“Friends With Benefits” the film & relationships
Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake as Jamie and Dylan in this film really highlights the requirements for a successful relationship. Two people initially started off as friends, who speak the same language and care for each other lead to a happy ending. Of course it is typical for a film to have a happy ending and for songs such as ‘Lucky’ by Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat to bring us much hope in a perfect relationship, but I’m as ‘damaged’ as the lead female character in that I am working on self-improvement to realise my hopes and dreams of meeting that special ‘Prince charming’.
Having said that, my personal interpretation of this ‘Prince Charming’ is far from what is portrayed by fairy tales. He will be someone who I want to spend the rest of my life with- a best friend, a lover and partner. We need to have mutual understandings and be able to stand on our own feet yet helpful to each other, it would be nice to be able to criticize someone and to be criticized without feeling guilty about it- where words will not be used against the person who spoke them…
In the modern society, we will probably spend less time with our partners in comparison with time spent at work with colleagues… Unless you are living with a colleague. I’m not sure whether being with someone who you work with is a good idea, but I can see many examples of that happening with people around me. Especially teachers. Not quite sure about other such partnerships though, for example politicians: because they may have strong, different beliefs and opinions on important matters… Perhaps it will be a perfect match that will lead to a long lasting matrimony if two people ‘need’ each other. In the film ‘Dylan’ joking said that ‘Jamie’ was emotionally needy when she asked him to reassure her something. Being a realist, the type of need I mean is that something productive will come out from the relationship. However, maybe there is a type of match made in heave and perfect love that doesn’t involve all that nonsense. Yet personally, I think it will be an interesting and fun-filled relationship if two people are ‘best-friends’, ‘partners’, and lovers ultimately.
Marriage however should not seclude other people from your lives, although after having children I’m sure there will be little time to socialize at all. There are so many dilemmas in life, yet I think there is nothing as hard as to be a highly successful career driven woman who is thinking of starting a family. It is not easy to understand bonding between children and parents and the psychology of children as a result- is maternal care essential in the early stages of a child’s life for them to learn about unconditional love and compassion? Or does it not matter and they will be just as well off being looked after by grandparents and even nannies. Furthermore, with advances in technology, it has become possible to have surrogate mothers- what about the blood flow etc, etc? This calls for more research…
Apart from the theme of love and relationship, I have also learnt a great deal from this one quote by Dylan’s colleague Tommy:‘ Oh! Right! Right! Like that’s how Warren Buffett got rich. He took doors off of things! Hey, everybody wants a short cut in life. My guide-book is very simple. You wanna lose weight? Stop eating, fatty! You wanna make money? Work your ass off, lazy! You wanna be happy? Find someone you like and never let him go. Or her if you’re into that kinda of…creepy shit.’
A lot of respect for Tommy for being proud of who he is and living the life. I have come across numerous people of different sexual orientation and learnt not to judge them on that as I have in the past. People are diverse and if that makes them happy then be it. Some might say it’s a waste of good seed though!
This is so poignant and inspiring:
Rainbowlistical 