The most recent example reached me via email approximately one month ago.

A mother in Romania wrote to share with us that she, and her daughter had a chick flick experience all their own.

Here is what she said…

“My daughter was browsing the internet for some new ‘chick flicks’, complaining that she’d seen them all…and found your site. [She] told me about it, and convinced me to watch them with her as both a form of bonding, I guess, and a way of understanding why women nowadays have [such] high expectations regarding the men in their lives (….they expect everyone to be a character from some fairy-tale movie they’ve seen).

“Anyway, it was very interesting and actually fun, I might add….So thanks.”

Not only does that story humble me, it makes me smile. Chick flicks really can bring people together; it just so happened it was 30-straight chick flicks for my family.

Side note: we’ve heard from people in 20 countries now, and we’ve found someone in Oklahoma to help us write a possible book manuscript. In the meantime, continue to share your stories and enjoy the movies!

After drafting the beginnings of a manuscript, I learned what I had in fact written was another blog, and not a book. It turns out that there is a difference.

The former is to the point in a matter of (Web) pages. The latter is to the point in several hundred pages.

So, needless to say, I’ve started over and I am now learning how to write a book in the process.

“Patience is a virtue” as the saying goes; so is the ability to write lengthy posts…errr…chapters.

P.S. I’ve watched my first chick flick since the movie marathon concluded on Saturday, Feb. 13. The title of choice, “The September Issue”, is a behind-the-scenes documentary focused on the September 2007 issue of “VOGUE” Magazine.

Further, with all the online stories, national television coverage, and international radio interviews many of you have asked…

“What’s next?” I have an answer.

First, though it has been suggested—and falsely reported as already being underway—there is currently no “30 Guy Flicks In 30 Days” challenge planned for us in the near future.

Second, there will continue to be stories written, and broadcast about our experience as long as radio stations, newspapers, and TV networks continue to request them.

The most recent interviews have had us on the radio in Ireland, in-print in Canada, and on TV in America.

Third, my wife, and I now have a literary agent, and I am in the process of writing a manuscript for a possible “30 Chick Flicks” book. For clarification, there is currently no definite “deal” in place with any one publisher.

While our agent has assured us that there are no guarantees, her background in the industry leads her to believe that there is potential for a deal.

Finally, while I plan to keep this site updated (as necessary), I also plan to return to writing at HighwayExit72.com—a personal blog—which I have all but abandoned.

Also, the @30chickflicks Twitter account will remain active.

Post updated on Monday, May 3, 2010

Post updated on Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Post updated on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010

Now that I’ve seen all “30 Chick Flicks In 30 Days” some reflection, and insight from the past month is in order.

Specifically, favorite movies, favorite soundtrack, and the most sensual kisses; in addition to the most memorable viewing experience, most memorable lines, and biggest surprise.

FAVORITE MOVIES:

1. “Bright Star”

2. “My Life In Ruins”

3. “Couples Retreat”

4. ”Whip It”

5. “Atonement”

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK:

“Music and Lyrics”

MOST SENSUAL KISSES:

1. “My Life In Ruins” — It takes place right before the closing credits between Nia Vardalos’ character, Georgia, and Alexis Georgoulis’ character, “Poupi”.

2. “Bright Star” — Each of the kisses between Ben Whishaw’s character, John Keats, and Abbie Cornish’s character, Frances ‘Fanny’ Brawne, seemed so tender.

MOST MEMORABLE VIEWING EXPERIENCE:

On day 14, Jan. 28, my wife, and I settled in to watch “Atonement” while an ice storm proceeded to dump freezing precipitation over our state. Halfway through the two-hour movie the electricity went off, and the film was stuck in our DVD player. Two hours later, the electricity came back on for approx. two minutes, but that was all we needed as we scrambled to remove the disc from the player. We then watched the last hour of the film on my wife’s laptop while weather conditions worsened outside our door; parts of our community were without power for three days. Our lights came back on as we finished the movie.

MOST MEMORABLE LINES—in no specific order:

“Adam likes you a lot,” Saoirse Ronan’s character, Izzie told her mother. “Yeah, why do you think that?” her mom, Michelle Pfeiffer’s character, Rosie, replied. “He made you a music mix. That’s how boys tell you what’s in their hearts,” Izzie said. “I Could Never Be Your Woman”

“Oh my God! You know if you mix these two (cakes) together, it tastes just like a Ring Ding,” said Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character, Patrick Sullivan—a New York fireman, at a wedding cake tasting appointment. “The Accidental Husband”

“I don’t want to get over her. I want to get her back,” said Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, Tom, of his love for Zooey Deschanel’s character, Summer. “(500) Days of Summer”

“Always kiss (your spouse) like it’s the first time, and the last time,” the husband stated. “Leap Year”

“(I) still have some hope for myself,” Ben Whishaw’s character, John, said. “I think hope useful,” Abbie Cornish’s character, Frances, replied. “But?” he asked. “Hope, and results are different. One doesn’t necessarily create the other,” she said. “Bright Star”

“Sometimes our hearts don’t match our mouths,” said Michelle Monaghan’s character, Hannah, to Patrick Dempsey’s character, Tom. “Made of Honor”

BIGGEST SURPRISE:

The international reach of this chick flick challenge continues to amaze me! To date, people from 11 countries have responded to “30 Chick Flicks In 30 Days”. Those countries include: Thailand, India, Indonesia, China, Australia, Jamaica, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, South America, and Germany. Also, my wife and I have been featured on the Web, in newspapers (Canada, and the US), on radio stations (Canada, and the US), and on TV (nationally).

UPDATE: The international reach of this chick flick challenge is now 17 countries. Those countries include: Thailand, India, Indonesia, China, Australia, Jamaica, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Iran.

UPDATE v.2: The international reach of this chick flick challenge is now 18 countries. Those countries include: Thailand, India, Indonesia, China, Australia, Jamaica, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, and Honduras.

UPDATE v.3: The international reach of this chick flick challenge is now 19 countries. Those countries include: Thailand, India, Indonesia, China, Australia, Jamaica, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, Honduras, and Russia.

UPDATE v.4: The international reach of this chick flick challenge is now 19 countries. Those countries include: Thailand, India, Indonesia, China, Australia, Jamaica, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, Honduras, Russia, and now Romania.

I also felt resentment toward men, and even confided in my wife the disliking that I had developed toward my own gender.

All of this from/while watching a movie!

Further, while no particular portion of this film’s dialogue stood out to me, one aspect of the storyline did.

It was heartbreaking to watch Bradley Cooper’s character, Ben, dismantle his on-screen marriage to Jennifer Connelly’s character, Janine. It hurt even more so after she forgave him, chose to give him a second chance, and still he relented.

To have something special—the love of one woman, his wife—and sabotage it with the lust of another was sad.

I don’t feel that justice was served for anyone involved in that portion of the plot. See the TAKEAWAY for more insight, below.

Interesting note: “He’s Just Not That Into You” was nominated for the 2010 People’s Choice Awards, USA, Favorite Comedy Movie. Ken Kwapis, the film’s director, also directed “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005).

TAKEAWAY: Being a nice guy isn’t genetic, it’s a choice. Have boundaries in your marriage to protect it; honor them. When a person chooses to love, they choose to be vulnerable.

That line—spoken by Ashton Kutcher’s character, Reed, to Jamie Foxx’s character, Kelvin—is heard near the beginning of this motion picture, and in its first movie trailer.

“Valentine’s Day” is a smorgasbord of A-list celebrities in pursuit of love at some level; many of them with each other.

Further, George Lopez’s character, Alphonso, serves as one of the film’s constant figures through the portrayal of his love for his wife, family, and closest friend, Reed.

There is a scene in which Reed asks Alphonso how he got it “right” with the woman that he married; the dialogue that followed is both comical, and personally memorable.

“I married my best friend,” Alphonso said. “I thought I was your best friend,” Reed enquired. “You’re my man. She’s my lady,” Alphonso said smiling.

Interesting note: This chick flick was filmed entirely in Los Angeles, California. Garry Marshall, the film’s director, made a guest appearance as an unnamed musician toward the movie’s end. “Valentine’s Day” was co-written by Katherine Fugate, Abby Kohn, and Marc Silverstein. Kohn, and Silverstein also co-wrote “He’s Just Not That Into You”.

TAKEAWAY: Love exists beyond holidays. It is found every day.

(Featured below are photos of couples that attended Friday night’s “30 Chick Flicks” Finale Watch Party at Royal Twin Theatre. Custom pastries provided by How Sweet It Is.)

Today’s film is “He’s Just Not That Into You”, starring Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, and Bradley Cooper. This movie debuted last year, and was produced by New Line Cinema, et al.

Mandy, Jendra, @BernatMommy, and @erind22 recommended this chick flick. My wife, Nicci, and I plan to watch it from a Movie Gallery DVD, tonight.

Today’s film is “Valentine’s Day”, starring @aplusk, Jamie Foxx, @jessicaalba, Patrick Dempsey, @IAMQUEENLATIFAH, and more. This movie debuts across America, tonight. It was produced by Karz Entertainment, et al.

@amy_pfister recommended this motion picture. My wife, and I plan to watch it with family, and friends at tonight’s “30 Chick Flicks” Finale Watch Party.

The event is open to the public, and scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., inside Royal Twin Theatre in Pauls Valley, Okla.

That’s the insight spoken by a nameless marriage counselor to the on-screen couple of Jon Favreau’s character, Joey, and Kristin Davis’ character, Lucy.

I dare say that some of this movie’s deepest insights are almost hidden beneath the comedy that takes place in the story.

Nevertheless, there are marital pearls waiting to be found in “Couples Retreat“.

Consider this sobering confession made by Jason Bateman’s character, Jason, to his on-screen wife, Kristen Bell’s character, Cynthia, and a room full of friends.

“We’ve stopped having fun, and we’re not even sure we know how to anymore,” he said. “What we need to find out is can we get back to the place where we really enjoy each other.”

This is arguably one of the deeper films—in terms of actual character dialogue—that I’ve seen to date during this 30-day chick flick challenge.

Be forewarned there are some sexually awkward moments.

Interesting note: “Couples Retreat” was written by Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, and Dana Fox. All three writers also appeared in this movie, Favreau and Vaughn as husband’s in separate relationships; Fox as a waitress.

TAKEAWAY: Nurture passion within your marriage as if it were a fire. Feed that fire; fan its flame. Remember, true intimacy begins (and continues) through transparency with your spouse.

Today’s film is “Couples Retreat”, starring Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, and Kristin Davis. This movie debuted last year, and was produced by @Universalpics, et al.

@BernatMommy recommended this chick flick. My wife, Nicci, and I plan to watch it from a Netflix DVD, tonight.

A person should be able to watch a motion picture without having first read the literature that inspired it. Likewise, a book should be free of a movie to define its existence.

With that said, I feel like I missed something from the beginning of “The Time Traveler’s Wife“. It’s as if I missed the first 30 minutes of this film, or another movie (a prequel) altogether.

The quick pace of the relationship between Rachel McAdams’ character, Clare, and Eric Bana’s character, Henry, left me feeling lost from the moment they first kissed.

Further, while the feeling of being behind persisted throughout most this film, one question did become glaringly clear.

How would knowing when you’re going to go change the way you live? (If it would change anything at all.)

Henry’s condition gave me reason to examine the things that I easily take for granted in my own day-to-day life.

Eating a meal with my wife. A hug. A conversation.

Would it change your life knowing when a moment would end?

Interesting note: Brad Pitt worked as an executive producer for this movie. Pitt was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma (pop. 28,692—2000 census). According to The Oklahoman, as of 2008, Pitt’s grandmother, Betty Russell, still resides there.

TAKEAWAY: Do not look so longingly toward the future that you look past this present moment. Memories are the movies we play to remember the past. Take time to create the ones you want each day.

Today’s film is “The Time Traveler’s Wife”, starring Eric Bana, and Rachel McAdams. This movie debuted last year, and was produced by New Line Cinema, et al.

CatScott, and Jendra recommended this chick flick. My wife, and I plan to watch it from a Movie Gallery DVD, tonight.

While I know little about the sport, I do know that Oklahoma (my home state) has three roller derby amateur leagues.

According to one league’s Twitter page bio, the Oklahoma City Roller Derby has been “turning wimpy little OKC girls into women since 2006.”

My wife, and I have plans to go watch a local roller derby match this year now thanks to this movie.

“Whip It” is a light-hearted film filled with laughs, and life lessons found among friends and family.

If Bodeen, Texas, were a real small town I imagine it being a quaint place to visit, eat barbecue, and live.

Ellen Page’s character, Bliss (a.k.a. Babe Ruthless), and her eclectic band of on-screen friends helped to make this motion picture feel more plausible for me. I went to high school with people like this, and currently live in a unique small town.

Kudos to Drew Berrymore on her directing debut.

Interesting note: The screenplay for “Whip It” was written by a woman, Shauna Cross. According to Wikipedia, Cross competes in roller derby for the Los Angeles Derby Dolls. Her pseudonym is “Maggie Mayhem”; the same nickname for Kristen Wiig’s character in this movie.

TAKEAWAY: Parents aren’t always right, but they’re not always wrong. Passion comes with a price. Finding what you love, and doing it are two different things.

Today’s film is “Whip It”, starring Sarah Habel, Ellen Page, and Shannon Eagen. This movie debuted last year. It was directed by Drew Barrymore, and produced by Mandate Pictures, et al.

Lesley recommended this chick flick. Nicci, my wife, and I plan to watch this chick flick from a Movie Gallery DVD, tonight.

Those words—spoken by Richmond Arquette’s character, Gary, to Chris Messina’s character, Dennis—segue into one of the most personally memorable moments in “Made of Honor“.

Three grown men sitting around a table, curling ribbon, and filling wedding shower baskets with candles and soaps.

I appreciate a movie that depicts the bonding of men around more than a campfire, and a few hand grenades.

It was the guys’ time to shine in-place-of the girls so often depicted in chick flicks as inseparable friends.

Dudes doing what dudes do when a fellow comrade is in need: curl ribbon, and creatively place bath soaps.

Michelle Monaghan’s character, Hannah, did suggest something to Patrick Dempsey’s character, Tom, elsewhere in this film that stood out to me.

She told him, “Sometimes our hearts don’t match our mouths.”

Translated—sometimes we say (or don’t say) the things that we really mean, and the consequences can be costly.

Interesting note: Patrick Dempsey was born in the small town of Lewiston, Maine (pop. 38,000–2000 Census). He stars in the upcoming motion picture, “Valentine’s Day”, scheduled to debut this Friday, Feb. 12, as a doctor.

TAKEAWAY: To love someone, and not tell them can be the same as them never knowing.

Today’s movie is “Made of Honor”, starring Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, and Kadeem Hardison. This motion picture debuted in 2008; it was produced by Columbia Pictures, et al.

My wife—Nicci, @RikaTheGuru, @Heather7Marie, @Littleh77, and @helyreilly recommended this film. Nicci, my mom, a friend—Sandi Jo, Galen Culver (KFOR News Channel 4), and I plan to watch this chick flick from a Netflix DVD, tonight.

Aside from the film’s length (two hours, and 45 minutes) being a topic of discussion, the aforementioned question was debated among the group that watched this movie with me.

My wife, another couple—Chris, and Stephanie, and I enjoyed the storyline of this motion picture; the run-time, not so much.

“Australia” is a rugged portrayal of a continent by the same name in the early-1940s. There is love, a world war, and even social justice woven into the film’s plot.

There is also a line of memorable dialogue…

“Just because it is doesn’t mean it should be,” said Lady Sarah Ashley, Nicole Kidman’s character, to Drover, Hugh Jackman’s character, outside her hotel room.

The “it” that she spoke of could have been any number of issues exposed in this film. In this instance, however, “it” meant double standards, and preferential treatment of the wealthy.

A two hour time limit—or even a sequel—could have helped to keep Chris, Stephanie, Nicci, and I more engaged. While this is the longest movie viewed in this challenge (to date), it does not lack in action, emotion, and visual interest.

Interesting note: “Australia” was nominated for an Oscar in 2009 for Best Achievement in Costume Design.

TAKEAWAY: Mankind can go to extreme measures to preserve itself. History connects us; to know it is to begin to know self.

Today’s movie is “Australia”, starring Nicole Kidman, and Hugh Jackman. This motion picture debuted in 2008, and was produced by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, et al.

@Clarabela, @heathj85, @joeeatherly, and @bubalotovich recommended this film. My wife, another couple—Chris, and Stephanie, and I plan to watch this chick flick from a DVD loaned to us by family before Super Bowl 44, tonight.

The temptations that await an unattended husband, or wife are arguably no different than those faced by the absent spouse.

I caught myself wanting to scream at Tom McCamus’ character, Mark, more than once, “What the H#@! are you thinking?”

More than once he left his wife emotionally, and physically alone. Never mind that she was in Cairo, Egypt; she could have just as easily been anywhere. At work. At home.

Patricia Clarkson’s character, Juliette, had two adult children with Mark which signified to me that she and he had been wedded for some time. Think 20-plus years.

I did not take that to mean that she was devoid of the need to be pursued by her husband any further, though.

I would like to know what a post-movie credits conversation might sound like between Mike, and Juliette. As it concerns trust and marital faithfulness, would it have even take place?

Interesting note: “Cairo Time” was written, and directed by the same woman—Ruba Nadda. Nadda is a native Canadian, born in Montréal, Québec; she currently resides in Toronto.

TAKEAWAY: Pursue (and woo) your spouse, every day.