6 Lies The Movies Teach Us About Dating And Where To Find The Truth.
There are thousands of books written about dating, but if you feel that flicking through pages, and reading actual words is not a good use of your time, perhaps the movies can provide you with the dating education you need.
But beware, you shouldn’t believe everything you see on the big screen. So firstly we’ll look at the big fat dating lies that Hollywood have sold us, before pointing you in the direction of the truth.
If you leave your wife, and start a new family, then go back to your first wife, it is far more likely that she will greet you with a meat cleaver and a maniacal grin than fresh than a glass of wine and her best lingerie.
Although it is possible that after some time Stockholm Syndrome will kick in and your captive will stop resisting their confinement, it’s not really a healthy way to begin a relationship.
In the film Nala and Simba grow up together as cubs, almost as close as brother and sister, before one day falling in love and starting their own family. In reality, most childhood friends are permanently trapped in the ‘Friend Zone’, never to be linked romantically in any way.
Belle is way out of Beast’s league, but she has low self-esteem, so she’s happy to take him on as a project and turn him into the husband she has always wanted. There may be an element of truth in this, but this story only works out if the man is happy to be molded into someone else.
Lightning McQueen gets the girl because he has a good paint job and wins trophies. Apparently being obnoxious and self-obsessed did not damage is dating potential one little bit.
Canadian boss (Sandra Bullock) needs to marry an American for a visa, so she blackmails her subordinate (Ryan Gosling). Eventually they fall in love. While in theory this is possible, blackmail of an employee is a pretty high risk dating strategy which may result in an employment tribunal and hefty compensation bill.
Whilst most films are based on a fantasy world that teaches us little about real-life, there are two films that provide a useful insight into dating and relationships.
Catfish The Movie (2010) is an American documentary about a boy who is dating a girl online. When he shows up to meet her, she is not at all what he was expecting. If you are into online dating, this film, and accompanying TV show will tell you everything you need to know to avoid hooking your own catfish.
And for a real tear-jerker, check out the first eight minutes of Pixar animation, Up. This cartoon opens with a beautiful sequence of events from an elderly man’s marriage, which shows him meeting his wife, their time together, and her eventual passing. In just a few minutes this clever cartoon gives a real insight into the highs, lows and intensity of a long term relationship.