So you just broke up with your shitty boyfriend, Valentine’s Day is barelling down upon you, and you feel like garbage. All you want to do tonight is curl up with a bottle of wine and
a well-worn copy of “Bridget Jones”, right?

WELL STOP! I am here to tell you that there is a whole world out there….. a whole world of OTHER chick flicks that you can curl up and get drunk with! So let’s go!

Strike! (US title: All I Wanna Do)
Sarah Kernochan (1998)

Although it is aimed at a pre-teen audience, the movie “Strike!” is
great for any woman feeling a little trampled. Its story opens on an
angsty teen banished to an all-female finishing school because her
parents are desperately trying to prevent her from “doing it”. There she
joins a group of preppy pranksters who eventually lead a revolt against
the school going co-ed. As goofy as this sounds, this movie is
delightfully light, surprisingly clever, and a nice balm for your
boy-bruises. It is also way more entertaining than “Mona Lisa Smile”,
which has a similar theme and setting but alas, forces you to look at
Julia Roberts’ increasingly bony face for two hours.

Parsley Days (VHS only)
Andrea Dorfman (2000)

I have to say, Andrea Dorfman is the master of Canadian chick flicks.
Her first foray into feature length is “Parsley Days,” a funny,
perfectly-paced and brutally honest film. Its story revolves around a
tightly-knit hipster community where a well-meaning and
womyn-power-loving boyfriend is about to get chucked by our
no-longer-in-love and horribly confused heroine. The long and drawn out
breakup is both hilarious and heart breaking, and exactly what you need
to watch as you muddle through your own relationship woes. Be ready for
tears, though – you will lose your shit at the end.

New Waterford Girl
Alan Moyle (1999)

Another East Coast gem is “New Waterford Girl”, starring the completely
bewitching newcomer, Liane Balaban. This girl knocks it out of the park
playing Moonie, an eccentric and embittered teen aching to run away from
her back-water town. She devises a plan of escape that involves the
town’s habit of sending girls “to an auntie in Antigonish” for well,
approximately nine months….. Duh! Everyone knows what that actually
means! Anyways, hilarity ensues as she pretends to be the town slut,
befriends a spitfire girl from New York City, and deals with the
reactions of her tightly-knit community upon hearing the “news”. A
sweet, funny, and completely endearing film, this will leave you both
weeping and laughing at the absurdity of the age-old “double standard”.

Elizabeth
Shekhar Kapur (1998)

Have you sworn off men forever? Dude, you must watch the
critically-acclaimed biopic, “Elizabeth”. Gorgeous cinematography
combines with a completely captivating performance by Cate Blanchett in the title
role, creating a film that always leaves me breathless. It tells the
tale of the first Queen Elizabeth; specifically, about her reluctant
struggle to gain power over a bitchy, all-male court. The catch? She
manages to do it without breaking down and agreeing to a political
marriage. I promise, you will be constantly on the edge of your seat for
the poor girl, holding your breath through her triumphant moments and
intense losses. Talk about rising to the occasion! After finishing this
film, you will want to go out and kick some serious ass.

….. and that, dear reader, is what you should be doing instead of hiding at
home, watching tv.

‘Nuff said.