The Confusing Movie Experience: When You Want to Love a Movie but It Fails

There are times when we watch a film that we anticipate our loved ones enjoying it just as much as we do, only to find that they don’t share our enthusiasm. This experience can be quite frustrating, as it feels like we missed some crucial aspect or failed to communicate our enjoyment properly.

Indifference and Boredom: A Vaaranam Aayiram Experience

One such instance was when I took my wife and mother-in-law to see the Indian film, Vaaranam Aayiram. The movie, known for its captivating train sequence and enchanting songs, had initially left me feeling positively about its quality. On the first viewing with friends, although I had enjoyed it, I thought it was just an average movie with exceptional music.

However, taking my wife and mother-in-law to watch it again brought a different reaction. They seemed genuinely bored, and disapproved of the lead character's readiness to marry another woman following the death of his first wife. My advice? Enjoy the film without overthinking it; it’s all about the experience. However, it did not persuade them, and they left with a less-than-positive impression.

Delving into Personal Preferences: A Sideways Example

Then there was a time when I watched Sideways on an airplane and genuinely loved it. I was so enthusiastic about the film that I shared my views with my wife, confidently recommending that she watch it. After it came out on DVD, we set a date night to watch it together. But it was just as I inserted the DVD into the player that it dawned on me that the film would likely upset my wife. I realized that the movie's portrayal of the male characters and the underlying themes could potentially make her hate all men forever. Unfortunately, that was far from the case, and she left with a less than positive opinion of the film.

Unexpected Haters: Personal Choice and Relatability

Another instance was during a date night with my wife when I took her to see the sci-fi action movie Everything Everywhere All At Once. Originally, my wife was an avid fan of action movies, spy films, and movies featuring heroes, such as James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Jack Bauer. She also enjoyed the films of Jackie Chan and Wonder Woman, Black Panther, and the recent Knives Out.

I decided to take her to see Everything Everywhere All At Once that had Michelle Yeoh in it. As I had planned, my wife didn’t rush out of the theater after Everything Everywhere All At Once. However, at the end of the movie, she said she didn’t like it. It's possible that the multiverse plot was too confusing for her, or that she simply wasn't into the "art house" style of the film, or maybe the family drama felt too relatable. A critic from the LA Times, Justin Chang, had opined that the movie was "epically self-important," "broadly sentimental," and "thematic" in nature. Indeed, opinions are subjective and vary widely.

Conclusion

These examples show that even with the best intentions, our expectations about a movie's enjoyment might not align with our loved ones'. However, these experiences also highlight the importance of communication. It's crucial to discuss and acknowledge the differences in preferences and enjoy each movie in our own unique way.