Okay, so this movie is a bit off the beaten path. It was cute, but I doubt it will go down as one of the most beloved movies of the 21st century. However, there is something about it I have always loved: The love of your life being right in front of your eyes.
Romances that grow out of solid friendships are my favorite love stories. A dear friend of mine grew up with her husband. She can remember him as a kid. How cool is that? He was in her life even when she was in a long-term relationship with someone else. When the dust settled, he was there loving her. ~smile~
Another friend of mine was in a long-distance relationship when she met her future husband. They were part of the same group of friends. The day she decided to break off her relationship, her “friend” told her that he loved her. How hard it must have been for these fellows to watch the women they loved date other guys! Kudos to them for sticking it out and not giving up. ~smile~
As exciting as it is to go to the movies, see a guy and girl meet, see them fall in love, see them get in a fight, and see them break up, it is far more exciting for me when the childhood friend gets the girl. Those love stories are built on such solid ground. Since so much of marriage is about friendship, I love seeing long-time friends fall in love! That is a stress-free love story right there! To simply wake up one day and realize you want to spend the rest of your life with your best pal. No awkward dates. No searching high and low. Just surprise love.
It’s Just Pete
Have you ever searched for something and then realized it was in your pocket the whole time? In the movie, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, Pete (played by Topher Grace) was just the “best friend” – someone who was always there, like a relative or a puppy. Rosalee (played by Kate Bosworth)was a cute, young, twenty-something who had never experienced anything but small town life. She spent her free time with her best friends, Pete and Cathy (played by Ginnifer Goodwin). Little did she know that Pete was crazy about her. He was just Pete. It had never occurred to her that he would ever be anything more. And then it happened.
These Butterflies have to Mean Something!
The most exciting headline to ever hit her home town – Rosalee won a date with a famous, good-looking movie star, Tad Hamilton (played by Josh Duhamel). What was meant to be one glamorous Hollywood date took an unexpected turn when Tad followed Rosalee to her hometown and suggested they get to know each other better. I think we can all feel a little (or a lot) sorry for poor Pete. He has been a good friend. He has always been there for her. He would never let anything happen to her. He is just about to find the courage to let her know how he feels when a movie star walks in the door. How on earth is he supposed to compete with that?
What small-town girl would not feel incredibly fortunate to have caught the eye of a handsome movie star? Zac Efron wants to date you. Do you just say “Nah…” and slam the door? Maybe, but it would not be easy. ~smile~ I can only imagine the butterflies slamming around in Rosalee’s tummy. This amazing, tall, dark, handsome man is interested in me. There has to be something special to this!
The Comfort of Enduring Love
Finally, Pete can take it no more. He is afraid Tad is going to use Rosalee and break her heart. And, he’s afraid Tad and Rosalee might get married and live happily ever after. So, he does what any respectable man would do. He marches over to Tad’s bathroom stall and swings it open. That’s when Pete makes the most memorable statement of the entire movie. Speaking of Roaslee, he says, “Like do you know she has six smiles? One when something really makes her laugh. One when she’s making plans. One when she is laughing out of politeness. One when she is uncomfortable. One when she is making fun of herself. And one when… she’s talking about her friends.” This man is in love – the real kind. Not the fluffy kind. The “I have already chosen to be true to you forever” kind of love.
If you have seen this movie, then you can relate to my feelings about this next part. In an attempt to “prove” to Rosalee that he loves her, Tad steals Pete’s speech! He tells her about her six smiles. What girl wouldn’t fall for something so precious?
However, later, as true justice would have it, Tad broke down and admitted that Pete was the one who told him about her six smiles. It was then that she realized her best friend was who she really needed in her life. Even a movie star cannot take the place of a true friend.
As with any good romantic comedy, Rosalee and Pete became an item in the end. She chased him down, caused him to crash into something, and then told him he had five smiles. ~smile~ “You have five smiles Pete. One when you think someone’s an idiot. One when you think someone’s REALLY an idiot. One when you’re singing Barry White. One when you’re getting all dressed up. And one…when you’re looking at me.” And the angels rejoiced! Best friends became best friends who wanted to be best friends for life.
Where, Oh Where Can He Be?
The man or woman of your dreams may not be so far away. Before going to foreign lands (or even cities / states away) in search of love, look around you. Who are your friends? Could you see yourself marrying someone like her? Or her? What about him? Or him? If you could see yourself marrying someone like your friend, could it be possible that you could be happy with your friend? Not all friendships will turn into marriages, but there are many that do. And being married for almost a decade now; I can say with certainty: the stronger the friendship, the better the marriage.
Don’t write off your opposite-sex friends as potential mates just because you know them “too well” or because you don’t want to “ruin the friendship.” Keep getting to know them. Notice how they react in different situations. Discover what you have in common. If one friend shines above the rest, consider getting to know him or her even better. You never know, he or she may just be your “Pete!” ~grin~
Would you ever consider dating a friend?