When most guys see a Chick Flick, it’s usually because they did something. Often, they’re paying back a favor to their significant other. Perhaps their girl was a good sport during baseball season or that Star Wars marathon when the television received all the attention. Whatever the reason, most men won’t see a Chick Flick unless they’re paying back a favor usually involving a typical male indulgence.

Personally, I am not a fan of Chick Flicks, although there are some exceptional films within the genre, Amelie being among the best. And we all know that most of that cliché crap about gender roles is nonsense anyway as society evolves. (However, there is a word I use to describe women who break the mold and discover a passion for sports and porn and all things geeky – I call them “perfect!”) While I won’t babble on about the gender gap, what I will do is point out a growing trend at the movies – a plethora of Dick Flicks.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a Dick Flick is a Chick Flick for a guy, hence the term “dick.” I know, it’s not all that clever, but the films contain all of the elements of Chick Flicks from the point of view of a human with a penis. You’ll encounter all of the same story and character melodrama as well as the soul-searching, the difficult moral choices wrapped up in a dramatic emotional journey involving men in their most vulnerable state. The males in these movies might not be as sexy as the typical action star, but they certainly feel more real.



For men, it’s liberating to experience these films to get in touch with that sensitive side, y’know, the one shoved below the surface by testosterone and society and the jockochracy that dominated traditional schooling. One can only do so much “man-ing up” before the weight becomes too much. Some of these Dick Flicks even demonstrate that it’s okay to cry since, hey, John Cusack gets weepy sometimes too.

For women, Dick Flicks are enjoyable for the insight they provide into the male mind. So think of it as spying… which is exactly what I do when I see any Chick Flick.


1. High Fidelity
John Cusack practically invented the Dick Flick genre with Say Anything in 1989. His portrayal of Lloyd Dobler in that film solidified a place in women’s hearts. He also made it okay for guys to be pussy-whipped since it seemed so romantic. In High Fidelity, Cusack takes a hard look at himself as he evaluates each relationship to discover exactly where it went wrong. Oh, and the film’s music geek references make it that much more enjoyable.

2. Clerks 2
Kevin Smith has made a romantic comedy in which the central character balances both the woman and man in his life. And how many of us have had to do that in real life? Smith gets major kudos in the surprising jailhouse scene in which Randall and Dante, two men, express their love for each other – but not in a Gay way. I mean, this is a Kevin Smith film.


3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
How many of us wish there were a way to erase that bad relationship? Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet portray the best and worst of any typical relationship and then both realize that when it’s over... they actually miss it. All of it, both the good and the bad. Eternal Sunshine is simultaneously romantic and dark and destined to be a Dick Flick classic.

4. Field of Dreams
This father/son story set against the backdrop of a passion for baseball is guaranteed to make any man cry. I know I have.

5. Annie Hall
Woody Allen was not only a pioneer of the genre, he made being a weak geek seem sexy. Annie Hall[/] is the best of his kvetching comedies. He made it okay for men to be romantic and sensitive and wear glasses. Thanks Woody. I would have never gotten laid in high school were it not for your romantic comedies.


6. Before Sunrise / Before Sunset
Richard Linklater has pulled the best performance out of his leads Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. For anyone who has ever found that instant connection which turned into an all night conversation, these two movies will help you explain it to those who haven’t. Brilliant, smart, passionate, the Before bi-ology is a romance centered on realism.


7. Melvin Goes to Dinner
This Bob Odenkirk-directed comedy explores one night in the life of a man who has a life-changing dinner. Actor/writer Michael Blieden is the Melvin from the title who is forced to confront everything after just one meal. Cameos by Jack Black and David Cross put this indie into the pee-your-pants-funny zone.

8. Serendipity
John Cusack returns to familiar territory in this overlooked romance. On the eve of his wedding, John attempts to track down a woman he met one night years ago to see if that spark is still there. Cusack is a master at appearing manly in spite of being oh-so mushy.


9. Coupling
Okay, this is not a movie, but this well-written British TV series (there was an awful U.S. version you can ignore) is like Friends except much better and with lots of sex as well as constant talk of big dicks and big tits. The character of Jeff Murdock is especially endearing as his futile pursuits of unattainable women provide the bulk of the comedy.

10. Sleepless in Seattle / You’ve Got Mail
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan star in both of these flicks, but don’t let that put you off. The pairing of the two is charming and Hanks proves that being a goofball can end up in actually getting the girl.

Gore gone!

Chris_Gore is an author, a filmmaker, the creator of Film Threat, and is feeling very emotional today. Please be nice to him.