Funny Bones

Scott Adams Dilbert was once quoted as saying, "The best things in life are silly." I disagree, personally I find 'silly' extremely annoying, whether it be school-boy humour, word play or slapstick, it reeks of desperation, I just don't find it in the least bit clever or attractive.

So imagine my horror when my partner, Nick, suggested we watch the new 'Arthur' movie, staring Russell Brand. I was instantly annoyed, 'does he know me at all?!'

He sensed my reluctance; not sure what gave me away; may be my fixed jaw line or perhaps the veins standing out in my neck; but all he had to say were two little words, 'Van Helsing' and I knew I was beaten.

Van Helsing was probably the worst movie we have ever seen together, it starred Hugh Jackman....and I pleaded with Nick to go with me - so now like the Sword of Damocles he wields it over me whenever there is a movie he really wants to see.

So we watched Arthur - it was hilarious, I had real laugh out loud moments through-out the film, it was brilliant, Russell Brand was fantastic, with one-liners that still make me laugh now when I think about them.

One of my favourites was when he is in a restaurant with the woman he was being forced to marry, played by Jennifer Garner, where he is trying to explain why they shouldn't marry as they have nothing in common; he tells her, "...you love horses, I don't trust them, their shoes are permanent, and who makes that kind of commitment to a shoe!" I was laughing so hard I cried.

Of course, Nick was delighted with himself, he was on a roll, he got me to watch a 'silly' movie and I loved it....so he suggested a few nights later we watch a movie called 'Just Go With It' with Adam Sandler no less...the king of  'silliness' - I was in hell.....but of course out came Van Helsing and the recent success of 'Arthur' and once again, I sat down to watch, what I call, 'A Nick movie'.

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston are best friends who become fake husband and wife, so he can get the girl of 'his dreams'. The movie is brilliant, so funny; the little girl 'Kiki-Dee' who plays the daughter of Jennifer Aniston, is so funny, if for no other reason, watch this movie to get a glimpse of her, she pretends to be British - hilarious.

This whole experience really got me thinking. I believe we get ourselves on rails and we become inflexible. We determine who we are and box ourselves and dismiss anything that doesn’t' fit with our self-image, whether its due to lazyness or arrogance, we tend not to challenge it - unless forced!

This experience has taught me not to be so rigid and dismissive; but to lift the lid of the box and peek in from time to time and challenge my perception of who I think I am, and what I think I'm about...basically to lighten up a bit and not take myself too seriously.

Popcorn and a comfy sofa...