Relationships

     This week I was fortunate enough to watch the movie Silver Linings Playbook for the first time. Prior to this, I had never read the book and I was not entirely sure what it was about, all I knew was that it was supposedly wonderful. It was. Right after I experienced the wonderful movie, I went home and picked up the Moviegoer again. While reading, I noticed some striking similarities between Silver Linings Playbook and the Moviegoer. Both of these stories feature some very dysfunctional people who eventually get into dysfunctional relationships. However, although this sounds like something entirely negative, it is not. Both of these stories are incredibly real and more relatable than most romances that are so popular. Of course, a lot of people do not suffer with any kind of mental illness, nor have many experienced great, shocking trauma like these characters. These characters are real, the have problems just like the audience. It does not matter how extreme the problems of the characters are, it is just significant that they have problems that real people have too. Both of these authors use this. How dysfunctional the characters are is what makes the stories beautiful. Yes, there are times when we all cringe, turn our heads, and try and pretend that we did not just read/see something that awkward; but there is a beauty too these stories that redeem them. All of us are a tad bit dysfunctional, or maybe just quirky, in our own ways. The fact that these characters really do not try and hide their dysfunctional selves, and find common ground with each other in regard to their flaws is very different than most “love stories.” However, it is so much more like real life than the perfect love stories that are so popular. This is a much better way to show romance. This is how it happens in everyday, honest life.