Oh my goodness! The last passion post! This being the last post of the entire year, I thought “why not diverge a little from what I have written so far?” 

So today’s post is on . . . Love, Simon!

This film premiered in 2018 when I was in middle school. I actually remember watching the film for the first time in theaters with a good friend of mine who now goes to Penn State with me. As the first rom-com produced by a major Hollywood Studio to feature a gay teen protagonist, I was so excited for this movie to come out and I was not disappointed.

Summary

This coming of age rom com centers around Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), a high school student who wants a great love story like anyone else. However, it might not be as easy for him. You see, he has a secret: he’s gay. When that secret is threatened, he must come to terms with his identity and face everyone around him with the truth.

Why I Love This Film

Not only does this film have fantastic diverse casting, the production design is great as well. Set to be bright and attractive, this film is both funny and emotional with great pacing and great character development. Each of the supporting characters seem to have their own backstory, with some of Simon’s friends coming from single parent homes or mulit-ethnic families. But rather than make a big show out of it, the presentation of these characters is natural (something that I love). Not everyone can enjoy a coming out as clean as Simon’s, but at least Love, Simon gives many of these teens a couple that reach the type of romantic, happy ending that LGBTQ film has clearly been lacking over the past several decades.

One of My Fav Movie Moms

In my mind, Jennifer Garner is what pops up in my head anytime I think about classic movie moms. Casting her as Simon’s mom was such a fantastic choice and one of my favorite scenes in the movie is the coming out conversation she has with Simon. It brought me and my own mother to tears the first time I watched it, but apparently this scene was not originally written into the script! It was Jennifer’s idea to add the mother/son moment, and let me just say I am so glad they followed through on her idea. The love and emotion in this scene is so beautiful; I do not know that it could have been executed any better.

Final Thoughts

I was so happy when this movie came out. It was great to see representation in such a mainstream film, and as an incoming high school freshman, it felt fairly realistic to me. If I had to describe this film I would say that it is truly heartfelt and inspiring. I really hope to continue seeing such representation in film and tv moving forward with the quality that Love, Simon put forth. I know I always say it, but if you have not yet seen this movie, you should most definitely give it a watch.

Long time no read! We’re back with another passion blog, and this time around I will be posting about the iconic rom com Legally Blonde. 

Summary

Legally Blonde is a 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods. Elle, a sorority girl who has it all, wants nothing more than to become Mrs Warner Huntington III, except there is one thing that stops him from proposing: she is too blonde. She decides to win him back by following him to Harvard Law School. But being a Harvard student is not as easy as she anticipated. Along the way, she bumbles and makes mistakes, but soon learns that there is more to her than the color of her hair.

Passion for Fashion

I just could not write this post without commenting on the wardrobe displayed in this film. Elle’s outfits are like the perfect time capsule of the early 2000s. Not only this, but Elle was dressed in pink throughout the entire film. I absolutely love this choice in styling. This gives her character a uniqueness and the intentionality behind it makes the choice even better: pink is more than an emblem of femininity and Elle is more than a Malibu Barbie. Elle’s exaggerated feminine dress was a clear reference to how society views women who enjoy feminine things and style themselves in such ways. They get discounted simply for what they wear. Elle, however, sticks to her preferred style of clothing throughout the duration of the film. This is part of what makes her character such an icon.

Now I simply cannot see someone in a pink suit and not think of Elle Woods.

Here are some photos of my all time favorite Elle looks from throughout the film:

The Impact of Legally Blonde

Not only is this film fun and fresh, it leaves a lasting impact through its empowerment of women in education and the workplace. Elle teaches us about empowering yourself and the importance of integrity. It is also a tribute to female friendship, which shows through the support Elle gives to her divorced nail tech, Paulette. One of my personal favorite messages from the film is that your physical appearance should bear no reflection on your intelligence. Elle maintains her interest in girly dress throughout her time in school and the workplace. This essentially boils down to one big lesson: you should not have to change yourself to be successful. She says it best herself, “You must have faith in people. And, most importantly, you must have faith in yourself.”

My Thoughts

Fun, upbeat, and unforgettable are only a few words to describe Legally Blonde. I had heard about this film for years, but decided to finally give it a watch around two years ago. It did not disappoint. The witty (albeit sometimes cringy) dialogue and endearing plot is never a bore no matter how many times I rewatch it. Seriously, if you have not seen this movie, it needs to go on your watch list right now. 

I have only seen this movie once or twice, but When Harry Met Sally sticks in my mind as a memorable and classic romantic comedy. This 1989 movie is currently available for viewing on HBOMax.

Summary

In 1977, University of Chicago graduates Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) share a car on their way to New York. They do not really hit it off, especially after Harry makes several comments that a man and woman can never be just friends, because physical desires will always get in the way. The two arrive and go their separate ways. The film, then, bumps through time over the next 10 years to follow both of their searches for love, with the two coincidentally meeting on occasion. Eventually, a close friendship blooms between them. Despite being the perfect match, Harry and Sally stubbornly insist that they’re relationship is purely platonic. But what will happen when they are confronted with the question, “Can a man and woman be friends, without sex getting in the way?”

Some Spice in A Deli

Although very wack, probably the most iconic scene from this movie has to be Sally’s loud demonstration of a woman faking a climax right in the middle of a packed deli. Apparently, Meg Ryan came up with the idea for the scene herself, as she thought it would fit her character. But the cherry on top for this scene was a fellow customer (played by Rob Reiner’s mother, Estelle) delivering the famous line “I’ll have what she’s having!” This scene made waves in the way we as a society talk about sex.

Four-Way Call

One of my personal favorite scenes is the four way call between Harry, Sally, and their two best friends (who are a couple). The choreography of this scene is so satisfying and fun, and it happens right after a pivotal plot point in the movie. Apparently, the actors rehearsed this scene tirelessly and had to do dozens of takes to get it just right. You can watch the scene here. Be warned, though! It contains spoilers.

My Thoughts

This movie is very cute and well done. I love the way that it is written and how the story takes place over such a long period of the main characters’ lives. Although it is a bit predictable, most other romantic comedies are as well. I think it is a token of the genre. One thing I will point out, however, is that I am not a big fan of the film pushing the concept that men and women can only have sexual and romantic relationships. I think this is outdated, and it definitely bugged me a little bit while I was watching the film. Overall though, the way this movie was filmed makes it really enjoyable. The dialogue is nicely balanced between witty, funny, and charming. I would recommend giving this a watch if you like the friends to lovers trope and a good bit of humor.

There is no way that I could write this blog without including this movie. When I think of rom coms, this is definitely a film that comes to mind. I had seen bits and pieces of it as a child, but I did not get the chance to watch it all the way through until this year. What film might this be? None other than 27 Dresses.

Summary

As a woman who puts everyone else’s needs before her own, Jane (Katherine Heigl) is the go-to-gal when it comes to wedding planning. After serving as a bridesmaid 27 times for her friends, Jane finally starts to question her resolve when her sister Tess (Malin Akerman) gets engaged to the man she is secretly in love with: her boss George (Edward Burns). Her life is shaken up even more when wedding reporter Kevin (James Marsden) enters the picture.

A Fashion Show To Remember

One of the few scenes that I saw as a kid and stuck with me through the years was Jane’s at-home fashion show of every bridesmaid gown she had acquired over the years. These dresses are one of the backbones of the movie as the inspiration for its title.

Jane has not thrown out a single dress (which I must admit is a little strange for someone who lives in a New York apartment). With so many of them, she had to dedicate an entire wardrobe to their storage. When Kevin visits Jane’s apartment, he notices the overflowing amount of gowns and requests a viewing of every single one. I love this part of the movie so much because you get to see Jane open up as a person and let loose while trying on the dresses. What makes it even more entertaining is that every one of the dresses is so different. There is everything from cow-girl chic to a goth look.

Karaoke And Some Laughs

Another absolutely iconic scene from this film has to be when Kevin and Jane get stranded in at a dive bar in the middle of nowhere during a rainstorm. As cliche as the whole “stranded because of a storm” scene is, what I love about this one is the karaoke. The two break into a rendition of “Bennie and the Jets”. Both a little tipsy, they let loose and end up dancing on the bar counter, feeling themselves and having a good time. This is one of those cases where the perfect song is paired with the perfect rom-com, and it is always a delight to watch.

My Thoughts

I would not say by any means that 27 Dresses is the best romantic comedy ever made. It is definitely cliche and predictable, but for me, it is still enjoyable to watch. I will say that the iconic scenes described previously are some of the only parts that give the film a sense of uniqueness. However, I would still watch 27 Dresses again. After all, I did say this blog would not be complete without a review of it!

A Brief Summary 

My Best Friend’s Wedding is about two childhood friends, Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) and Michael O’Neil (Dermot Mulroney), who made a deal to marry each other if they were still single by the age of 28. Well, just four days before Julianne’s 28th birthday, Michael announces that he’s engaged and getting married to a gorgeous 20-year old woman named Kimberly (Cameron Diaz). After this surprise, Julianne suddenly realizes she is in love with Michael. She vows to win Michael over and stop the wedding at all costs. When she is appointed maid of honor, however, things get a little sticky.

The Casting

Julia Roberts had a say in the casting and was actually responsible for the casting of her on-screen rival, Cameron Diaz. Additionally, she hand picked Dermot Mulroney to star as her best friend and the object of her affections. Because Roberts chose Diaz for the role of Kimberly, another famous rom-com actress missed out on the role: Drew Barrymore. Barrymore did read for the part of Kimberly before it was ultimately passed on to Diaz, her future Charlie’s Angels co-star. 

However, considering how much of a role she played in the casting, it came as a surprise to me that Roberts came very close to missing out on the role of Julianne. Originally, the part was to be given to Sarah Jessica Parker. She had to decline the part because of her commitments to the making of Sex and the City.

My Thoughts

I like this movie. It didn’t stick out to me as anything great at times, but I still thoroughly enjoyed watching it. The casting is one of my favorite things about it, with excellent performances from both Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz. They both suited their roles. Another character who should receive more recognition, though, is George Downes played by Rupert Everett. Swooping in to replace the role of Julianne’s best friend, he is arguably my favorite character in the movie! He’s a charming, reliable, and funny addition to the cast, and in my opinion, has some of the best lines of the whole film.

In terms of plot, this movie follows a classic case of you don’t want something until someone else does. Then you MUST have it. This leads to some pretty funny scenes of jealousy and misunderstanding. One of my favorite scenes is when Kimberly sings an incredibly off-pitch version of “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” at karaoke night. This scene left me impressed with Kimmy’s character, whom I had previously only considered to be ditsy. Even though she knew she wasn’t a good singer, she was willing to put herself out there and try.

What sets this romantic comedy apart from others is that it adds a lot of laughs to a big moral dilemma. Because of this, I can definitely understand that it might not be everybody’s cup of tea. I personally like that Roberts’ character can be viewed as either the villain or the lovable, misunderstood protagonist. As long as you don’t mind a bit of drama and some potential feelings of frustration throughout, then I would recommend you watch this movie.

I can think of no better way to start out this blog than by posting about this film. Released in 1999, “10 Things I Hate About You” has to be one of my favorite rom coms of all time. Now available on Disney+, this film continues to be refreshing and fun no matter how many times I rewatch it. 

A Brief Summary

Starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, “10 Things I Hate About You” loosely takes the classic Shakespearean tale “Taming of the Shrew” and places it into a modern-day high school. To put it simply, Kat Straford (Julia Stiles), a smart but abrasive and rebellious high school student, has never had any interest in dating. Her popular younger sister Bianca Straford (Larisa Oleynick), however, is not allowed to go on a date until Kat does. In an attempt to win Bianca, new student Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) desperately tries to set Kat up with charming bad-boy Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger), another rebel who just might be able to win Kat’s heart.

The Film’s Origins

One interesting thing about this film is the story behind its creation and its connection to other famous romantic comedies. Screenwriters Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah were inspired by the success of “Clueless” a few years prior and consequently came up with the idea for the film. You see, “Clueless” was based off of Jane Austen’s “Emma.” Smith and McCullah loved this concept and thought they would also give contemporizing a classic a try. After the success of “10 Things I Hate About You”, this writing duo went on to create many more notable romantic comedies, including “Legally Blonde,” “Ella Enchanted,” and “She’s The Man.”

The Classic Serenade Scene

The scene in which Ledger’s character Patrick tries to win over Kat with a musical number has to be one of the most iconic moments in the film, unmatched in my mind as a cinematic grand romantic gesture. He gives a daring performance of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli in the school’s stadium — and to make it better, Ledger rejected lip-syncing and sang the song himself!

In 2019, it was revealed that this scene’s song was originally set to be The Partridge Family’s “I Think I Love You” or Divinyl’s “I Touch Myself.” It was Ledger himself who decided to sing Valli’s song on the day of the shoot. Not only did Ledger choose the song, he even took part in the scene’s costume design. The outfit itself was quite nondescript, but I believe it was very fitting for the moment.

My Thoughts

This film is funny, moving, and clever. It manages to stand out in a genre that is often brushed aside as substance-less through its use of well thought out social commentary. The characters have great chemistry and each cast member shows off a great acting performance. If you have not seen it yet, you are missing out! I would most definitely recommend “10 Things I Hate About You” to anyone and everyone who would enjoy a spirited, witty movie with a sweet ending.