VOL78 / 6
Romantic movie moves a bust
by Trisha Viau
Every girl loves chick flicks. They're cute, they're entertaining. But do the sappy love gestures ever actually come true? If you were to apply the same "romantic gestures" to real life situations, they would seem considerably less romantic and severely more creepy. Even though the large majority of guys (and girls) may not realize that these romantic gestures even exist, the following clich's should under no circumstance be used as the "how to" guide for attracting the opposite sex.
Romantic cliche #1: Slow Jams in the background. While the seducing sounds of Marvin Gaye really seems to set the mood in the movies, in real life you'd be laughing so hard you'd never actually "get it on."
Romantic cliche #2: Along with the mood music, candles seem to set the scene well. However, consumer beware, while in the process of "getting it on" one stray appendage to those flaming pillars of lust could cause your house to be hotter than you'll ever get.
Romantic cliche #3: Horse drawn carriage rides in the park. Regardless of how attractive the horse drawn carriage ride through Canal Park could seem, the chilly night air and the smell of the horse's behind in your face doesn't really set the mood in real life. On top of that, you may just cause onlookers to throw up a little in their mouths. (In case you were wondering, horse drawn carriages ARE available in Canal Park).
Romantic cliche #4: Flowers on a first date. This gesture tells girls that you are available in the wastefully financial sense, but carries very little sincere romantic gesture behind it. Thoughtful gifts are way better than something expensive and basically meaningless early in relationships.
Romantic cliche #5: Secret Admirer anything can be described in one word. Creepy. In the age of Facebook, Google Earth and Match.com, getting something from a secret admirer is not romantic, it's totally creepy, leaving the receiver wondering if they should relocate or change their cell phone number.
Romantic cliche #6: Singing declarations of love. While this may make your heart skip in the movies, regardless of how well you sing you'll leave that chica sitting awkwardly staring at her hands knowing that she doesn't want you back, but she is not sure how to break it to you.
Romantic cliche #7: Gestures that define the relationship. This would come in the form of a deeply personal and inside joke, only not funny and more intimate (intimate in a non-sexual way). Case in point: Dane Cook's character in the new movie "Good Luck Chuck" announces his commitment by reenacting the mating rituals of penguins, her passion. If you are, perhaps, in arelationship where you know each other well enough that a gesture such as this would not be creepy, then by all means do your research and woo away. But if you are still in the casual dating phase, steer clear of anything too personal or intimate, it will only scare him/her off.
