The One my Kids Probably Ought to Skip (No, really, I talk about sex)

Three very smart women whose opinions I respect, Mrs. G.,Phd in Yogurtry, and my neighbor all told me Hope Springs was a terrible movie. Naturally, I had to see for myself. 

Gag.

They were all right and I sure wish two of my favorite actors hadn't been starring in it. Sorry, Tommy Lee and Meryl that was a swing and a miss.

What a depressing movie. I guess one of the reasons I've been married for 25 years is that I would not put up with being lonely in my marriage to that extent for five seconds. We would be going for H-E-L-P immediately. We would have had a major blow-out, clear the air, fight and gotten through it. The need for those fights goes down the longer you've been together--I'd bet we'll go 10 years this time (trying to remember the last huge fight and I really can't), but in the early years? We were hammering shit OUT.

The resolution of everything through sex was also stupid. Sex is a symptom, not a cure. Take care of the underlying issues (and there can be many including just being damn tired) and the sex generally resolves itself. Communication begets intimicy which begets sex. It doesn't work in reverse in my experience. All couples have dry spells . . . the trick is to recognize them and realize you need to pay some attention to your relationship.

While I'm speaking so frankly, I will have to say that movies always portray the toddler years as hard on your sex life. I don't really get that as my kids were in bed by 7 p.m. and weren't getting out of bed until at least 5 a.m. That's a lot of free hours. On the other hand, when they're teenagers you have to have them come into your room at 10 or 11 p.m. every Friday or Saturday night to wake you up so you know they're home (and so you can make sure they're social life isn't getting too crazy) and then they're up for three more hours.

In the end, I'm glad I saw the movie just so I could write this post. Also? I would probably never have occasion to share my thought that IF you were going to give someone a bj in a movie theatre, it might be better to just lean over and not try to kneel on the floor. 

Anybody out there have thoughts to share?

 

 

Comments

[amy]

Thanks for the review. I had thought about seeing this. And I probably see a movie once every few years. Good to know that I don't need to waste my money!

[JennyExplainsItAll.blogspot.com]

I was SO looking forward to Hope Springs because, really, Meryl Streep AND Tommy Lee Jones? My two favorite actors? But I couldn't bear to see them in something as bad as this sounds, so I'll save my money.

And, if there's a kneeling movie-theater bj in the script, I'm glad I heard about it before it was too late.

I had been afraid it would be rather depressing, anyway. I don't need any more reasons to remind me how much easier many things are
when you're single. I'll go hunt up some good Meryl or Tommy re-run to watch.

[Smalltown Me]

I saw it. It was OK. It wasn't worse than a lot of other shit out there. Just don't go see it expecting any great insights. It's just a commercial movie, not artistic at all and certainly not a documentary on marriage therapy. That being said, I found the bj scene really sad and embarrassing for the character. Jeez, pick a more intimate place! They have a motel room!

[The Zadge]

No. No. No. Someone did NOT give a BJ in the theatre! Tell me no.

[Arli]

...IF you were going to give someone a bj in a movie theatre, it might be better to just lean over...'

Too funny, Jenn!
Two GREAT actors, one mediocre movie. A waste of some really great talent.

[Little Miss Sunshine State]

Amen. I saw it with 3 other women, all over 55. We looked at each other after it was over and said "Blech, that was depressing".
Meryl Streep's character made me nuts, with all the weirdo faces she was pulling. We thought Tommy Lee's character was someone we wouldn't fight to keep. That marriage needed WAY more than a week of therapy.
My Mom saw it with a group of women over 70 years old and they all had the same reaction.
With that cast and subject, it had the potential to be a good story, but sadly, it was not.

[Karen (formerly kcinnova)]

Teens being obedient by poking their heads in the door to say they are home after an evening out -- Yeah, sometimes that isn't such a good idea. We might have scarred one of our sons.

Thank you for adding your voice to the others that I respect; you have all worked together to keep me from wasting my money and an evening.

[Busy Bee Suz]

I love both Meryl and Tommy too....but I thought this might not be a good one. It seemed in the previews she was the one working for the relationship and he checked out. Blah.
Ummm....are you serious about this bj in the theater? was that in the movie or AT the movie??? LOL

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

Lol. In the movie, at a movie.

Sent from my iPhone

[Navhelowife]

Darn. I wish I'd had your toddlers! Mine were terrible sleepers...but they all sleep well now :)
And I've heard more than once how blech that movie was. Which is depressing because I like both those actors.

[Jenrantsraves]

I notice your readers kept their comments centered on the movie, not their sex lives. Me? I'll just tell you that my sex life is awesome, all the time. ; ) or should I say LOL?!

[Lisa G. in CT]

Noooooo!!! No thoughts. NO THOUGHTS!!!!

[Brightside=Susan]

I know I didn't fight enough in the earlier years of our marraige - being married to a good lawyer is tough. The previews for the movie made it look like she was doing the work, making the effort and that drives me crazy. If there is something wrong, the sex does reflect it - but it certainly is not the answer to the problem!

[Jeremy Scott Wings]

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