You might have come across a trending TikTok sound where a woman sings, “And all the girls dreamed that they’d be Ben’s partner,” set to Carly Simon’s “You’re so Vain.” That woman is Andie Anderson, a character from a movie. She’s the star writer for a women’s magazine named Composure, and Andie wishes she could cover more serious topics. If you are looking for more movies like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, you can explore more on some main streaming platforms, such as one of the movies released in 2019, the After Netflix.
When her best friend goes through another breakup, she gets inspired to write an article titled “How to lose a guy in 10 days” by committing all the dating blunders that typically drive men away. She randomly selects Benjamin Barry as her target, not knowing that he’s just made a bet that he can make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days.
This is the plot of “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” a romantic comedy featuring Kate Hudson as Andie and Matthew McConaughey as Benjamin. The film is marking its twentieth anniversary this year. Despite its age, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” hasn’t lost its relevance. Twenty years later, this witty and winsome rom-com still delights audiences. With its endearing leads and wacky antics, the film proves romantic chemistry can overcome even the best-laid plans. It’s still trending on TikTok and even serving as inspiration for prom dresses. It remains a timeless classic that you can enjoy again and again.
The 2002 movie has remained relevant due to its relative modernity. The early 2000s reinforced heteronormative gender stereotypes in films. However, when “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” was released, it broke the mold of the woman falling head over heels for a man and dedicating her entire life to him.
When it was released in 2002, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” stood out for its subversion of typical romantic comedy tropes. The early 2000s saw many films that reinforced outdated heteronormative gender roles – with female characters falling hopelessly for male leads. However, this beloved rom-com broke that mold with its empowered, complex heroine.
Andie represents a new kind of female protagonist—one who is ambitious, career-driven, and not defined by her relationships but by her own sense of self-worth. She aspires to write about politics and current events but is pigeonholed into her role as the “How To” girl, writing insipid stories about relationships and men. Feeling trapped, she decides to write an article that pokes fun at dating stereotypes.
In this way, the film challenged stereotypes in the genre. It depicted a modern career woman focused on her ambitions rather than merely attracting a man. Twenty years later, audiences still appreciate its relatable, progressive take on romantic relationships. By subverting cliches, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” created a story that still feels fresh, funny, and relevant today. It paved the way for more films willing to buck tired tropes and treat women as fully realized characters with their own dreams.
Ladies were supposed to take extraordinary measures to draw in men, yet Andie’s personality condemns the tensions and assumptions that ladies face with regard to sentiment.
Besides, the personal advancement of the primary characters, while fairly unoriginal, is top-notch. Andie, the solid-willed and difficult female lead, discovers that life brings more to the table than only her vocation and, in the long run, opens up to cherish. Then again, Benjamin changes from the cliché macho man to somebody who often thinks about something other than brew and sports, somebody who creates feelings and the capacity to communicate them.
For those watching this film, interestingly, perceiving that I’m not lauding this film as a perfect example of current feminism is fundamental. As a matter of fact, an incredible inverse is valid — it plays into the “dislike different young ladies” saying.
However, we must remember that this movie was made 20 years ago. For its time, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” was a unique romantic comedy that delved into stereotypes. Having Benjamin chase after Andie in the film’s climax was a bold choice, as the girl was leaving the man for once.
“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” isn’t the movie that will convince you of the importance of feminism. Still, it’s the kind of movie you can consistently count on, one that you can watch over and over again without getting tired of, even twenty years after its release.
