Movies To Read By...

In an effort to personalize my blog posts a bit more, I've been trying to come up with a post series that will not only satisfy my review itch, but also unveil more of my personality. Thus the Movies To Read By series was born.

I think everyone has their own personal and unique reading habits. For instance, I know someone who must have a fresh pot a coffee to sit down with along with her book. My own mother, who's an avid reader, has an evening routine where she's in her bedroom every night at nine o'clock reading her mysteries, smoking her only cigarettes of the day while the Antique's Road Show or Jewelry Television prattles on in the background. I can easily picture her sitting Indian style on her side of the bed with a cigarette in one hand and a book in the other while her head will turn away from her novel periodically to the TV.

It's also become a universal truth for us Book Bloggers that we find sanctity in reading. Without it we're kind of lost like our center is missing. Reading is a way to disconnect from what can be a very harsh reality. Most days I can calm my anxiety with my day-to-day troubles by picturing my own little reading haven that includes my book, a soda and a really good movie.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I watch a lot of TV but I don't watch prime time except for Mad Men, which is a whole other discussion. I watch movies. I have my go to channels that deliver what I want but if they should fail, I always have the DVD's but then again, there's just something exciting about seeing your faves on TV. I know this may sound neurotic, but there are certain favorites of mine that I refuse to buy on DVD. It's a treat when they're on the TV. One that makes my reading haven for that evening even more comforting.

One such movie that I refuse to buy on DVD and the one that I'll be discussing today is 'French Kiss' with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline. It's beloved by both me and my mother and it's perfect to watch while reading a romance novel.

Title: FRENCH KISS

Released: 1995

Cast: Meg Ryan, Kevin Kline, Jean Reno and Timothy Hutton

Plot: Kate (Meg Ryan) is set to marry Charlie, a Canadian doctor (Timothy Hutton), when after he flies to Paris, France for a convention, calls off their wedding in favor of a French Goddess. Desperate to reclaim her fiance, Kate manages to get over her fear of flying with the help of a Parisian thief, Luc Teyssier (Kevin Kline), and lands in Paris only to have everything fall apart with her passport and money being stolen and no way to return home. Forced unwillingly to rely on Luc's help, the pair travel to Cannes with the intention of breaking up Charlie and his goddess and also to sell Luc's diamond necklace which just happens to be stolen. And of course somewhere along the way the two fall in love.

It's a movie to read by because:

This movie is hilarious but also very endearing. Both Kate and Luc are sympathetic characters that are down on their luck with the motivation to change their fates. For Luc it's a necklace, for Kate, the strength to finally fight for her dreams. Plus there are dozens of moments that has you laughing out loud like Luc's temporary erectile dysfunction and Kate's story of how she lost her virginity with Jeopardy in the background. But there's also the fact that although you're laughing at these characters you're also seeing traits of yourself within them that has you rooting for their happiness.

Kate's kind of a quirky and controlling girl who's subtlety neurotic in a really cute way. How's that possible? I don't rightly know but it's something that Meg Ryan does to perfection for all her characters are a bit controlling in a neurotic way. Well at least back when she was the RomCom Queen. But I digress, Kate's character evolution is visually noticeable and truly it's a movie quality that I always watch for. In the beginning Kate's blouse is buttoned to her chin, she's also wearing a vest and a blazer over jeans and sensible shoes. But as the movie progresses and as Kate's layers are peeled off one by one, so does the rigidity of her clothing. By the very end, she's wearing a long flowing dress with cap sleeves and a sweeping neckline and projecting the fact that she's comfortable and that ultimately she's shed her desire to control every minute of her life. She's finally living instead of just planning on one day being able to live.

That's what we all do right? We have this plan and sometimes the little moments get lost in our drive to always be looking ahead toward the future. Sometimes whole weeks slip by and I can't even remember what I did or who I saw. Watching Kate live more in the moment, seeing that freedom, makes me want to be the same way.

Another theme of 'French Kiss' that rings true for me is honesty. Not only being honest with yourself but others. We all get trapped in the lies or the omissions that we live our life by. What's refreshing but also contradicting about Kate is that she's shockingly honest with others but she lies to herself about her wants and needs. She's settling and isn't settling just another way of lying to yourself? Luc is the opposite, he knows who he is but lies all the time as he does to Kate. But while Kate's honesty makes him lie less, it's Luc's lies that forces Kate to live and re-evaluate her life.

Now while all this may be pretty deep stuff, the movie's core themes are layered with intelligent whit and humor. You really never stop laughing in this movie. And the humor is of stuff that may be embarrassing in day-to-day reality, but is actually granted a new and funny light on the big screen. One of my favorite discussions between Luc and Kate is the very humorous story of Kate loosing her virginity. Luc gets her pretty plastered first but then proceeds to ply from her an experience that she probably never really told anyone but it's also a story that practically every girl has. The first is generally never pleasant but Kate's has the added bonus of the whole thing being timed by an episode of Jeopardy. I've included a clip. The part about jeopardy is at time marker 7:50. Yeah pretty far in but I suggest watching it from the beginning if you can. The whole thing is hilarious.



'French Kiss', definitely a good movie to kick back and read to. I know that probably sounds a bit silly, why would someone read while her favorite movie is on but it's just something I do. I glance up for my favorite scenes. When my eyes start to burn from flicking them across the page I have a perfectly entertaining past time while I give them a break. It's comfort for me.

Besides, they don't make movies like they used to. RomCom's of today are all about the sex and the shock factor. They try too hard to be funny and ultimately lack the ability to hold the viewers attention. 'French Kiss' is smart, funny, and completely endearing and memorable. I never get tired of seeing it and I never stop laughing.

Next on Movies To Read By - 'Bridget Jones's Diary'