Before starting The Awful Truth, I had made a joke that its ending shows that love is not real, that this is “the awful truth.” Though I knew this to not be the case as it is considered to be a romantic comedy.
Throughout the 91 minute run time, we follow Jerry and Lucy Warriner through their recent divorce. We see them try to move on, rather quickly in my opinion, from each other, all wrapped up in the 90 days before their divorce is finalized. They both try their hand at dating, from an oilman to a famous heiress, but manage to get in each other's way each time. Though they both cannot leave the other alone, they also cannot find it in them to admit their love for one another. They spend the majority of their last 90 days of marriage denying what they both know, even if it is deep down. In the final days of their marriage Lucy realizes her love and goes after Jerry, and they both end up at Aunt Patsy’s cabin for the night. Then before their divorce is finalized, they overcome themselves and admit their love for each other. “The Awful Truth” being that they love each other, and not that love is not real.
I like to be cynical about love at times, but a romantic comedy will always do it for me. I really can see why Stanley Cavell spent so much time thinking through films of this nature. It took me a while to get into the film, but once I was in it then I was hooked for the full run time.
Before starting The Awful Truth, I had made a joke that its ending shows that love is not real, that this is “the awful truth.” Though I knew this to not be the case as it is considered to be a romantic comedy.
Throughout the 91 minute run time, we follow Jerry and Lucy Warriner through their recent divorce. We see them try to move on, rather quickly in my opinion, from each other, all wrapped up in the 90 days before their divorce is finalized. They both try their hand at dating, from an oilman to a famous heiress, but manage to get in each other's way each time. Though they both cannot leave the other alone, they also cannot find it in them to admit their love for one another. They spend the majority of their last 90 days of marriage denying what they both know, even if it is deep down. In the final days of their marriage Lucy realizes her love and goes after Jerry, and they both end up at Aunt Patsy’s cabin for the night. Then before their divorce is finalized, they overcome themselves and admit their love for each other. “The Awful Truth” being that they love each other, and not that love is not real.
I like to be cynical about love at times, but a romantic comedy will always do it for me. I really can see why Stanley Cavell spent so much time thinking through films of this nature. It took me a while to get into the film, but once I was in it then I was hooked for the full run time.
