Posted by keri-jade at ts3-13t-61.idirect.com on February 11, 2000 at 22:42:56:
In Reply to: Mallrats as romantic comedy debate cont'd posted by Neil on February 11, 2000 at 12:24:38:
and most importantly, gen x/y isolation.
: Late in a continuing debate I wrote, "The main story for both of the duel leads in MALLRATS revolves around their quest for romantic love. It's not a commercial ploy sub-plot to create a weak story arc. It is, in fact, the main story of the film. The A-Plot. Just because the tone is different than NOTTING HILL and it wasn't marketed as a story about romantic love, does not on any level change the fact that it is."
Well, I have probably no business jumping into this debate, but there are many movies that are romantic comidies that are not marketed as such.
Let's look at Clerks and Dante's quest for romantic love. Given, Clerks isn't a romantic comedy (well, it's not...). Just pointing out that there are many times when there's romance in a flick that doesn't mark it as a romantic comedy or a film about *romantic* love.
What about American Pie? Or Rushmore?
How about Pretty in Pink? Sure, it's got romance in it, but to say that it has nothing else in there is completely missing the point. It would be like ignoring the class struggles issue or the cruel politics of high school issue. Or the self confidence/self definition and parential influence angles. I think Mallrats has alot going on.
Then again, TS was suppost to be the lead. If you knock Brodie down from a co-lead into a supporting role, there's a stronger sence of a friendship storyline and other topics. Originally, I don't think his relationship was suppost to be as big a deal as T.S.'s. I think it was just suppost to be something on the side thrown in. The original beginning also throws the "romance as #1 plot line" idea askew.
And Nottinghill wasn't about romantic love (not that I should care). That's like saying Chasing Amy is a story about the Lesbian lifestyle.
: Although I would disagree. I didn't find TS/Brandi involving at all, but I actually get reasonably involved in the Brodie/Renee storyline. That's the plot that pulls me through the movie.
well, Brodie pulled me through the film. I think he should have dumped shallow bitchy Renee and tried someone else. Like...Gwen maybe? There's a moment when she's talking to Brandi about TS and she says that she just might go after him that gets me every time. (Yet another reason why Joey Lauren is invaluable)