Thursday Movie Picks #397: Romance Tropes Edition - Second Chance Love

Hello there and welcome to Thursday Movie Picks a weekly series where you share your movie picks each Thursday. The rules are simple: based on the theme of the week pick three to five movies and tell us why you picked them. For further details and the schedule visit the series main page here.

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This week's Thursday Movie Picks is Romance Tropes Edition - Second Chance Love

 

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Hey it's February and it's time for the Romance Tropes Edition. Take a look at what's in store for the rest of the month. 

 

February 3 - Romance Tropes Edition: Enemies to Lovers
February 10 - Romance Tropes Edition: Famous Person and Non-Famous Person Romance
February 17 - Romance Tropes Edition: Second Chance Love
February 24 - Romance Tropes / TMP Television Edition: Workplace Romance

 

 

I love the Second Chance Love trope. I think it's because the characters are older, they have more life experiences with a lot more baggage and they are also more reflective as well as the romance is no longer puppy love, it's more serious with more at stake. There are at least two sub themes I could go with, with this theme. I could do a theme where someone has gone through a failed relationship or lost someone, and now just when they thought the romance ship has sailed for them, they meet someone new and has a second chance at love. Or the other theme is ex lovers meeting again after years apart and have their second chance at love. My picks today will be the latter because I enjoy their stories more as the characters have more history with each other; a lot of unspoken things and hurt feelings between them which all makes for good drama.

 

Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

The Gist: After seven years of separation, a woman returns to her home town to get a divorce from her husband. Saw this when it was released and saw it again about a year or two ago because I had forgotten how the movie went. It is not a favourite, but I did enjoy it. I was quite funny and the two leads had some entertaining banter.

Before Sunset (2004)

The Gist: Nine years after a romantic chance encounter, two people meet again while the other is on a book tour. I've picked this countless times before because I love this movie. Before Sunset is one of the best just-people-talking movie ever. And the two actors are great in portraying these two people who are meeting again after so long and who are still clearly (to the audience) attracted to each other but sort of trying to not show their interest to early for fear the other is not as interested.

 

Persuasion (2007)
The Gist: 8 years ago, Anne was persuaded by family and friends to reject Wentworth's proposal of marriage as he was of a lower class and was an undistinguished naval officer with little money. Now years later their paths cross. He has a shining naval career and is now a wealthy man while her family has become one those cash poor gentry. I love Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice because it's a fun romantic comedy, but if you're looking at just romance...Persuasion is it. It is this lovely aching romantic tale of second chances and enduring love and this TV movie adaptation of it is wonderful. Sally Hawkins was just amazing as the lead character Anne; those scenes where Anne is both excited and anxious to see Wentworth again after so long because she fears that not only does he no longer have any affection for her, but that he might hate her for rejecting him, was performed so well. Also there's that letter that Wentworth sends to Anne at the end (is that letter not the most swoonworthy letter ever - you can read the letter here) and the reaction from Anne...just a great closing. By the way there's two new Persuasion adaptations in production. One is by Netflix with Dakota Johnson as Anne which has completed filming while the other is still in development with Sarah Snook attached to star.

 

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