What does this say about U.S. manhood: Male critics actually like 'Eat Pray Love'

Maybe I was exaggerating a little just to make a point, but based on my informal survey of my male friends, I thought it was absolutely within the bounds of probability to write a post earlier this week saying "Who Will Be the First Guy in America to Admit He Likes 'Eat Pray Love;?" As it turns out, if film critics are any judge of this, men like a good self-discovery travelogue almost as much as women.

While critics in general are giving "Eat Pray Love" a thumbs down--it currently has a 38 Fresh Rating at Rotten Tomatoes--the male vs, female breakdown with critics isn't as extreme as you'd think. It's important to remember that there are far more male critics than female ones, but here's a snapshot of how 110 film critics (including Willie Waffle, who has my favorite critic moniker of all time) cast their votes:

Men who liked the movie: 27.

Men who hated the movie: 44.

Women who liked the movie: 15

Women who hated the movie: 24.

In short, once you factor in that the guys outnumber the women in the critical trade, the women who liked the movie (including my colleague, Betsy Sharkey, who gave it a favorable review) only made up a slightly higher percentage than the men who liked the movie. What does this mean? You be the judge? Maybe Julia Roberts gave the film credibility with a sizable percentage of men? Maybe guys like chick flicks more than they let on? Or maybe male movie critics are simply more sensitive souls than the average U.S. male?

Who knows: Maybe men aren't from Mars after all!

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Who Will Be the First Guy In America to Admit He Likes 'Eat Pray Love'?

Photo: Julia Roberts at the world premiere of "Eat Pray Love" in New York. Credit: Evan Agostini / Associated Press

Comments

[Jaap den Haan]

It isn't controversial enough, I guess. There is an autobiographical element in the film, Julia Roberts was converted to Hinduism, I don't know how, but she said she is considering her next life, where she wants to be something quiet and supporting. Spiritual and romantic. I see few people who today can relate the two, in the current religious divide which is all about the sex divide this is welcome. Without a sense of eternity romance is limited. This awareness is often a bit late.

[ginger liu]

It says nothing about the American male but much about the generalization of sexes. I'm a woman and I love superhero movies. Men like romance movies just as much as women do. All my women friends would much rather watch an action adventure romp than some soppy romance. Stop putting is all in box.

[Alison Gang]

I have to say this doesn't surprise me one bit. As a female movie critic (San Diego Union-Tribune), I disliked "Eat Pray Love" because it turned Liz Gilbert the writer, who showed some depth and complexity that I actually recognized from real life, into just another shallow female lead who babbles about her love woes and calorie consumption. I liked the book because the voice was genuine and, therefore, likable, despite the writer's obvious privilege.

The film did exactly what most mainstream movies do - turn women into easier-to-get-a-handle-on caricatures instead of the complex, human beings we actually are. Can you say male fantasy? (Yes, even for male critics.)

For me...I just found it disappointing and, if I think about it too much, insulting.

[Zygarch]

Love your column. Wouldn't miss it.

Trying to drum up "controversy" with statements that presume a generalized attitude in men, i.e. that they won't or don't like a movie that deals with women-oriented material or female-perspective storytelling, only buttresses unhealthy stereotypes of socially-mandated masculine behavior.

In even "playfully" telling men over and over again, that it is of any salient interest if they admit an affinity-- no, even a tolerance-- for material that many males (and some females) like to dismiss as "chick" flick, lit, whatever, reveals an insidious level of sexism that is easy to deny, and even harder to prove, but like cancer is there, quietly reproducing and eventually killing any chance of real recognition, respect, and appreciation for the experience of women-- or anyone else that falls under the category of "Other."

Examining how people of different genders perceive various genres of entertainment can be educational and enlightening. But to provocatively encourage the adolescent practice of divvying up the sexes on account of "cooties" is beneath the level of respectable journalism and analysis.

Meanwhile, I look forward to this column's more insightful revelations on the entertainment industry.