My Five Things: Guys From Movies We Wish Were Real
We all have fallen into that trap. We are settling in to watch a movie, popcorn is comforting, and we get drawn into this different world, that seems like our own, but isn’t. As the story progresses, we notice a character so remarkable and we just think to ourselves, “Who is this person? Where can I find him/her/them in real life?” This is a list I have been meaning to put together for a while now: Guys From Movies We Wish Were Real. I originally wanted to keep it to only five, and I pretty much have – with one High School Bonus pick! I now present to you, possibly the best, romantic male characters ever in movies!
#5. Justin Matisse (Harry Connick, Jr.) – Hope Floats: When Birdee goes back to her small town to pick up the pieces of her shattered marriage, the last thing she expected was to fall in love. But the more we get to know Justin and the purity in how he feels for her, we all fall in love with him. Including her daughter, Bernice, who is played beautifully by a young Mae Whitman. Line that seals the deal? “Dancing’s just a conversation between two people. Talk to me.”
#4. Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) – Bridget Jones’s Diary: Most single girls really relate to Bridget – we know how hard it is to be a singleton these days. But this was the first movie in which I didn’t like Hugh Grant’s character, which was refreshing. Everyone speculated that he would play Mark Darcy, but I am fully glad he didn’t. If he had, it wouldn’t have fit – that isn’t who Mark Darcy is. Mark is serious and straightforward, but also the better choice for Bridget (and any of us). Line that seals the deal? Bridget: “Wait a minute… nice boys don’t kiss like that.” Mark: “Oh, yes, they fucking do!”
#3. William Thacker (Hugh Grant) – Notting Hill: The impossible dream love scenario: simple bookstore owner falls madly in love and lives happily ever after with the Hollywood starlet. If you think this is all the movie is about, you didn’t watch very carefully. The relationships that all the couples share in this movie, even when they are difficult and ugly, are inspiring. And, as much as I wouldn’t want Hugh Grant to play Mark Darcy, I feel as strongly that no one could play William Thacker any better than Hugh. Line that seals the deal? ”It was sort of sweet actually – I mean, I know she’s an actress and all that, so she can deliver a line – but she said that she might be as famous as can be – but also… that she was just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her. Oh, sod a dog. I’ve made the wrong decision, haven’t I?”
#2. Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling/James Garner) – The Notebook: Possibly one of the romantic stories of our time. I read the book and completely fell in love with Noah. He and Allie are what really is defined as true love. My friend makes fun of me for loving Nicholas Sparks books because she claims he is always killing the woman in his novels. This can be argued to be true, but he also writes characters that are so full of life, they come off the page and you care about them and everything that they go through. I was nervous about the movie but was very pleasantly surprised. Plus, wet, naked hot sex with Ryan Gosling? Yes Please! Line that seals the deal? ”So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be really hard. We’re gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day.”
#1. Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) – Say Anything: Cameron Crowe’s movie that defined teen and young adult relationships in the 90s. Lloyd was the guy who had great friends that were girls, the guy without much of a future plan, but also the guy with heart. Lloyd is cynical, but still has some faith in things; he is gloomy at times, but also has a passion and optimism that most people his age didn’t. He was completely devoted to Diane Court, who totally did not deserve him. But he loved her and committed to her and that is what we all really want. His quest to win her over and fight to get her back was heartwarming and intense. I mean – the scene with the boombox over his head, blaring Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” is epic and burned into pop culture forever. I admit – I dated a “Lloyd” guy myself and we were together for a long time. We had a great relationship and it is something I hope to experience again. It is a high standard to meet, but I know there are guys out there who make the cut. Line that seals the deal? ”She’s gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen.”
Finally, your bonus guy, from my teen years is:
Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) – Sixteen Candles: He is the most popular boy in school who also dates the most popular girl. But he notices sophomore Samantha Baker (played impeccably by Molly Ringwald), which, in our teenage minds meant it is possible to get the popular guy to notice us too. It was the fantasy of it all. Most of us were stuck hanging at the high school dance with Farmer Ted, Cliff & Bryce, while we imagined that Jake Ryan would finally wise up and ask us to dance instead. Even the geeks are endearing in this movie, but there is just something about the dreamy Jake because we somehow see past the exterior, and learn he wants more in his life. It did not hurt that Michael Schoeffling was absolutely beautiful (whatever happened to him anyway?) and defined cool. Of course, in the end, Sam gets to make her birthday wish and she tells him it already came true **sigh**. Line that seals the deal? ”I want a serious girlfriend. Somebody I can love, that’s gonna love me back. Is that psycho?”
Do you agree? Have any additions? Feel free to comment!
