by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Yet another movie I couldn’t finish — this time it was “The Idea of You.” I went into this Anne Hathaway vehicle thinking maybe I could get some insight into how to write female characters.
Soon enough, however, I realized — this movie is definitely NOT for me.
It’s a chickflick and, well, lulz, no need to watch it — not that some chickflicks aren’t pretty good, all things considered. But, as always, the moment I got to the inciting incident, I bounced.
It was at the inciting incident that I realized that not only was I not the audience, but it would be too fucking grating on my nerves to continue to watch. So, I stopped watching.
But I am vowing to myself that as of tonight I will go out of my way to do things that are outside of my comfort zone. So, I’m going to keep pushing myself to read and watch things I usually wouldn’t. I’m really, really beginning to feel my age these days.
Here is how Meta.AI rewrote the post above.
I recently attempted to watch “The Idea of You,” an Anne Hathaway-led film that I hoped would offer valuable insights into crafting compelling female characters. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that this movie wasn’t for me.
Confronting My Biases
As I watched, I found myself dismissing the film as a “chick flick,” a term that, I admit, can be reductive and dismissive. While some movies in this genre can be enjoyable, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that this one wasn’t resonating with me. The moment the inciting incident occurred, I checked out.
Recognizing My Limitations
It was then that I acknowledged not only was I not the target audience, but also that continuing to watch would be too frustrating for me. I decided to stop, but this experience left me with a valuable realization: I need to challenge myself to venture out of my comfort zone.
A New Commitment to Exploration
Starting tonight, I’m making a conscious effort to engage with content that typically wouldn’t be on my radar. Whether it’s reading books or watching movies that push me out of my comfort zone, I’m determined to broaden my horizons. As I grow older, I’m becoming increasingly aware of the importance of staying open-minded and curious.
Lessons Learned
This encounter with “The Idea of You” taught me a valuable lesson: that it’s essential to recognize and respect my own biases, while also being willing to challenge them. By doing so, I hope to become a more empathetic and well-rounded individual, both as a writer and as a person.
The Journey Ahead
I invite you to join me on this journey of self-discovery and exploration. Let’s push ourselves to engage with new ideas, genres, and perspectives, even if they make us uncomfortable. Who knows what insights and growth we might discover along the way?
