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A service to His little ones (which includes at-home teens) through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR23014 How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), PG-13 Analysis Date: February 8, 2003 CAP Score: 39 CAP Influence Density: 1.35 MinMax: -100 |
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 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy imdb.com Production: Lynda Obst Productions, Robert Evans Company Distribution: Paramount Pictures Director(s): Donald Petrie Producer(s): Robert Evans, Christine Forsyth-Peters, Elizabeth Joan Hooper, Lynda Obst. Richard Vane Written by/Screenplay: Book: Michele Alexander, Jeannie Long. Sccreenplay: Kristen Buckley, Brian Regan, Burr Steers Cinematography/Camera: John Bailey Music: David Newman Film Editing: Debra Neil-Fisher Casting: Andrew S. Brown, Robin D. Cook, Gail Levin Production Design: Thérèse DePrez Art Direction: James C. Feng, Brandt Gordon Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6, Granbury, Texas There is shame in NOT practicing immoral sex with someone according to this, yet another "R-13" PG-13. Two days into a relationship seems to be adequate to "go for the gold." At the most, nine days. Never in marriage. One gets a distinct impression that anyone under 60 is shacking up with someone. And drinking? In How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days sexual purity is as honorable as a yawn and drinking is as routine as breathing It seems the new age equation to reach sexual intimacy does not include God, His Word, anything to do with morality or wholesomeness and definitely not marriage. Just the length of time into a relationship. Casual sex and using other people are the "rule of law." And the MPAA thinks your 13 year old is old enough for this in spite of what you say. Such dissonance! [Gal. 5:19, Rev. 22:15, Jude 7, Col. 3:5] Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) is a writer for Composure magazine, the fastest growing women's magazine in the country. By orders of the mag's editor and Andie's boss, Lana Jong (Bebe Neuwirth) topics Andie is to write about are feminine things such as cosmetics and wardrobe plus, of course, just like Seventeen, sex. But Andie, with her Masters degree in journalism is under-utilized and under-challenged. Andie wants to write about meaningful topics such as politics, government and religion. But Jong reminds Andie that she is boss and that Andie will do as she says. Jong, whose only apparent concept of religion was Dali Lama will take care of the "religious" writing. Andie's first article under the rules of the editor is how to lose a guy in ten days by using such manipulations as jealousy, clinging, dim-witedness and planting of trappings which suggest of a long-term commitment. So, Andie is to find a Guinea pig, woo him into a "loving" relationship then convince him to leave her. All in ten days. A "loving" relationship? I wonder when filmmakers will finally get it that love does not equal sex and that sex does not equal love; that love is not a servant of sex but sex is a servant -- a tool -- of love. Casual, irresponsible, constant sex is the central theme of this teeney-bopper big city dating wars romance story. If this is the way modern life is, why do you think it is that way when our 13 year old kids are saturated with such lack of moral standards as acceptable in the popcorn flavored environment of entertainment? [1 Tim. 6:5] Unfortunately, such influences may last a lot longer than the popcorn. Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey) is a lead account executive for an ad agency which deals primarily in grunt-snort accounts with sports and alcohol-related complies. But he spies and tries to land a very lucrative diamond account which requires a complete paradigm shift from grunt-snort to "frosted." "Frosted" is the theme of his ad campaign, an idea innocently given to him by none other than Andie, referring to being decked out with diamonds. Ben really wants the account but his editor boss, Philip Warren (Robert Klein) is not so sure Ben should get it. Phillip is leaning toward two women account execs, Spears and Green (Michael Michele, Shalom Harlow) being better suited to the tried-n-true "diamonds are a girl's best friend" slogan. Over drinks (of course), to win the account Ben makes a bet with Phillip that he will be able to find, court and win the love of "any single, straight, available" woman he chooses in only ten days. Phillip agrees that if Ben wins the bet, he gets the lucrative account. If he loses, he is back to the grunt-snort accounts. Remember, this deeply scrutinized assignment of suitability for a highly valuable account is over drinks. Conveniently, Ben spies Andie (in a bar, of course) and decides she is the one he will conquer in ten days (nothing is said about after ten days). Little does he know that Andie also has ulterior designs on a relationship with him. So, did he choose her or did she choose him? What difference does it make? His clock starts. Her clock starts. The sex games begin. One of Andie's friends, Michelle admits to having intercourse with a guy only two days into a relationship that lasted a week and a half. Michelle confides her broken heart to Andie who tells Michelle that she was too easy from Ben's apartment bathroom. One of Ben's maneuvers was actually morally very nice ... except for one aspect. Ben took Andie to meet his parents and a solid, loving relationship was displayed between Ben and his family with none of the "I'm better than you" typical of offspring toward parents in movies nowadays. Too bad they had to show the good relationship built on things such as playing a card game with most of the foul language of the movie in it. And, of course, Ben's uncle's flatulence. Hey! Its's PG-13! Body fluids, functions, excrements and sex with foul language are a must. By the way, it is the ninth day when Ben "gets the gold" in his parents shower. With Andie. There is much innuendo (both homosexual and heterosexual), talk and comments regarding sexual immorality in this movie. Ben's male member gets a female pet name from Andie. Both strip for sex in his parents' shower. Ben nuzzles Andie's breasts with his face after a punch in the eye (simulating the steak). She touches his crotch area. Sexual requests and invitations abound. Dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure. And more. And a l-o-t of exposure to alcoholic beverages and drinking with drunkenness [1 Cor. 15:33, Luke 17:2]. Yes, I have a finding on that, too. Though the finding includes tobacco abuse, I'll share it with you because of what it reveals about alcohol in and as entertainment. A recent study by the American College of Physicians revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking and smoking in entertainment leads to an undeniable increase in alcohol and tobacco abuse. The finding entitled Relation Between Parental Restrictions on Movies and Adolescent Use of Tobacco and Alcohol In addition to these matters of inappropriate programming, there were 46 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary, one use of the most foul of the foul words [Col. 3:8, Prov. 22:11, Titus 2:6-8] and 11 uses of God's name in vain, 2 with the four letter expletive [Deut. 5:11]. There is more. Please read the listing in the Findings/Scoring section before you decide whether *How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days* is fit for your kids (which includes at-home teens) OR yourself. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
 Wanton Violence/Crime (W): Impudence/Hate (I)(1): Sex/Homosexuality (S): Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O)(2): Murder/Suicide (M)(3): |
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| NOTE: While the Summary/Commentary section of these reports is precisely that -- a summary in commentary format which can be and sometimes is subjective, the actual CAP Analysis Model (the Findings/Scoring section) makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse, for manufacture of justification for, or camouflaging of ignominious content or aberrant behavior or imagery with "redeeming" programming. Disguising sinful behavior in a theme/plot does not excuse the sinful behavior of either the one who is drawing pleasure or example of behavior or thought from the sinful display or of the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. We make no attempt to quantify the "artistic" or "entertainment" value of a movie -- whether a movie has any positive value or "entertainment" value is up to mom/dad. The CAP analysis model is the only known set of tools available to parents and grandparents which give *them* the control they need, bypassing the opinion-based assessment of movies by others and defeating the deceit of those who would say anything to convince their parents otherwise. The model is completely objective to His Word. Our investigation standards are founded in the teachings and expectations of Jesus Christ. If a sinful behavior is portrayed, it is called sinful whether Hollywood tries to make it otherwise. That the sinful behavior is "justified" by some manufactured conditions does not soften nor erase the price of sin. Whether there is application of fantasy "justification" or "redemption" is up to mom/dad. |
| "There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our more than eight years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
