Chicago

Chicago, the film starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, and Renee Zellwegger, came out in 2002 when I was a wee high school senior. I remember seeing the trailers and being interested, but not daring to watch it despite its PG-13 rating. It looked so...wicked. And I was a naive girl, a good girl. At the time, I wasn't as sure as my reasoning for being a good girl, but I sure am now.

So, if I am such a good girl, what would posess me to watch Chicago?

A good friend.

My neighbor, who is approaching 70 and shares my religious beliefs, loves the film and encouraged me to watch it. If she loved it, I thought, surely I'm missing something. It can't possibly be as wicked as I think it is!

I added it to my mental list of movies to see, borrowed her copy, and when presented with an available evening, decided to watch it.

That evening was last night. And boy, was I right!

The first time, I mean.

What smut. Now, I have to be fair. The movie is pure artistic genius. So well crafted and just beautifully done. The actors are all so talented and I was surprised at the end to learn that the three headliners all did their own singing and dancing. What talent! The way the songs were woven into the plot was beautiful.

What wasn't beautiful was the plot. Absolute smut. It disgusted me. The worst part, in my opinion, was that there was exactly one nice, likeable character: Amos, Roxie's husband. But he is portrayed as the dope, the clown, the loser. He is the only genuine, nice, caring character, and he is discarded. Roxie, instead of appreciating the love of an honest and hardworking man, tosses him aside to pursue a life in the spotlight. A life of sin. And in the end, she and Velma profit from their murders and appear happy: there is no sign that these two characters lack any sort of fulfillment, though I can't imagine that their lives aren't empty. How can a life based in so much selfishness and wickedness be truly happy?

I doubt that it can be, honestly. I have my small, humble life here, and it's not always easy, but I can't imagine it any other way. I have a loving husband who may not be glamorous or rich, but is hardworking and responsible. I have a small daughter who may prevent me from pursuing my own "stage," but who makes up for it in spades by the love she gives me and my husband. And I can't think of any greater joy than watching her learn. That is happiness. The life that Roxie so quickly tossed aside without a second thought. It makes me so sad that the media is selling this version of happiness and that people don't have a problem with it. Is the overt s*x in the film disgusting? Yes. Is the costuming horrendous? Absolutely. But the characters, in my opinion, are the most offensive.

I may never be famous, and will certainly never be rich. But I have everything I need to be happy. And I hope I NEVER resemble Velma or Roxie in the least.