Happy endings that aren't

[Lady_Disdain]

You know those movies where the main couple finally get together in the end, kissing in front of a sunset as the credits roll by? Except that, instead of being misty eyed happy for them, you sit there thinking "right, like that is going to last". What is your favourite example of this kind of ending?

For me, it's Grease. The couple learned nothing about ignoring social expectations (hey, they were happy together in the summer, when their friends weren't around) and about compromising (either he is trying to be the jock he isn't or Sandy comes out in a stripperific costume). I give them until the end of summer - again.

 

[Nashville]

I hate to say it, but I never really thought Holly Golightly and Paul Varjack would work out in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

 

[Amber St. Clare]

on the flip side--I've ALwAYS convinced myself that Scarlett and Rhett got back together.....................

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I hated it when Carrie married Big (in Sex and the City). He bailed on her the day of the wedding and she married him anyway? So disappointing!

 

[princesss]

I hated it when Carrie married Big (in Sex and the City). He bailed on her the day of the wedding and she married him anyway? So disappointing!

Completely agreed.

 

[jaysonsmom]

I just saw a rerun of When Harry Met Sally, and she was such a b*tch to him...and they still ended up together? What?

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I hated it when Carrie married Big (in Sex and the City). He bailed on her the day of the wedding and she married him anyway? So disappointing!

Completely agreed.

Actually, their relationship should have stayed dead from any one of their breakups.

 

[E B]

I hated it when Carrie married Big (in Sex and the City). He bailed on her the day of the wedding and she married him anyway? So disappointing!

Completely agreed.

Actually, their relationship should have stayed dead from any one of their breakups.

Just what I was coming in to vote for! A disappointing ending that wasn't at all in line with the show's general 'message.'

 

[Callisto]

I got to the end of "The Proposal" and just thought "What? They didn't even like each other until 2 days ago, how are they gonna get married..."

 

[Cehrabehra]

anything with kate hudson - for some reason I just never buy that she's going to stay with the man...

 

[artdecogirl]

I got to the end of "The Proposal" and just thought "What? They didn't even like each other until 2 days ago, how are they gonna get married..."

I agree, unrealistic but that movie is worth watching just to see Ryan Reynolds half naked and Bullocks character dancing with Gammy

 

[that_someone_special]

I hated it when Carrie married Big (in Sex and the City). He bailed on her the day of the wedding and she married him anyway? So disappointing!

YES!

 

[Circe]

Agreed for everything in this thread, except for "When Harry Met Sally" ... and there, it's not that I think they stay together, it's that I think Sally was the well-behaved member of the duo! I always want to bop Harry on the head when I watch that movie.

For me, it's the remake of "The Thomas Crowne Affair." I love that movie, but let's be honest: it ends on the dock. And that is that!

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Kate and Petruccio from Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew": She would lose patience with him and kill him in his sleep after about 6 months.

Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle from "My Fair Lady": He would get bored with her in a big hurry.

Charlie Allnut and Rose Sayer from "The African Queen": She would get disgusted with him and leave eventually. No common interests.

Constance Chatterly and Oliver Mellors: She could never adapt to life with a gardener/farm laborer.

 

[Nashville]

This thread reminds me of that movie "The Breakup"

I liked it because it's not the typical love conquers all story.

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

This thread reminds me of that movie "The Breakup"

I liked it because it's not the typical love conquers all story.

I was thinking of movies with unconventional endings that I love, too! "Prime" with Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep is a great example. So is "(500) Days of Summer." Love them.

 

[Nashville]

This thread reminds me of that movie "The Breakup"

I liked it because it's not the typical love conquers all story.

I was thinking of movies with unconventional endings that I love, too! "Prime" with Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep is a great example. So is "(500) Days of Summer." Love them.

How could I forget (500) Days of Summer!!! That movie was fantastic.

 

[HopeDream]

Pretty Woman - every major argument they have, he'll bring up that she was once a prostitute. Just not an equal relationship.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Kate and Petruccio from Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew": She would lose patience with him and kill him in his sleep after about 6 months.

Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle from "My Fair Lady": He would get bored with her in a big hurry.

Curiously, there are scholars who think that Petruccio and Kate would be the happiest of Shakespeare's couple. Like you, I think Kate would kill Petruccio in under a year - or chase him with a rolling pin!

From Shakespeare, I would say Claudio and Hero. Excuse me - he public humiliates her and is willing to marry another woman!

I agree with My Fair Lady. I never got romantic vibes from that couple.

 

[zhuzhu]

Petruccio and Kate = If I were Kate, I would kill Petruccio within 30 days!

Pretty women - very lame ending that makes zero sense.

 

[Trekkie]

Pretty Woman - every major argument they have, he'll bring up that she was once a prostitute. Just not an equal relationship.

Exactly what I came here to say. Vivienne should have gone to San Francisco, finished high school, finished college, made some legal money and then met up with him on equal terms.

But even then, what chance would they have? He'd be embarrassed by her lack of polish, she would grow tired of the sycophantic shopping staff and they'd both be resentful that Stuckie would inevitably tell the world how they met...

A recipe for disaster, imho.

 

[doodle]

The whole Pygmalion story bugs me, hence my dislike for Pretty Woman, She's All That, My Fair Lady, etc...although what woman hasn't gotten a kick out of Julia Roberts going back to the snooty store to taunt the snobby salesgirl? As for When Harry Met Sally, I think Reiner originally intended for the two to remain only friends but changed the ending as an afterthought of sorts because audiences responded better to it or something like that. I think there's mention of it on the DVD special features. I'm COMPLETELY with you guys on Carrie and Big. How many times can two people put each other through the ringer before enough is enough already?! I think maybe I've gotten cynical; I just realized that even Disney movies bug me with the constant, predictable happily ever after.

 

[MissMina]

Dirty Dancing
Did Johnny and Baby have babies?

 

[TooPatient]

Runaway Bride

I may have watched it more times than I'll ever admit to but....
She ran away on several weddings before he proposed to her. He took a chance and proposed anyway then.... big shock.... she ran away.
And we're supposed to believe that after all that he took her back, planned another wedding, and all was forgiven (and even a joke)

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Runaway Bride

I may have watched it more times than I'll ever admit to but....
She ran away on several weddings before he proposed to her. He took a chance and proposed anyway then.... big shock.... she ran away.
And we're supposed to believe that after all that he took her back, planned another wedding, and all was forgiven (and even a joke)

I agree!

Do I notice a pattern with Julia Roberts?

 

[TooPatient]

Runaway Bride

I may have watched it more times than I'll ever admit to but....
She ran away on several weddings before he proposed to her. He took a chance and proposed anyway then.... big shock.... she ran away.
And we're supposed to believe that after all that he took her back, planned another wedding, and all was forgiven (and even a joke)

I agree!

Do I notice a pattern with Julia Roberts?

Yep.

Even the ones I've seen her in that aren't the same old "love story" are pretty unbelievable. Oh.... what was that one called where they managed to steal the guy's artwork???

 

[ts44]

I don't necessarily think that Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins have a romantic relationship, I think that both Pygmalion and My Fair Lady leave that a little open-ended, Pygmalion more so than My Fair Lady. But you are right, I never got a romantic vibe off of either of them and should people wish to couple them off, I think they are much better as friends.

 

[dragonfly411]

Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Nuff Said.

 

[Rhea]

I got to the end of "The Proposal" and just thought "What? They didn't even like each other until 2 days ago, how are they gonna get married..."

This! I couldn't believe that for a minute.

 

[zoebartlett]

I thought of "The Breakup" and "(500) Days of Summer" too. I love those movies.