primarily estrogen- or testorone-inclined. I think the term 'hermaphroditic' is probably a bit strong, so i'll instead lean toward 'androgynous.' "The Princess Bride" seems (inappropriately) to fall into this category. Some want to argue toward chickflickiness simply because there's a great romance involved. But it is impossible to have a movie about conflagratory rodentia, a six-fingered sword-wielding henchman, and perhaps the greatest line ever before battle -- "'Allo! My name is Inigo Montoya. You kill my father....prepare to die!!!" -- and still confuse this for a chick flick. This is definite guy movie material. Just like when testing for food allergies and you can get false positives, but not false negatives, you can get lots of false positives that might cause you to mistakenly assume a movie is a chick flick, but when the qualities show up that reveal a negative, it must go into the 'guy movie' side of the ledger. And as far as The Princess Bride is concerned....it comes up negative on the estrogen-covered litmus test.
With this stated, I'll give you a representative list of girlie girl movies. This comes from over a decade of fidelity to my lovely bride who tends to like this genre of movie. And from time to time, I'll join her, to show what a Sensitive Guy® I really am.
Hope Floats -- but my attention span drowns
While you were sleeping -- this movie droned on
divine secrets of the yaya sisterhood -- don't you mean 'the yada yada yada sisterhood?'
two weeks notice -- are we beginning to notice a trend? oh, bullocks!
Steel Magnolias -- "The" chick movie, according to Kelli
Terms of Endearment -- CF, Old School Style
Whatever the sequel to Terms of Endearment Was -- able to squeeze a little more sap out of that weeping willow.
When Harry met Sally -- The inauguration of Queen Meg to the CF Throne (sponsored by International Flavors Coffee, of course)
When a Man loves a woman -- didn't even have humor to redeem it.
Sleepless in Seattle -- but not on my couch while this thing is on for the 1800th time
You've got Mail -- AKA "Now You Owe Me 'Saving Private Ryan'"
The Wedding Planner -- Jenny from the Block taps into a formula
Maid in Manhattan -- actually, in Hollywood's Recyclable Schlock Factory
How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days -- or a snoozing spouse in 10 minutes.
Alex & Emma -- Any time a title is of the names of the two in a couple, guys -- you're doomed.
Kate & Leopold -- see above. it doesn't matter if the dude is 200 years old -- you're still doomed.
Hanging Up -- I tried. They kept calling back.
IQ -- dumb and dumbererer.
Addicted to Love -- that's why these movies sell.
French Kiss -- I'm still boycotting the Frogs.
Pretty Woman -- rich guy falls in love with a whore. yeah, that's beautiful. just like cinderella. except for the whore part.
my best friend's wedding -- there's a reason why the guys won't date you when you're a neurotic obsessive shrew.
dying young -- the best case yet for assisted suicide.
Never Been Kissed -- nothing like painting young male educators as a bunch of pervs after schoolgirls.
Home Fries -- beautiful. white trash love. beautiful.