Fridae

For GLBs above age 30 who have been there, dated that and got hurt
— but who must still try to love again, the movie for you
is Must Love Dogs.

Although this romantic comedy has been slammed by many critics
as being predictable and formulaic, we at Fridae think that this
movie might be worth your time — especially if, like us, you
dated and slept around like crazy in your teens and twenties, and
now think that you're too old to still be in the dating game. (Yes,
in gay years, turning 30 is like turning 45.)

What's refreshing about Must Love Dogs is that the characters
aren't young. Diane Lane (who's 40) plays a school teacher who meets
a boat builder (John Cusack, who's 39) through the Internet. They
both have baggage, but they eventually try to put it aside for the
sake of a little romance.

Yes, yes, the story is still too Hollywood-perfect. And yes, yes,
it will all end happily.

But Must Love Dogs does have some refreshingly good dialogue,
and some honest observations about maturity. The awkwardness and
frustrations of net dating, with its false starts and abrupt endings,
is also nicely portrayed. The movie is not perfect, but it sure
beats watching The O.C. or One Tree Hill.