Men, do you watch "chick flicks"?

[Keroin]

OK, so while camping last weekend, my pals and me had a fairly heated discussion about all kinds of boy/girl, sexism, stereotype sort of stuff. One of the topics that came up was "chick flicks". My friend S, said that it bothered her that there were negative connotations to that descriptor, as she felt it would prevent men from watching otherwise good movies because they didn't want to be seen doing something "girly".

From there, she argued that by preventing men from enjoying this kind of entertainment society was missing the opportunity to foster empathy and other desirable traits among males.

Now me, I come at it from a different point of view. I think that whether you call them chick flicks or "tough as nails movies" that has little effect on whether men will watch them.

My theory is that if you took 100 men into a room, one at a time, and showed them two DVD's, without titles or known actors, with one DVD case showing a loving couple on the cover and one showing a guy with a gun jumping out of an exploding helicopter, and you told them they could choose whichever DVD they wanted, watch it in private, and no one would ever know which they'd chosen...I still think the majority would choose the exploding helicopter.

I don't think men choose not to watch chick flicks because of societal pressures, I think they don't watch them because they're boring.

But I could be completely wrong.

Men?

 

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

I don't think men choose not to watch chick flicks because of societal pressures, I think they don't watch them because they're boring.

Correct.

They just do not appeal to me in any way.

I need something interesting to keep my attention. Watching a couple work on/grow/lose then get back their relationship for one and a half hours just does not do anything for me.

 

[Netzach]

OK, so while camping last weekend, my pals and me had a fairly heated discussion about all kinds of boy/girl, sexism, stereotype sort of stuff. One of the topics that came up was "chick flicks". My friend S, said that it bothered her that there were negative connotations to that descriptor, as she felt it would prevent men from watching otherwise good movies because they didn't want to be seen doing something "girly".

From there, she argued that by preventing men from enjoying this kind of entertainment society was missing the opportunity to foster empathy and other desirable traits among males.

Now me, I come at it from a different point of view. I think that whether you call them chick flicks or "tough as nails movies" that has little effect on whether men will watch them.

My theory is that if you took 100 men into a room, one at a time, and showed them two DVD's, without titles or known actors, with one DVD case showing a loving couple on the cover and one showing a guy with a gun jumping out of an exploding helicopter, and you told them they could choose whichever DVD they wanted, watch it in private, and no one would ever know which they'd chosen...I still think the majority would choose the exploding helicopter.

I don't think men choose not to watch chick flicks because of societal pressures, I think they don't watch them because they're boring.

But I could be completely wrong.

Men?

I'm going to answer anyway - I'd pick a DVD of a virtual yule log before I'd pick these movies. They are emotionally fake and completely annoying.

 

[Keroin]

Correct.

They just do not appeal to me in any way.

I need something interesting to keep my attention. Watching a couple work on/grow/lose then get back their relationship for one and a half hours just does not do anything for me.

I could have used your help last weekend!

I'm going to answer anyway - I'd pick a DVD of a virtual yule log before I'd pick these movies. They are emotionally fake and completely annoying.

*snort*

 

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

I could have used your help last weekend!

If you take away the crude humor and sex from Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, She's Out Of My League, etc you would be left with somewhat of a "chick flick".

But in order to keep guys interested you need the crude humor and sex.

 

[Netzach]

If you take away the crude humor and sex from Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, She's Out Of My League, etc you would be left with somewhat of a "chick flick".

But in order to keep guys interested you need the crude humor and sex.

Redacted. Just realized how eager I'd be to post if I was a guy who just loved "Pretty Woman"

 

[Keroin]

If you take away the crude humor and sex from Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, She's Out Of My League, etc you would be left with somewhat of a "chick flick".

But in order to keep guys interested you need the crude humor and sex.

To quote L...

"I don't mind the lovey dovey stuff but without the exploding helicopter there isn't much point."

You know, people rage against porn but I think romantic comedies are far more damaging to our cultural psyche. Who the fuck can live up to that ideal?

And every time I see a movie couple wake up together, after a long night's sleep, roll over and start sucking face...WITHOUT BRUSHING THEIR TEETH FIRST...I want to scream. Ick.

 

[zarngash]

even though I am into pain, I just can't bare watch them... well of course unless there is something in it for me >>;-D

 

[midwestyankee]

K, please define your terms. I think I understand what is commonly called a "chick flick" but I'd enjoy seeing some titles that are undeniably in the category. I probably have seen a few and liked them.

Unlike others with the Y thingie, I don't go much for the exploding helicopter genre. I'm much more fond of black humor and farce than I am of so-called adventure movies.

Given the choice that you presented, I'd probably take the one with the loving couple in hopes of a tender nekkid shower scene for the lady.

 

[JMohegan]

A League of Their Own was an outstanding flick. Thelma and Louise was pretty good, too.

Do those count?

 

[Keroin]

K, please define your terms. I think I understand what is commonly called a "chick flick" but I'd enjoy seeing some titles that are undeniably in the category. I probably have seen a few and liked them.

Unlike others with the Y thingie, I don't go much for the exploding helicopter genre. I'm much more fond of black humor and farce than I am of so-called adventure movies.

Given the choice that you presented, I'd probably take the one with the loving couple in hopes of a tender nekkid shower scene for the lady.

Well, technically, a "chick flick" is any movie that is marketed specifically toward women. Now, obviously this encompasses a wide range of movies of vastly varying quality. But, some examples would be:

Beaches, Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Devil Wore Prada, Steel Magnolias, Just Like Heaven, PS I love You, No Reservations, Secret Life of Bees...and anything with Hugh Grant in it.

Nekkid shower scenes are good. I'll give you that.

 

[Keroin]

A League of Their Own was an outstanding flick. Thelma and Louise was pretty good, too.

Do those count?

They do, actually...see my previous post.

 

[Keroin]

My point is not so much whether chick flicks are inherently good or bad, simply that it is not societal pressure which prevents men from watching them but simply personal preference.

ETA: Good movies are good movies, regardless of genre but if I'm going to watch a movie with a crappy plot or bad acting, I'd rather it have zombies or ninjas or exploding helicopters than a lot of people "finding" themselves.

 

[JMohegan]

Beaches, Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Devil Wore Prada, Steel Magnolias, Just Like Heaven, PS I love You, No Reservations, Secret Life of Bees...and anything with Hugh Grant in it.

I haven't seen any of those.

Ya Ya Sisterhood is sort of a cool name.

 

[Netzach]

Personally I define them as romantic comedies with emotionally impossible setups and a pat ending. My definition is narrower. I don't think simply having a predominantly female audience does it- Heavenly Creatures probably had a predominantly female audience. The Queen probably had one. Not chick flicks.

 

[Keroin]

Ya Ya Sisterhood is sort of a cool name.

Meh, I'd skip it.

The Devil Wears Prada was good. But then Meryl Streep is just such a ridiculously good actress.

 

[graceanne]

I don't think men choose not to watch chick flicks because of societal pressures, I think they don't watch them because they're boring.

I agree, but I don't watch chick flicks for the same reason, so I might be biased.

 

[Netzach]

My girlfriends who do love them are not stupid or shallow - they tend to be very smart, very stressed, and very starved for escape when they watch movies. I don't watch movies for escape.

I like adrenaline/stupid or non-escape thought provoking, or culturally weird old stuff and camp.

 

[graceanne]

My girlfriends who do love them are not stupid or shallow - they tend to be very smart, very stressed, and very starved for escape when they watch movies. I don't watch movies for escape.

My sisters and my best friend love chick flicks. I don't look down on people who watch them, but I rarely sit down to watch a movie, so I'm picky about what I do watch.

 

[Netzach]

Could this be one of those men/visual women/narrative things?
I mean what if they just asked how many really visual people liked movies with shit blowing up? Because all my art nerd friends who are pretty feminine altogether prefer movies where shit blows up as their escape to romantic fantasies.
Chick flicks do NOT deliver a visual payload.

Other than the occasional shower scene.

There ARE those guys who'll sit through a root canal if it means there's a titty in it. M is one. He's like OMG, BOOB OUTLINE looking in catalogs.

 

[rosco rathbone]

Can't stand that chickflick crap.

 

[intothewoods]

Well, technically, a "chick flick" is any movie that is marketed specifically toward women. Now, obviously this encompasses a wide range of movies of vastly varying quality. But, some examples would be:

Beaches, Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Devil Wore Prada, Steel Magnolias, Just Like Heaven, PS I love You, No Reservations, Secret Life of Bees...and anything with Hugh Grant in it.

Nekkid shower scenes are good. I'll give you that.

Whoa. I don't think all of those are chick flicks. Well, mostly, but Steel Magnolias has a real story. I guess I will throw in Devil Wore Prada, but I thought that was more a movie marketed to gay men...and me.

I think Jennifer Anniston and Kate Hudson. Bleah.

You know, worse than chick flicks is chick lit. Vomit.

Personally I define them as romantic comedies with emotionally impossible setups and a pat ending. My definition is narrower. I don't think simply having a predominantly female audience does it- Heavenly Creatures probably had a predominantly female audience. The Queen probably had one. Not chick flicks.

Word.

I haven't seen any of those.

Ya Ya Sisterhood is sort of a cool name.

Ok book, terrible movie.

 

[intothewoods]

Can't stand that chickflick crap.

This is absolutely shocking.

Do you like Madmen? You must.

 

[rosco rathbone]

This is absolutely shocking.

Do you like Madmen? You must.

People keep telling me to watch that. It's in my queue.

 

[DVS]

Sometimes I think I'm a little prissy. I'm a musician and although I enjoy many styles of music, I really enjoy musicals. I've got male friends that look at me with almost disgust when I tell them things like that.

I have one male musician friend (a drummer, if that tells you anything) who says he can't understand why someone would suddenly break into a song out of no where. While I can understand that point of view, there are so many good movies in the musical category...I couldn't begin to mention them. And a good song remains in your head long after much of the dialogue.

As for the category of chick flicks, I would guess I could watch some of them, without a problem. There are some I'll watch because of the actress in them. Sometimes it's because of her physical body and the hope I might see her ass and sometimes I guess I just enjoy the acting. No, I'm not going to divulge any names, for fear of losing my Manly Dom license.

I think some so called chick flicks will have the female dressed in revealing clothes or next to nothing much of the time, just to attract the male audience. I think some men will be first attracted by that, then find they liked the movie. I also think it's safe to say women will see some action movies or sport related movies just to see some of the male body. We are all human, after all.

I'm not really that into action movies, although I do enjoy them, if they are done well. Just action for action's sake isn't enough. I like special effects, but they can get out of hand. If the story line requires it, I'm OK with it. One example is the "Die Hard" series of movies. I liked all of them, even though I could pretty much tell you the plot from the beginning.

And some that have a lot of blood and guts don't really thrill me, but if the plot is good and if they have humor mixed in, that helps a lot. There was a movie I saw last night...I can't remember the name. It was about Irish mobsters. Lots of killing, blood and guts. But there was also a lot of humor. Great movie! Then again, Good Fellas is an excellent movie, and there is just a little humor in it. Quality is key for me, in the action category, as well as a real need for the gore. Helicopters in flames? If it's in the movie Black Hawk Down, maybe.

Suspense movies are at the top of my list. Again, they must be well done. That's one reason for my AV. Hitch was the master. On the flip of that, when you know some stupid blond is going to die because she trips over her two left feet at the wrong time, or someone goes down into the basement when they should know better...that's not suspense.

So, chick flicks? I'm OK with some of them, but they must have something I want to see. Just the plot or the emotional interaction between a man and a woman (woman and woman or family setting) isn't enough. Now, if they break into a song or there's a shower scene...