rexbasior

Yeah, American Psycho makes a much different (and sure, possibly more interesting) use of an unlikable character, but I don't think that means it's the only movie allowed to have characters who are less than perfect. I still maintain one of the points of the movie is to find compassion in spite of the imperfect actions of petty characters. I feel like people behaving the way I see people behaving IRL is presenting a setting and not necessarily a message. Love Actually is a casualty of this problematic character argument and is definitely not getting in. Still, I'd love to have at least heard other arguments, criticisms even, beyond just troubling character quirks.

It would have been a long shot anyway, but I call mistrial. Rather than a prosecution and defense, this one had two prosecutors. We just heard in the American Psycho podcast that we ought to be more used to protagonists with imperfections. If we can get through the murderous impulses of that move, we can certainly apply a slight bit of forgiveness here. Also, the funny thing about the fat jokes of the movie are more about the pettiness of the ones saying the jokes rather than the intended (non-fat) victim. As a result, I feel the movie isn't so much about the cheap insults, but of humans' ability to forgive the petty imperfections of others. Also, I'm not sure there's much use in calling out problematic behavior every time we see it -- especially in movies such as this. I don't think a movie about perfect people behaving perfectly all the time makes for a worthwhile Canon movie. Divinity may be our goal, but I doubt it's that compelling to observe. The movie needs those "yikes" moments so we can find the kindness oasis between them. If nothing else, this movie could be considered Canon-worthy for starting the intersecting holiday story trend (actually 200 Cigarettes may have been before, but whatever). In the meantime, the genre hasn't been improved upon. It may not be a favorite movie overall, but as a movie that started the genre, it should be heralded for not be dethroned by something better. Surely something should have come along by now if Love Actually didn't succeed for what it is.