Happily Ever Afters

I love, love, love happy endings—-

Anyone who knows me knows the ending of a movie or a book can make or break a movie for me. I don’t mind crying in the middle of a movie, but I would be very, very, very (did I say very?) ticked if I invested my time in a book or movie only to have the ending suck (sorry hope that is not too offensive).

I will admit that I have been known on an occasion or two, (or maybe a thousand), to flip to the end of a book or movie to make sure I like the ending before I continue. With the advent of DVR and DVD’s the fast forward button is my best friend. I can jump to the end, make sure I like it, before going back to wherever I was to continue. If I really like the ending I will watch several times (Dirty Dancing, Flashdance, Staying Alive, (definitely some blasts from the past) You’ve got mail, Sleepless in Seattle, While you were Sleeping, Happily Ever After, Pride and Prejudice, Under the Tuscan Sun, Bridget Jones Diary. I also enjoy the more inspiring movies about how someone overcame incredible odds like Rudy, Facing the Giants, If I had Wings, Front of the Class, Lorenzo’s Oil and pretty much any Hallmark movie and most Christmas movies as I can count on them to give me my requisite happy ending. I also think the best part of shows like the Olympics, Superbowl, Award shows, American Idol etc. etc. is the ending when I get to see the winners so happy. Even if I wasn’t rooting for the winner.)

Now on the downside…In the prehistoric days before the DVR and the fast forward capability, there were a few movies that caught be unawares. Movies like Prizzi’s Honor, Somersby and Up Close and Personal…who on earth would kill off Robert Redford…are they out of their minds???? I know it might be too formulaic but I don’t care. If a director must for art’s sake have a movie end sad then I wish they’d humor people like me and tape two endings. They could even put the happy ending after the credits so not to ruin their credibility…I’d be willing to stick around till after the credits and watch the revised ending. In Up Close and Personal, I would be totally okay if the director had Robert Redford injured, in a coma a week or two and then come out of it much to Michelle Pfeiffer’s and my delight.  I know I’m not the only person who feels this way, though I’ll admit perhaps I’m in the minority, but the afternoon I watched Up Close and Personal in the theater there were two women in the restroom blowing their noses who felt the same way.

So if you like your books with a lot of stress, angst or explicit sex…my books aren’t for you. I write what I like…nice people, loving families and happy endings. Call me trite and predictable but I hear that people who like happy endings live longer and happier lives…sounds good to me!