The Matchbreaker
So, I recently watched a cute 2016 romcom starring Christina Grimmie and Wesley Elder. Really less known actors, but the movie summary intrigued me. I would recommend this movie to people of all age groups; for the sweet simplicity of the story and the beautiful direction. Warning : Spoilers ahead.
So, Wesley Elder is a quirky guy seeking perfection in the opposite sex. He is wrapped in his little head about his love for a crush since grade school. We all had crushes in school; MAJOR crushes which usually ended in loneliness and heartbreak. Cuz, the object of our desire was always this majestic unattainable creature, like a unicorn dancing in the forest of rainbows. And we were pathetic losers with no sense of direction or confidence.
We tend to forget these crushes as we grow up. Because other things occupy our minds — getting a good degree, a decent earning job, buying things like a cool car or getting a house in that dream locality. We get caught up in the mess of life and soon forget the innocent crushes of grade school. But, since this is a Hollywood romcom the actor still thinks of his long lost love, sighing through his day job as a clerk at an electronics store. He gets fired unexpectedly due to his helping out a few customers and not charging them for the services, out of good heart.
Side note : he helps his sister break up with her boyfriend because he was not ‘good enough’ for her. Since she was in a dead relationship, she takes his advice and starts over. A common acquaintance gets to know this and soon asks for Wesley’s help in breaking up her daughter and her good for nothing boyfriend. When he refuses help, she offers to pay him for his help, as she was desperate. As Wesley was unemployed he took on the assignment to make a little money.
Word traveled, and he soon became a professional ‘matchbreaker’ if you may. He managed to break up a few couples at the wish of the girl’s parents. Everything was going well. Until, one day he got the assignment to break up Christina from her current average boyfriend. When he got further into the case, he realized she was the same girl who he had been crushing on since school! And she had grown to be this gorgeous woman. She worked at an art gallery and also sang a few days in the week. She had the most beautiful voice!
Wesley soon realized that he had personal interest in breaking this match. Because he was still crushing on this perfect girl. Soon enough, she broke it off with her boyfriend; but this time the matchbreaker had no hand in it. Hanging out with her school friend, Christina realized that there were holes in her relationship and she herself ended things. Things were looking good for Wesley and they started hanging out more.
Wesley soon realized that even Christina had flaws. She was this incredibly messy person. NOT a fan of keeping things in order. :) The ideals of perfection were shattered. They had been harbored carefully and with a lot of efforts since grade school. On talking to his friend and sister, he got some perspective. So what if she was a bit untidy. She was still Christina! The same girl with the same incredible charm and qualities and the same intellect.
This was the high point of the movie for me. Why do we always look for flaws in people? Why can’t we appreciate the qualities and acknowledge the flaws? At the art gallery where Christina worked, there was an exhibit weirdly shaped and imposing. It didn’t look very meaningful and was related to love and relationships. Christina explained that it was actually a meaningful exhibit; because it explained Love so well. Love is complex and imposing and flawed at a distance. But when you see and experience it up close, it is nothing but warm and beautiful.
After a few hiccups, the romcom ends with them in a relationship watching a Twilight movie. I could relate to this as I dread the thought of watching Twilight just like Wesley. :p But he accepts the flaws and quirks of Christina, just as he should. Just as we all should. And if we think about it, we have more flaws and insecurities about ourselves than those we manage to see in our significant other. Something to think about, aint it?
Note : Views in this blog are personal.
