Romantic Comedies and the Nice Guy

I was watching Playing for Keeps, starring Gerard Butler and Jessica Biel, last night as I lay in bed sick. It was not a great movie, not that I had high hopes for it, but one can try to maintain high expectations.

Maybe it was my weakened state, but I started to get really sad for the guy Jessica Biel’s character was engaged to. As soon as you know Gerard’s character is still in love with Biel, it’s game over for the nice guy. Which got me to thinking…

Why is it that the nice guy who helps the girl over a horrible broken heart, always gets dumped for the dude who broke the girl’s heart? It’s like, why bother? Guys, if you know there’s someone out there who got dumped by the love of their life and for some reason that dude is not out of the picture RUN. Not worth it. She will go back to him. 

It’s almost like all romantic comedies have the same structure: Hot guy messes up and he and the girl break up. Ample time passes. Girl is with new, nice guy. Hot guy reappears, doing everything he can to “change” his old ways. Hot Guy say all the things girl has wanted to hear. Intense make out session, followed by girl’s guilt and confusion of feelings. Nice guy confronts girl in a calm and respectful manner on the subject. Girl dumps Nice guy. Girl gets back with Hot guy.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE NICE GUY?!

Example: Liar Liar

Fletcher is a cheating jerk. His ex-wife Audrey starts dating a NICE GUY named Jerry (played by the NICE guy himself Cary Elwes). Fletcher’s son Max makes a birthday wish that prohibits him from lying for 24 hours. In that short amount of time he ends up pissing off Audrey even more, yet redeems himself in the final hour, making Audrey want him back. Jerry leaves for Boston sans his should-be family and is semi-heartbroken. 

COME ON! I MEAN SERIOUSLY!