How to Lose a Guy

How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days is a 2003 romantic comedy film starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. In addition to being one of my favorite films, I feel it is one of the most interesting to analyze as well. Andie Anderson, who is played by Kate Hudson is a writer for a prominent fashion magazine- more specifically the "How To" column. Ben Barry is working for an advertising firm and has just been assigned a pitch for diamonds.

After meeting Andie at a bar, Ben's friends bet him that he can't get her to fall in love with him. So he takes that offer and sees it as a way to prosper. "I will make her fall in love with me." Coincidentally, Andie's next assignment is assigned as "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days".  This column will explain all the things NOT to do in a relationship. Such as, naming private parts, buying him a dog after two dates, going to couple's therapy, rapidly moves her things into his apartment, and cooking him disgusting food. With Ben, trying his best to make Andie fall in love with him- he doesn't not let this stuff phase him.

It's clear that there are stereotypes of women and men in the beginning of this movie when each character is spending time with their friends. Ben's friends think he can easily "have sex like a man"- With no strings attached or feelings involved. Andie's boss feels the same way. It will be easy for Andie to scare off a man if she follows to "don'ts" in a relationship. In "Can women have sex like a man?" Alksnis found women's sexual scripts to be more relational while men's to be more recreational. However, in this case both characters go into their perspective "relationships" recreationally but leave them relationally. 

After spending a lot of time together, weirdly and seriously, Andie and Ben begin to really fall for each other. There most definitely are feelings involved, and both are starting to realize they can't complete their tasks. No matter how weird Andie tries to be, Ben clearly still will try to be with her (in order to win his bet). But, occasionally Andie let's her guard down and Ben really is falling for the real Andie. 

In the end of this movie, the ending proves that neither men or women can necessarily "have sex like a man." Feelings come into play here and they fall in love with the real Ben and Andie. Both the bet and column are unraveled, and while neither is happy about the situation- they are most definitely still in love. 

Markle, G. (2008). “Can women have sex like a man?”: Sexual scripts in Sex and the City. Sexuality & Culture, 12(1), 45-57.