I am so easily influenced. On the bus this morning I was reading Caitlin Moran's 'How To Be a Woman' (an AMAZING book which I will definitely be posting a review on soon!) and really got onboard her views on how weddings are a surefire way to overspend on a day which can only disappoint (okay, I'm paraphrasing slightly here).
A mere hours later I interviewed a lovely wedding photographer for the PR firm I'm doing work experience at, completely jumped ship and decided I could not wait to walk down the aisle! I still think weddings can be a horrendous waste of money (why anyone would choose to spend so much money on a cake that's not even chocolate is beyond me) however when you're directed to websites like this it's hard not to want in on the action. Plus, when you can have a first dance that's as cool as this couple's was, it almost seems worth all the effort.
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Monday, 8 August 2011
When I grow up I want to be...
Today I started a week's work experience at a local PR firm. Today I was also mistaken for a school leaver by one of the firm's employees. Under normal circumstances this would baffle (and amuse) me however, on this occasion, I must admit the guy had a fair point. What is a 23 year old doing using up her annual leave on something that even 16 year olds try to avoid as soon as they realise they can find work that actually pays?
For so many industries these days (namely PR and journalism) it's a given that you must be prepared to do work experience/intern/make countless cups of tea just to get a foot in the door, and even then you're not looking at making your fortune (how journalists for the glossies have such fabulous wardrobes is beyond me). Work experience seems to be a rite of passage for anyone who covets Jo Elvin's job and spends too much time dreaming of the day they could call Glamour magazine 'work'. Apart from the minor dilemma of whether or not I can afford to work for free for extended periods of time, I have no problem with this. If I want a job that badly then I'll do whatever it takes to get it (within reason...). My issue is, I'm still not sure what that dream job is. Sure I think it lies somewhere in the world of magazines/PR/writing, but that's a pretty big area to tackle and I'm fairly certain my lack of direction won't be doing me any favours when I'm competing against thousands of others who are ten times more focussed than I am. And so that is why, at the age of 23, I've found myself taking yet more annual leave in order to try a job which is completely unrelated to the one I am currently paid to do.
Whilst I may be years older than the school girl I was mistaken for today, I still feel just as confused when it comes to my career prospects. Don't get me wrong, I love where I am right now, I just find it difficult to visualise where exactly I want to be in a couple of years time. I am therefore turning to work experience in the hope that it will offer me a little insight as well as telling me how I can become half writer/half PR guru for a national glossy whilst advising students on the side. I'm joking (ish).
People say you can change career at any age and magazines are full of tales of how people nabbed their dream jobs in an unconventional manner. Inspirational as this may be, I can't help but look around and see that the people who are doing these amazingly cool jobs (which feel light years away from where I am right now) are actually quite close to my age. Apparently this is when I should be on the appropriate career path and quietly working my way to the top. When did everyone suddenly get so serious? What happened to having our twenties to figure out who we are, see the world, make mistakes, rock up to work hung over etc (or did everyone else do that during their gap yah)? I guess I shouldn't complain when there are so many graduates struggling to find paid employment, let alone a job they actually like. I'm lucky enough to have both, yet I still compare myself to the twenty year olds that seem to have an awful lot more figured out than me.
Anyway, career dilemmas aside, I'm off to watch Harry Potter. There's nothing like watching the work of Voldemort and co to put things into perspective! Harry didn't have time to ponder his life plan when he was busy trying to save the wizarding world (you know you've hit a new low when the one thing you're grateful for is the lack of dark magic in your life).
For so many industries these days (namely PR and journalism) it's a given that you must be prepared to do work experience/intern/make countless cups of tea just to get a foot in the door, and even then you're not looking at making your fortune (how journalists for the glossies have such fabulous wardrobes is beyond me). Work experience seems to be a rite of passage for anyone who covets Jo Elvin's job and spends too much time dreaming of the day they could call Glamour magazine 'work'. Apart from the minor dilemma of whether or not I can afford to work for free for extended periods of time, I have no problem with this. If I want a job that badly then I'll do whatever it takes to get it (within reason...). My issue is, I'm still not sure what that dream job is. Sure I think it lies somewhere in the world of magazines/PR/writing, but that's a pretty big area to tackle and I'm fairly certain my lack of direction won't be doing me any favours when I'm competing against thousands of others who are ten times more focussed than I am. And so that is why, at the age of 23, I've found myself taking yet more annual leave in order to try a job which is completely unrelated to the one I am currently paid to do.
Whilst I may be years older than the school girl I was mistaken for today, I still feel just as confused when it comes to my career prospects. Don't get me wrong, I love where I am right now, I just find it difficult to visualise where exactly I want to be in a couple of years time. I am therefore turning to work experience in the hope that it will offer me a little insight as well as telling me how I can become half writer/half PR guru for a national glossy whilst advising students on the side. I'm joking (ish).
People say you can change career at any age and magazines are full of tales of how people nabbed their dream jobs in an unconventional manner. Inspirational as this may be, I can't help but look around and see that the people who are doing these amazingly cool jobs (which feel light years away from where I am right now) are actually quite close to my age. Apparently this is when I should be on the appropriate career path and quietly working my way to the top. When did everyone suddenly get so serious? What happened to having our twenties to figure out who we are, see the world, make mistakes, rock up to work hung over etc (or did everyone else do that during their gap yah)? I guess I shouldn't complain when there are so many graduates struggling to find paid employment, let alone a job they actually like. I'm lucky enough to have both, yet I still compare myself to the twenty year olds that seem to have an awful lot more figured out than me.
Anyway, career dilemmas aside, I'm off to watch Harry Potter. There's nothing like watching the work of Voldemort and co to put things into perspective! Harry didn't have time to ponder his life plan when he was busy trying to save the wizarding world (you know you've hit a new low when the one thing you're grateful for is the lack of dark magic in your life).
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Why I work in a Students' Union
Last week I was lucky enough to be able to attend Students' Unions 2011 with work. For those of you who aren't familiar with the National Union of Students (NUS) and all they have to offer, this was a two day conference for Student Officers and Union staff members. As an advisor (wow that makes me feel grown up!) there were some really useful sessions and it was just great to be able to meet up with people in a similar role. All in all a brilliant couple of days however it wasn't the networking or the sharing of best practice which has prompted me to blog about my experience.
There were a host of impressive names who wowed us with speeches. After listening to Jeremy Gilley talking about his 'Peace One Day' project my job suddenly felt a little, well, insignificant. We also heard from Helena Kennedy, Rod Aldridge and Fiona Reynolds (whose talk on the National Trust induced a craving for drinking Pimms in a well kept garden).
I was also very excited to attend my first NUS Awards. Award ceremonies are always good. Food, wine and lots of cheering- what's not to like? We (Liverpool Guild of Students) walked away with the Technology Innovation award for our officer elections which was amazing and, despite not being involved myself, made me really proud to work for such a great organisation (I think my competitive streak also meant that losing was not an option I had fully considered until just before our name was read out!). You can find out about the rest of the award winners on the NUS website here.
At the beginning (and end) of the conference a short film was played showing the impact Students' Unions have on people's lives. I'm not usually one for cheesey montages but it really hit home and reminded me of why I do the job I do.
When there was talk of tution fees shooting up, it was Students' Unions who put their members on buses to London, enabling their voices to be heard. When a student wants to make more of their time at University it's the Union who can introduce them to an array of societies where they can meet others with similar interests. And when Universities make decisions everyday which will affect thousands of students, it's Unions who will be fighting for the best interests of these students throughout their academic journey.
When asked about work I often respond with something along the lines of "It's great but it's not forever. Magazines are my calling blah blah blah". This is fine in itself, as most of us won't fall straight into our dream job and it's important to have aims, however I shouldn't let these ambitions stop me from focussing on what's currently happening around me. And right now I'm surrounded by a great team of people, have a job that can have a very real impact on the lives of students and have access to free diet coke all day (a perk of working in close proximity to the bar). It may not be the office of a glossy magazine but, at this moment in time, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
There were a host of impressive names who wowed us with speeches. After listening to Jeremy Gilley talking about his 'Peace One Day' project my job suddenly felt a little, well, insignificant. We also heard from Helena Kennedy, Rod Aldridge and Fiona Reynolds (whose talk on the National Trust induced a craving for drinking Pimms in a well kept garden).
I was also very excited to attend my first NUS Awards. Award ceremonies are always good. Food, wine and lots of cheering- what's not to like? We (Liverpool Guild of Students) walked away with the Technology Innovation award for our officer elections which was amazing and, despite not being involved myself, made me really proud to work for such a great organisation (I think my competitive streak also meant that losing was not an option I had fully considered until just before our name was read out!). You can find out about the rest of the award winners on the NUS website here.
At the beginning (and end) of the conference a short film was played showing the impact Students' Unions have on people's lives. I'm not usually one for cheesey montages but it really hit home and reminded me of why I do the job I do.
When there was talk of tution fees shooting up, it was Students' Unions who put their members on buses to London, enabling their voices to be heard. When a student wants to make more of their time at University it's the Union who can introduce them to an array of societies where they can meet others with similar interests. And when Universities make decisions everyday which will affect thousands of students, it's Unions who will be fighting for the best interests of these students throughout their academic journey.
When asked about work I often respond with something along the lines of "It's great but it's not forever. Magazines are my calling blah blah blah". This is fine in itself, as most of us won't fall straight into our dream job and it's important to have aims, however I shouldn't let these ambitions stop me from focussing on what's currently happening around me. And right now I'm surrounded by a great team of people, have a job that can have a very real impact on the lives of students and have access to free diet coke all day (a perk of working in close proximity to the bar). It may not be the office of a glossy magazine but, at this moment in time, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
The ugly side of vanity sizing
I am an awful shopper. It's not that I don't love clothes or enjoy putting together a new outfit, I just get fed up of not being able to find a thing to fit and there's nothing like the disappointment of yet another Top Shop number being too long to put a dampener on my day. I still don't quite get how a piece of clothing can be too big overall yet still uncomfortably snug in all of the wrong places (starting to regret that green & blacks Easter egg now...). Suffice to say I fully understand the sizing woes that shopping can bring and so when Cosmo printed an article about vanity sizing I read on with interest.
Basically, the jist of the article is that shops are appealing to our constant quest for skinniness and labelling clothes with smaller sizes. As well as being a bit ridiculous (yet an effective sales technique) it can also have negative effects on our health as it can be hard to detect a weight gain when your clothes are suggesting nothing's changed. So far so good. It's important for magazines to highlight issues beyond the latest trends and celebrity gossip and I applaud Cosmo for touching upon something many of us would rather ignore. However, like many articles, it was fairly unbalanced and not very representative of the female population as a whole (I know this wouldn't have been easy but they could have at least tried!).
The majority of us know that finding the correct clothing size is only half of the battle and that searching for an outfit to flatter your shape can be a different struggle altogether. We're all individuls and people are rarely the same size all over. The female body is too complex to simply adhere to a particular size and, when you struggle to find trousers that accommodate your hips without drowning your legs, the number written on the label suddenly becomes less relevant. Believe me, I would gladly buy something in a size bigger if it meant it fitted well. Cosmo have made an assumption that all women simply want is to be a dress size smaller when in actual fact I'm sure most of us have body parts we're perfectly happy with and would just like clothing shops to acknowledge that size isn't the only variation between different bodies.
Cosmo then goes on to criticize the fact that 'apple' shapes (those which are a little bigger around the middle) can still call themselves a size ten thanks to vanity sizing. As an 'apple' I've come to terms with the fact that all the sit ups in the world won't give me Britney's abs and so I don't appreciate being made to feel that I don't have a right to fit into a size ten (and if I can it must be down to vanity sizing because of course all size tens have flat tummies and no hips). Maybe I'm reading too much into this but I think it's a little contradictory that a magazine suddenly points the finger at one specific body shape in the very issue that is supposedly focussing on making their readers feel good about their bodies regardless of imperfections. They are correct in saying that fat around the middle is more unhealthy than fat elsewhere, however they neglect to point out that many females will struggle to shift every ounce of excess weight around this area thanks to Mother Nature and her plan to make our bodies fit for carrying a child (this seems slightly unfair when I don't even know if I want kids yet but that's a different issue altogether!).
This article also made me project some of my anger onto my favourite shops. I mean I appreciate Top Shop wanting to make size 16's feel good about fitting into a size 14 but what about those at the other end of the scale who struggle to find clothes small enough? I am by no means thin and so it really frustrates me when clothes are too big just because some idiot has decided that the only way to keep women happy is to pretend they are a size or two smaller than they actually are. Why not train sales assistants to be more complimentary, or have better lighting in the changing rooms, rather than selling us lies to make us feel skinnier? Or even better, start catering to different shapes as well as sizes because one size definitely does not fit all.
Basically, the jist of the article is that shops are appealing to our constant quest for skinniness and labelling clothes with smaller sizes. As well as being a bit ridiculous (yet an effective sales technique) it can also have negative effects on our health as it can be hard to detect a weight gain when your clothes are suggesting nothing's changed. So far so good. It's important for magazines to highlight issues beyond the latest trends and celebrity gossip and I applaud Cosmo for touching upon something many of us would rather ignore. However, like many articles, it was fairly unbalanced and not very representative of the female population as a whole (I know this wouldn't have been easy but they could have at least tried!).
The majority of us know that finding the correct clothing size is only half of the battle and that searching for an outfit to flatter your shape can be a different struggle altogether. We're all individuls and people are rarely the same size all over. The female body is too complex to simply adhere to a particular size and, when you struggle to find trousers that accommodate your hips without drowning your legs, the number written on the label suddenly becomes less relevant. Believe me, I would gladly buy something in a size bigger if it meant it fitted well. Cosmo have made an assumption that all women simply want is to be a dress size smaller when in actual fact I'm sure most of us have body parts we're perfectly happy with and would just like clothing shops to acknowledge that size isn't the only variation between different bodies.
Cosmo then goes on to criticize the fact that 'apple' shapes (those which are a little bigger around the middle) can still call themselves a size ten thanks to vanity sizing. As an 'apple' I've come to terms with the fact that all the sit ups in the world won't give me Britney's abs and so I don't appreciate being made to feel that I don't have a right to fit into a size ten (and if I can it must be down to vanity sizing because of course all size tens have flat tummies and no hips). Maybe I'm reading too much into this but I think it's a little contradictory that a magazine suddenly points the finger at one specific body shape in the very issue that is supposedly focussing on making their readers feel good about their bodies regardless of imperfections. They are correct in saying that fat around the middle is more unhealthy than fat elsewhere, however they neglect to point out that many females will struggle to shift every ounce of excess weight around this area thanks to Mother Nature and her plan to make our bodies fit for carrying a child (this seems slightly unfair when I don't even know if I want kids yet but that's a different issue altogether!).
This article also made me project some of my anger onto my favourite shops. I mean I appreciate Top Shop wanting to make size 16's feel good about fitting into a size 14 but what about those at the other end of the scale who struggle to find clothes small enough? I am by no means thin and so it really frustrates me when clothes are too big just because some idiot has decided that the only way to keep women happy is to pretend they are a size or two smaller than they actually are. Why not train sales assistants to be more complimentary, or have better lighting in the changing rooms, rather than selling us lies to make us feel skinnier? Or even better, start catering to different shapes as well as sizes because one size definitely does not fit all.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Election time, wardrobe inspiration and my countdown to race day
I don't seem to have blogged for quite a while. This is mainly because whatever I write about seems really embarrassing when I read it back to myself at a later date (yeah that doesn't really bode well for the wannabe journo in me...) however as I don't seem to have much of an audience I think I'll get over it.
The main thing on my mind lately has been running. Contrary to what earlier posts suggest, this is no longer in relation to my desire for toned legs but due to the panic I am now feeling as a result of signing up for a half marathon. Weeks of after-work jogs and Sunday afternoons spent trying to keep up with my Dad on his bike (who needs a personal trainer?!) will hopefully pay off this Sunday when I attempt the 13 mile course around Liverpool. I've given up on aiming for a specific time (although I was a lot more ambitious a couple of weeks ago) and just want to cross the finish line still smiling (I might as well enjoy it, right?).
Also in the way of news, it's student officer election time at work (feel free to skip this part if you have no interest in student politics) which is always an exciting time of year. Well I say exciting, not so much for the poor candidates who have dedicated the last couple of weeks to flyering and doing lecture shout outs in an attempt to win their fellow students' votes. Having been in this position myself a couple of years ago, I fully empathise with those running and understand the ups and downs the campaign period can bring. Sure it's fun, but when you're putting yourself out there for everyone to judge (which, let's face it, you really are) it can be pretty stressful. Especially when it's for something you want so badly. The results are announced this Friday so it looks like the week will end on quite a tense note.
During the actual voting period, Union staff members are required to man polling stations in various locations. I was in one of the libraries today which was an excellent location for a bit of outfit spotting. I think one of the reasons University libraries can be such a good source of wardrobe inspiration is because people like to make an effort with their appearance in order to distract themselves from the fact that they're about to spend their day immersed in a text book. I spied a lovely jumpsuit that would be perfect for the kind of weather we've had over the last couple of days and yesterday's stint saw me getting rather jealous of a beautiful Louis Vuitton bag (my student loan barely stretched Top Shop!). A couple of hours on a polling station and you'd easily have enough material for an outfit blog post if you're that way inclined (although judging by some people's reactions when they're asked to vote in the student elections, taking photos would probably be one step too far).
I've got Bruno Mars' 'Marry You' stuck in my head (possibly because I keep listening to it on spotify). I think this has less to do with a sudden desire to be marched down the aisle and relates more to the fact that they sang it on Glee the other week- those kids could make anything catchy!
The main thing on my mind lately has been running. Contrary to what earlier posts suggest, this is no longer in relation to my desire for toned legs but due to the panic I am now feeling as a result of signing up for a half marathon. Weeks of after-work jogs and Sunday afternoons spent trying to keep up with my Dad on his bike (who needs a personal trainer?!) will hopefully pay off this Sunday when I attempt the 13 mile course around Liverpool. I've given up on aiming for a specific time (although I was a lot more ambitious a couple of weeks ago) and just want to cross the finish line still smiling (I might as well enjoy it, right?).
Also in the way of news, it's student officer election time at work (feel free to skip this part if you have no interest in student politics) which is always an exciting time of year. Well I say exciting, not so much for the poor candidates who have dedicated the last couple of weeks to flyering and doing lecture shout outs in an attempt to win their fellow students' votes. Having been in this position myself a couple of years ago, I fully empathise with those running and understand the ups and downs the campaign period can bring. Sure it's fun, but when you're putting yourself out there for everyone to judge (which, let's face it, you really are) it can be pretty stressful. Especially when it's for something you want so badly. The results are announced this Friday so it looks like the week will end on quite a tense note.
During the actual voting period, Union staff members are required to man polling stations in various locations. I was in one of the libraries today which was an excellent location for a bit of outfit spotting. I think one of the reasons University libraries can be such a good source of wardrobe inspiration is because people like to make an effort with their appearance in order to distract themselves from the fact that they're about to spend their day immersed in a text book. I spied a lovely jumpsuit that would be perfect for the kind of weather we've had over the last couple of days and yesterday's stint saw me getting rather jealous of a beautiful Louis Vuitton bag (my student loan barely stretched Top Shop!). A couple of hours on a polling station and you'd easily have enough material for an outfit blog post if you're that way inclined (although judging by some people's reactions when they're asked to vote in the student elections, taking photos would probably be one step too far).
I've got Bruno Mars' 'Marry You' stuck in my head (possibly because I keep listening to it on spotify). I think this has less to do with a sudden desire to be marched down the aisle and relates more to the fact that they sang it on Glee the other week- those kids could make anything catchy!
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Fit versus Fat
I've always been under the (perhaps mistaken) impression that I could eat pretty much whatever I wanted if I was doing enough exercise to cancel it out. I have now learnt that this is most definitely not the case! Even if it was, it would take a hell of a lot of physical activity to burn off my current calorie intake. Anyhow, my attitude towards food/weight loss has also taken a massive u-turn. I wish I could pretend I've suddenly decided that the quest for skinniness has no place in my life however, unfortunately, it's more a case of having fallen off the bandwagon so hard I don't quite know how to get back on.
Training (I use that term loosely) for the half marathon has also had an impact on my eating habits. I'm starting to view this as something I have to do well, a bit like studying for an important exam (that's a lie, I was never this committed to my degree!), and am therefore prioritising it ever so slightly over other areas of my life. Don't get me wrong, I'm no fitness freak (this will be illustrated on the 27th March when I stagger across the finish line about an hour after everyone else!) and I'd never choose running over social interaction on a regular basis, however I've definitely put my new hobby above watching what I eat. I'm unlikely to even be exercising enough to justify eating more however running definitely works up an appetite (perhaps it's because I spend the majority of the session thinking about what I'll have for dinner but that's besides the point). I know you can increase your calorie intake healthily however I think I find it difficult to be disciplined in two areas of my life so one of them had to go! In other words, if I'm going to force myself to run alone on a cold February's night then I bloody well will enjoy overindulging in the chocolate throughout the day!
I know in the grand scheme of things this shouldn't really matter. I'm not unhealthily overweight (I don't think...) and I'm probably the fittest I've been in a long while, however being such a shorty it's easy to look a bit on the chubby side. I also miss how eating healthily made me feel (the sense of smugness as I reached for an apple as opposed to a chocolate bar is a distant memory!). I guess it's all about achieving some kind of balance, which is pretty tough when you're more of an 'all or nothing' kind of person. Unfortunately at the moment this has taken on the meaning of 'all of the biscuits and none of the self control!' Bring on the running I say, surely it has to at least count towards balancing out my shameful diet?
Training (I use that term loosely) for the half marathon has also had an impact on my eating habits. I'm starting to view this as something I have to do well, a bit like studying for an important exam (that's a lie, I was never this committed to my degree!), and am therefore prioritising it ever so slightly over other areas of my life. Don't get me wrong, I'm no fitness freak (this will be illustrated on the 27th March when I stagger across the finish line about an hour after everyone else!) and I'd never choose running over social interaction on a regular basis, however I've definitely put my new hobby above watching what I eat. I'm unlikely to even be exercising enough to justify eating more however running definitely works up an appetite (perhaps it's because I spend the majority of the session thinking about what I'll have for dinner but that's besides the point). I know you can increase your calorie intake healthily however I think I find it difficult to be disciplined in two areas of my life so one of them had to go! In other words, if I'm going to force myself to run alone on a cold February's night then I bloody well will enjoy overindulging in the chocolate throughout the day!
I know in the grand scheme of things this shouldn't really matter. I'm not unhealthily overweight (I don't think...) and I'm probably the fittest I've been in a long while, however being such a shorty it's easy to look a bit on the chubby side. I also miss how eating healthily made me feel (the sense of smugness as I reached for an apple as opposed to a chocolate bar is a distant memory!). I guess it's all about achieving some kind of balance, which is pretty tough when you're more of an 'all or nothing' kind of person. Unfortunately at the moment this has taken on the meaning of 'all of the biscuits and none of the self control!' Bring on the running I say, surely it has to at least count towards balancing out my shameful diet?
Saturday, 19 February 2011
There's a reason some films never make it to the cinema...
You know when you just fancy staying in with a glass (or two) of wine and a really good film? Tonight was one of those nights. Despite it being a Saturday I had no intention of venturing out, having hit the shops earlier to spend my HMV voucher as opposed to raid Top Shop for a new outfit. Armed with some bargains (two DVDs for a tenner? Amaze) I headed home to enjoy a relaxing evening in front of the TV. What a let down. My film of choice was 'The Rebound' and oh dear God it was horrendous. Maybe I'm being overly harsh but the string of bad films I seem to have watched recently has severely affected my tolerance when it comes to disappointing viewing.
The one thing certain to make me hate a film is a complete lack of believability. Don't get me wrong, I love ones that push the boundaries of reality as much as the next person however this doesn't necessarily work with every film genre. Black Swan makes this work this due to the very nature of its plot- when a film delves into the mind of a mentally ill ballerina it's never going to mirror reality. On the other hand, watching Zac Efron enjoying a romantic evening with a girl who is in actual fact stranded at sea on the brink of death in Charlie St Cloud takes things a step too far. Maybe it was also a sense of sheer ridiculousness which made me question the credibility of Piranha (or it could have been my inability to watch as the characters were maimed by crazy fish, either way this most definitely was not a hit). What's even more annoying is the fact that both of these films did manage to make it to the cinema...
Another recipe for a motion picture fail is when an unrealistic plot is accompanied by uninspiring main characters. I know the viewer isn't meant to identify, or even like, every character on screen but when you sit there thinking the leading lady is a complete idiot then surely they've got something wrong? Take The Switch for example. Without boring you with an entire plot synopsis, Jennifer Aniston wants a child however, without an eligible man on the scene, goes down a more unconventional route and enlists the help of a kindly stranger (and his sperm). Unfortunately, her 'best friend' drunkenly swaps the sperm sample (!) and ends up, unknowingly, fathering her child. As if that isn't already enough to make you press the eject button, even after Jen finds out about this little mix up, it only takes a brief falling out to make her realise that the sperm swapper is actually her true love. If it was me I'd find it pretty difficult to look past this behaviour and see this guy as relationship material but maybe I'm just cynical and missing the true romance of it all ("so how did you two get together?" "Well, he swapped my donor's sperm for his and the rest was history"- clearly the stuff dreams are made of).
It does appear that I have inherited my mum's bad taste when it comes to choosing dvds however I'm starting to see a pattern emerge (silly characters and unrealistic plots!) and so fingers crossed I won't make the same mistake next time I find myself in Blockbuster. Or maybe I'll just let someone else choose.
The one thing certain to make me hate a film is a complete lack of believability. Don't get me wrong, I love ones that push the boundaries of reality as much as the next person however this doesn't necessarily work with every film genre. Black Swan makes this work this due to the very nature of its plot- when a film delves into the mind of a mentally ill ballerina it's never going to mirror reality. On the other hand, watching Zac Efron enjoying a romantic evening with a girl who is in actual fact stranded at sea on the brink of death in Charlie St Cloud takes things a step too far. Maybe it was also a sense of sheer ridiculousness which made me question the credibility of Piranha (or it could have been my inability to watch as the characters were maimed by crazy fish, either way this most definitely was not a hit). What's even more annoying is the fact that both of these films did manage to make it to the cinema...
Another recipe for a motion picture fail is when an unrealistic plot is accompanied by uninspiring main characters. I know the viewer isn't meant to identify, or even like, every character on screen but when you sit there thinking the leading lady is a complete idiot then surely they've got something wrong? Take The Switch for example. Without boring you with an entire plot synopsis, Jennifer Aniston wants a child however, without an eligible man on the scene, goes down a more unconventional route and enlists the help of a kindly stranger (and his sperm). Unfortunately, her 'best friend' drunkenly swaps the sperm sample (!) and ends up, unknowingly, fathering her child. As if that isn't already enough to make you press the eject button, even after Jen finds out about this little mix up, it only takes a brief falling out to make her realise that the sperm swapper is actually her true love. If it was me I'd find it pretty difficult to look past this behaviour and see this guy as relationship material but maybe I'm just cynical and missing the true romance of it all ("so how did you two get together?" "Well, he swapped my donor's sperm for his and the rest was history"- clearly the stuff dreams are made of).
It does appear that I have inherited my mum's bad taste when it comes to choosing dvds however I'm starting to see a pattern emerge (silly characters and unrealistic plots!) and so fingers crossed I won't make the same mistake next time I find myself in Blockbuster. Or maybe I'll just let someone else choose.
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