Most of us have been there – you have just come out of a relationship and you’re a little more sensitive than usual. Take it from me when I tell you that this won’t last forever, but still, it is an unwanted part of the transition to moving on from someone. This stage is that of finding some movies/tv series hard to watch due to their romantic elements. And it is hard to know how romantic a movie can be purely based off of a trailer, synopsis or friends recommendation. Here are five movies that are perfect for feeling that female empowerment and appreciating the fact that friends make this part of life so much easier.
Warning: This article does contain spoilers for the mentioned movies.
Legally Blonde
A classic staple of how a woman is more than just her looks; this movie also explores the idea of chasing after someone who is not good for you. Though this pursuit pushes Elle to get into Harvard (following the footsteps of her ex), she soon realises that he is not worth her effort and that she deserves better. The rest of the movie focuses on this female empowerment of reclaiming one’s own identity after a relationship and growing as a person from this. Though there is a little romance thrown in there with Elle and Emmett. This remains on the side as the focus throughout is dedicated to Elle’s development as a woman.
John Tucker must die
More of a teen flick but a good watch nonetheless. This movie follows three teenage girls as they try to get revenge on a boy, Tucker, who dated them all at the same time. And to do this they drag the new girl, Kate, in to be Tucker’s downfall. This movie follows through on the idea of getting revenge on an ex and how it is an unhealthy action when you should just try to move on. Like Legally Blonde there is a subplot of romance between Kate and Tucker’s younger brother Scott but again this does not take centre stage. The main plot tackles the idea of holding onto someone who wronged you and how trying to get revenge on them is not the answer.
How to be single
A more recent movie starring Rebel Wilson from Pitch Perfect and Dakota Johnson from Fifty Shades of Grey. The main plot deals with multiple characters and giving screen time to all of their separate lives. What ties them all together is how each person is dealing either with being newly single or having been single for a long time. The main lesson learned from this movie is that being single is great and can be so much fun, but also that relationships can be good as well. In the end, they both have their pros and cons. The movie does give more time to Dakota’s character Alice as she puts the brakes on her college relationship to pursue being single and free in her now college free life. The progression of moving on from her ex is explored throughout the movie and though Alice misses the good parts of her ex she slowly starts to see the parts of him that she had not seen in him before. Of course, Rebel Wilson’s character, Robin, is there as Alice’s Single-fairy godmother and helps her to see the perks of being single and that friendship helps muchly in the process of embracing being a single independent woman.
The first wives club
A classic again (that fewer people may know about). This movie follows three women as they deal with the death of a dear friend after her husband leaves her for a younger woman. These three women: Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler band together to help each other with their crumbling marriages/divorces. Though this movie focuses on the idea of getting revenge on your ex, it also tackles the mental health repercussions of how men treat women in relationships, and specifically marriages. The overall lesson learned from this movie is female empowerment through friendship and being there for each other. And that it is important to not let good friendships drift apart when you enter a relationship.
The other woman
A movie starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Upton, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Nicki Minaj (to name the main cast). This movie focuses on Cameron Diaz’s character Carly who starts dating someone who seems to be a great guy. However, Mark turns out to be married to a woman called Kate. The movie follows as Carly and Kate form an unlikely friendship and plot to teach Mark a lesson while also making more discoveries about who he truly is in the process. This movie tackles the heartache of a cheating partner but does so in a light-hearted and comedic way. The ending does indulge the viewer in a happy ending for some characters as they find a new partner, but the arguably main character Kate stays true to herself and being single after such a marriage.
Though these are ‘romantic’ movies and you may want to avoid such a genre altogether. Security of a lack of romance can be found in many other genres and movies like sci-fi, action, kids. In movies/tv series like Sucker Punch, Hot Fuzz, Rise of the Guardians, Kung Fu Panda, Charlie and the chocolate factory, Richie Rich, Matilda to name a few.
