[Melas]

It's amazing how quickly a daughter will change your entire perspective on dating. Nothing in my life has effected such a profound change.

[Mamzelle]

I suggest renting "Shallow Hal" if you haven't seen it. I thought it would just be for laughs, but it is actually touching as well as hilarious. The premise for the movie is based on the old Arthurian tale of "The Loathely Lady," and thrives on the theme of men and how they love first and hardest with their eyes, rather than their hearts.

The story--Hal is an unappealing (and plump!) man who would never notice any unbeautiful woman. Through a contrivance he is forced to see only Inner Beauty, and falls for a woman beautiful only on the inside. Gwynneth Paltrow is exquisite here, and I wonder if she drew for her portrayal on the problem that pretty women have--they wonder if their looks are the only reason that they are valued at all, and become obsessive about maintaining that only claim to worth.

Later Hal loses the "spell" that made his attraction for a really great woman possible...and is anguished by the struggle against his own "eyes." He truly loves, but now has an ugly obstacle...

Really good stuff.