He Said/She Said: Romantic Comedies 101

I feel Ephron is using the similar styles she used in You've Got Mail specifically with having a male and female protagonist. Isabel's character is qute naive, innocent and clueless. Often when she says or does something that is unintentionally funny she gets laughed at. So are the women in Bewitched being laughed at or telling the jokes? We also see the pattern of older adults trying to find love and happiness in their life. The overall message is sweet and sappy (my guilty pleasure movies): Wanting someone to love you in spite of your flaws and good aspects. Regarding the  male/female fantasy, I feel Ephron is definitely playing off of and incorporating more of the female fantasy. Wanting some guy to be completely smitten (yes I used the word smitten) with you, change, become a better man because of you, love you for all of you, to have a man need you. I mean Isabel is basically saying her life isn't complete because she hasn't experienced love or doesn't have a man.

At the same time though we have to take into consideration that Ephron was updating a popular TV show, which had its original plot and storyline that most people were quite familiar with.

• How different would the movie be if it wasn't an updated version of Bewitched?
• What if it was just about Jack White (a struggling actor) meeting Isabel ( an everyday, normal girl)?
• If this was the movie, would Ephron have Isabel possess some characteristics of Meg Ryan's characters(Sally, Kathleen) - sass, cuteness, opinionated, honest, independent, strong, etc?
• Would Isabel be less "the ideal woman" in a male's world (fantasy or reality)? Or would she be realistic and go with the times?

It seems as if in Cameron Crowe movie's the men change, gains insight, appreciates life or becomes a better man and person because of the women in their life.

Why is it that Ephron tries to have both characters, male and female change because of each other?  Does that mean she's more realistic in terms of portraying relationships than Crowe?

// posted by singleinthecity @ 2:41 AM