Kicking and Screaming

do you want me now?

i've forgotten how much i love this song i'm listening to right now (freedy johnston's bad reputation). i remember first hearing it in the end credits of Kicking and Screaming, after that beautiful dialogue between Jane (Olivia d'Abo) and Grover (Josh Hamilton).

the dialogue is nothing extraordinary, and that's what makes it beautiful. that's when i realized that the exposition does not have to be overly dramatic, the revelation of love or whatever does not have to be overly stated. the path to love does not have to be difficult.

Grover: this is the thing: if we were an old couple, dated for years, and graduated from all these scholastic complications, and i leaned over and kissed you, you wouldn't say a word. you'd be delighted. probably. if i kissed you right now, it would be quite forward. and if i kissed you the first time we'd ever met, you probably would've hit me.
Jane: what are you saying?
Grover: i just wish we were an old couple, so i could do that.

one reason why i loved the movie is the main love story storyline: Grover and Jane are both writers who first exchange snappy commentary about the other's work, and gradually warm to each other. if only i knew guys that look and sound like Grover.

i knew Josh Hamilton had been brutally wasted as an actor in with honors, and here he proves me right.

Kicking and Screaming was also my first encounter with Chris Eigemann, who has gone on to be a recurring character in Gilmore Girls. his Max justified my decision to be the person in my group of friends who is the master of acerbic wit and has plenty of opinions, but actually does nothing.

Max: what do i do? i do nothing. i used to be a Philosophy student, but since graduation, i do nothing.

anyway. the end credits is accompanied by Freedy Johnston's Bad Reputation (which i always have in my head whenever i finish watching the movie), and i'm just...

I know I got a bad reputation
and it isn't just talk, talk, talk
If I could only give you everything
You know I haven't got
I couldn't have one conversation
If it wasn't for the lies, lies, lies
And still I ought to tell you everything
'till I close my eyes

Been breaking down
Do you want me now?
Do you want me now?

 - freedy johnston "bad reputation"