To get myself out of post-breakup funk, I used movie-watching as the most convenient way to distract myself. I avoided anything that reminded me of my ex in any way. Anything with a romantic element just brought out my cynicism.
So, I indulged in fantasies (sci-fi, anime, bad westerns, B&W war movies) and lots of classic and slapstick comedies (Marx Bros., Coen Bros., anything except "romantic comedies"). I highly recommend large doses of cheeziness and light-hearted humor.

Oh and just to add to that. Although it is a bit sappy at the end, "The Sweetest Thing" always reminds me of how fun it is to be a single hottie on the prowl. I have seen it way to many times but it is always funny as hell.

Thanks for your input on my recent forum on BadGirlSwirl.com! I appreciate the input and feel comforted to know that I am not alone in this world full of sappy couples(85% of my friends are attached). I have been reading through your site and have decided that you are a very smart lady! You have a lot of great ideas and thoughts on life. "It" does suck, I know, but you have only been on your own for a week or so, you are aloud to feel like crap. I have realized that returning to singledom after so long is, although like stepping into the Twilight Zone, a good change. You are coping well. Whether taking a walk or going to an art museum, I finally started enjoying doing things by myself. And the whole, "you shouldn't feel sorry for yourself when watching sappy romantic comedies" is a load of crap. We are single grrls and we can do whatever sad sick things we need to do to get over great guys. I just sniff it up and leave the movie with a smile on my face thinking that one day I will be in love again, but right now I am having a blast chillin' with my bad girls and being on my own.

Raising Arizona, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, any Coen Bro movie really. Also, try sangria and friends and your favorite shoes. Or solo sangria is better sometimes. And allow yourself to wallow a bit like bikerboy said. Boy does it help. It just takes time.

And hey, it takes the proverbial two to tango, you know? So, hey... maybe find one thing about ex-b that made you nuts and take a magnified jab at it. I realize it's mean, but it's a catharsis. However nice he is, maybe just a little thing? Maybe this is just because I was raised by Southern women but...

Example, the best post-dump peptalk from my mom went like this (scenario: me on phone fighting back the tears with burnt out, utterly dull-dread-hopeless feeling):

mom: "Well, hun, I'm sorry he hurt you this bad... he was nice and all but I mean come on, sweetie, he was two milkshakes away from Louie Anderson. You dodged a bullet, sister."

Now, that comment was exaggerated, baseline mean but in the end, totally accurate. He was the wrong guy for me. And the fever broke there.

Forget the Louie part; dish has it now that one day I would've come home early to find him wearing my pink angora sweater. *zzing* Now that, my friend, is a silver, hollowpoint bullet. :)

But I still laugh at it to this day; I hope it made you laugh, too.

Watch movies where the men have secret lives and turn out to be psycho killers. Maybe it'll start you thinking that you got out just...in...time...
Domestic Disturbance
What Lies Beneath

What about High Fidelity? Great music, John Cusack, and a sort of romantic story (trying not to give away the ending) where the relationship is so dysfunctional it makes you glad you're single . . .

Advice? Wallow, wallow, wallow.

You might want to avoid the Vietnam movies though. Do you really want to be thinking about firearms right now?

Oh yeah, and Casablanca. A noble isolation . . .

How about the punk rock musical that kicks "Chicago"'s flashy, overproduced ass -- "Hedwig and the Angry Inch"? It's certainly a movie about finding yourself and moving on (in Farrah Fawcett flip wigs, no less).

Seriously, though. I've been there and the best advice I can offer is to give yourself time. Feel shitty and sad if you feel shitty and sad. Avoid the pressure of being happy, shiny Bonnie all the time. You'll feel better and things will get back to normal in their own time. :)

Edited by author 03-27-2003 10:03 PM
light-hearted???? She'll be ready for an asylum. Great movies, though...especially if you were thinking about becoming a vegetarian.

Caddy shack. Can't go wrong. There's romance...but dopey '70s romance. And a dancing gopher!!
...and don't neglect poor godzilla!!!

I recommend "Apocalypse Now." It's a long movie and there's almost no risk of it evoking any sort of touchy-feely nostalgic feelings. Unless of course your ex was the maniacal leader of some sort of aboriginal warrior-cult. When it's over you're left with a vague kind of WTF??? feeling. Follow that with "The Deer Hunter," and you've pretty much occupied an entire evening with escapist light hearted fare.

Oh no no no. No romantic, lovey dovey crap when in that post-breakup stage. I watched Seven.

Well....shoot. I will listen to your blues jam and offer sympathy. Of course I don't know you at all, but we've all been there! (cliches may not be the answer however...)Still, this too shall pass.
                                "time wounds all heels"
                                     Groucho Marx.

Edited by author 03-27-2003 05:39 PM
To be a hopeless romantic... such a horrible curse!

Maybe you should spend more of your time with friends instead of watching movies that make you feel worse.

There's nothing worse than a sad Bonnie!

-King P

okay OBVIOUSLY I've been watching a lot of movies lately to distract myself...and then I go pick chick movies that make me long for second chances and romantic happy-sappy endings.

perhaps you all should start suggesting movies for me to watch post-breakup?

any thoughts?