fandomhigh | It's Actually Not That Complicated; Tuesday, Second Period, 10/25.

"I know this is going to come to a shock to all of you," said Rosa, at the start of class, "but today, we're going to watch and discuss another Nancy Meyers film, and this one's actually probably up there as one of my favorites, because we get not just one amazing kitchen design, but two, both of them very different and with their own distinct charms. Now, the movie itself, both written and directed by the woman herself, involve two women, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, from opposite sides of the pond dealing with some stupid heartbreak right before the holidays, so they work out a situation where they'll swap houses for the season, before Air BnB was even a thing: British journalist goes to America, American movie trailer producer ships off to England. Anyway, they meet people, they fall in love, there's emotional release and connection, and the women and their newfound romantic interests all meet together at the end for New Years, where....they probably won't live happily ever after, it's a Nancy Meyers film and her protagonists are younger, so they're probably due for another romantic or professional crisis again in about twenty years or so.

"Honestly, it's charming, and the fish-out-of-water elements are a big factor in it, but it's kind of hokey and predictable, even if Meyers tends to keep it away from being too saccharine. It's also long, especially for this kind of movie. But the houses are gorgeous, and the main take-aways are, I feel, the importance of letting go, loving yourself, and how much different a little chance of scenery can make. But I'd be interested to hear what you end up taking away from it."

Unless that take was negative, in which case, you could just GTFO.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Like you just swapped houses with a stranger in another country!

Belle

Clare Devlin

Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love.

Do you agree with Rosa's proposed lessons for the film? Would you ever be willing to just swap houses with a stranger for a season? Where does the film succeed in its message and where might it....well, Meyers cannot fail, but where was it maybe not as strong.

And, more importantly than any of it: which house do you like better?

"If I could move the cottage out of England and to anywhere else," Clare said, "I'd live there forever."

"Well, then," said Rosa, "you'll be glad to know that cottages actually exist in many different places."

Maybe not that nice, sure, but hey. Anything was possible if you tried hard enough. Or knew which people to threaten/blackmail.

"And I dinnae need the drippy English bloke, either, just the tea and the cozy fire."

There may have been a grin tucked away in the corner of Rosa's mouth at that, with an approving nod. "Good answer," she said, satisfied now that these kids were clearly picking up on the important lessons in this class after all.

If you really have to, she is there, that is probably technically a part of her job, uuughhhhhh.

It's Actually Not That Complicated; Tuesday, Second Period, 10/25.

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