This movie recently premiered on Comedy Central, whichm of course, means it's been airing pretty much constantly. I watched it a couple days ago.
The movie centers around Rob Gordon (John Cusack) and his breakup with Laura Lydon (Iben Hjejle). They broke up because of the stupid relationship BS that everyone has. Rob is afraid of commitment, and Laura leaveshim for their former upstaires neighbor Ray (Tim Robbins).
Rob owns an independant record store. He's a former DJ. He always makes top 5 lists. In this movie, he's recalling his top 5 breakups, which include the one he's going through now. Rob loves Laura. He really does, but he's afraid of what it would mean to fully commit himself to her. He's afraid to take the leap. He's still holding on to his independence and bachelor mentality, and that's why he cannot move on with his life. I think this is interesting because whereas most movies illustrate a time of dramatic change in the main character, this one shows the main character as completely stagnant. Only at the end, when he realizes it, does any change occur.
What I really like about this movie is the way it illustrates the real nature of a long-term relationship, the way men look at women, and the way real relationships work and, more importantly, don't work. Rob uses lingerie as an example and a metaphor. Men want women to wear the lingerie for them. It makes us feel special, and it turns us on. We like the lingerie version of women, and that's what we tend to look for, so to speak. Men are shallow pigs.
Every relationship starts with the lingerie. She's pretty. She's nice. She has a great sense of humor. She just drives you wild. After a while, though, the 6 year old cotton panties start to make their way in. At first, you think it's quaint. They're nice, but they're no edible teddy. They aren't sexy. They're more functional. Men are afraid of that. We're afraid of the comfortable white panties. They signify the onset of commitment. They signify the end of that short, beginning-of-the-relationship period where everything is just great, and wonderful. They signify the return to normalcy, and, despite what you may think, normalcy is, in fact, a word.
Men are always on the lookout for the lingerie version of women, the sexy, fun to be with, fresh, new, exciting version. What we should be looking for is the old panties version, the one who we are comfortable being comfortable with, the one who can still drive us wild, but who can also hog the blanket and snore loudly. Sexy lingerie is nice, but little idiosynchracies, little details, the way she smiles, the way she laughs at the same joke, the way she does that little thing with, well, you get the idea... they're better.
Every relationship starts off with the same unbridled passion, and every relationship has the same relationship BS. You want to find someone with whom you are happy to endure both.
Anyway, the movie ends happily. Rob and Laura get back together and decide to get married. Rob goes back to DJing, and he produces an album, and it's all good, the end.
Good movie. Better when it isn't edited for TV.