The REEL Addict 

By Kristal Cooper

Years ago, I remember reading about the Bechdel Rule which is a sort of litmus test for female presence in movies. Basically, it states that a woman should only see a movie that features 2 female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man. This originated back in 1983 and was meant to point out that if women stuck exclusively to this mandate then they would hardly ever set foot in a movie theatre.

While this is definitely something that is still true today, a soon to be released movie has prompted me to start thinking in terms of updating the rule for today’s audiences. More specifically, I think it should be amended to include movies where women talk about something other than WEDDINGS.

Now, I enjoy many women-aimed movies as a guilty pleasure. Given the right mood (and the right snacks), I’m often very forgiving about the subject matter as long as the actors are semi-charismatic and the story isn’t too preposterous. However, I feel I must protest the recent onslaught of movies that portray women as wedding-obsessed harpies.

The trend started with MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING and in recent years has reached a fever pitch with selections such as THE WEDDING DATE and 27 DRESSES. This Friday, a movie is opening that I believe is an indication that we’re finally reaching the hellish pinnacle - that movie is called BRIDE WARS.

The gist of the movie is that two best friends, played by Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway are fighting over the only available date on which to have their perfect princess wedding at the Plaza Hotel in New York. The rivalry not only causes a rift between the two but compels them to participate in vicious pranks that include tampering with the hue of one’s mystic tan and the unthinkable act of messing with a sister’s hair colour. Get it?! ‘Cause throwing down in lady world always includes beauty products.

Honestly? I know there are a dearth of good scripts out there for actresses and that the big studios STILL insist on chasing the teenage boy market despite the huge success of recent chick flicks SEX AND THE CITY and TWILIGHT but can’t we all just get along? Why must every movie made for women seem like it was written from pieced together Cosmo articles?

I would call for a boycott of this movie based on everything I’ve stated above but doing so would only ensure that fewer movies are made specifically for the female market in the future. My one wish is that misogynist trash like “Bride Wars” will eventually make way for mainstream scripts about real female issues written by smart, savvy writers who don’t prescribe to stereotypes. It’s a long shot, but maybe one day we’ll be able to look back at the Bechdel Rule as a quaint example of what cinema used to be.