In chick flicks, the guys are either nice guys, jerks with a heart of gold, a bitch in sheep's clothing or flat-out evil. Not a lot of nuanced characterisation there.
So!
I have come up with my own little scale. NO! Even better! A 2x2 matrix!
Ok, I did a business module a year for my entire degree. The 2x2 matrix is engraved on my psyche. Live with it.
Ahem.
Your chances of ending up with the heroine depend on what sort of movie you're in. Bitch in Sheep's Clothing (aka Crouching Nice Guy Hidden Jerkass)? You're probably dating her already, but she'll see you for what you are and dump you before we finish the jumbo bag of Minstrels. Bad Guy? Well, you're probably a secondary character anyway. Your chances were never good. Nice Guy? Pretty good chance, the trope being Single Woman Seeks Good Man. But...
Come in Jerk with a Heart of Gold, your time is up. If one of these exists in a chick flick, he will trump all other possible combinations. Because, apparently, no woman can resist a man who's mean to everyone but her. And cute kittens. And When A Jerk Loves A Tsundere makes up half of all chick flick plots, ever.
Sadly, unlike business matrices, I don't think this matrix will make me rich. Oh well.
Anyway, examples!
Nice Guy: Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal, Emmett in Legally Blonde, that guy in The Devil Wears Prada (which is mostly an excuse for Anne Hathaway to wear Chanel boots, but whatever). Hugh Grant in...pretty much anything (About A Boy and Bridget Jones's Diary excepted, when he's The Jerk).
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: That guy in He's Just Not That Into You. Wossname in How to lose a guy in 10 days. Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones's Diary.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Too many to name. First Guy/current boyfriend in most chick flicks. Warner in Legally Blonde...
The Bad Guy (aka Villain): Cal in Titanic.
See, if you read that list, you'll understand my point. These men, for the most part, have little to no actual personality. I remembered maybe two or three names without looking them up. They exist merely as foils for the heroine, who is...well, she has personality traits...after a fashion. Ok, klutzy is not a personality trait, but you know. The women's characterisation generally sucks too, but at least there is some attempt made at it.
More examples! We must have more examples!
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1 comments:
Surely Hugh Grant is the Bad Guy in Bridget Jones's Diary ... Mark Darcy is, as you've already observed, the Jerk.
I blame Jane Austen ... most of these characterisations can be found there somewhere.
Bingley -> Nice Guy.
Darcy -> Jerk with HoG.
Collins -> Bitch in SC.
Wickham -> Bad Guy.
Given how much of Emma is seen through Emma's eyes:
Knightley -> JHG
Elton -> BSC (what does she have against vicars anyway)
Martin -> NG
Anyway ... why am I engaged in this conversation ... just put it on TV tropes and let them find the examples ... they've good at it.
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