he's just not into you (2009). directed by ken kwapis.

it's red hot. so many people out there are watching and queuing for the ticket that i didnt manage to secure one yesterday, other than the rm40 premier ticket which i think is too much. when i read these reviews in the star He's Just Not That Into You and Dial L for loser, i think it echoed what i have in my mind all along. that perhaps, why this is such a phenomenon when in actual fact it is pretty obvious, is that too many women are desperate and too many men are perasan (damned is there an english word for that? bahasa melayu is cool!). a culture of egoists? a unique combo indeed. personally i find the premise degrading women and not respectful at all. but yeah we are in the age of being able to laugh at ourselves on our own expense, so why the hell not.

this bit from the star highlights the difference of today's women on the screen to their strategist heroines of the 40's:

Oh, how I miss the screwball heroines of 1930s’ and 1940s’ romantic comedies. Sure, their priority was to marry their man, but boy, did they do it with style. There was none of this neurotic whinging and self-doubting.

Take socialite Susan Vance (as played by Katharine Hepburn) in Bringing up Baby. After setting her designs on palaeontologist Dr David Huxlex (Cary Grant), she unleashes her pet leopard Baby in a far-fetched courtship scheme. Then there is successful designer Marilla Brown (Lauren Bacall) in Designing Woman, who puts off marriage until she finds the right man. And after tying the knot, she fights to be her own woman.

What about Schatze Page, Loco Dempsey and Pola Debevoise (Bacall, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe respectively) in How to Marry a Millionaire, who dream of snaring millionaire husbands? Instead of going to the bookshop (or the movies), they come up with a plan, complete with a penthouse and luxurious lifestyle.

Despite their ambiguous sexual politics, these classic movies showed respect for their female leads.

Today’s women can learn more from these heroines, who are witty, ambitious and more of a match for their male counterparts than the characterless female in many current movies. Most of all, they take us on a fun ride in their battle of the sexes.

It’s no wonder that Judd Apatow and his merry men of comedy are ruling the box-office with male-oriented romantic comedies like Knocked Up, Superbad and Pineapple Express. They at least know how to have fun, if at women’s expense.

and what happened to making it on our own terms? perhaps this could refresh the essence of individuality that is the ultimate weapon for all women out there.

I’m selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes. I’m out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.” - Marilyn Monroe

thanks marilyn.

ps: for those who don't know malay very well, perasan can be translated as "self conscious, conceited, vain, full of one self"