Okay, here's a confession I must make: I'm a sucker for the film Love Actually. Listen, I know that it's a hot mess. I am well aware that it makes use of every silly "romantic" trope in the book. I know quite well that running after the object of your affection in an airport is likely to get you slapped with terror charges rather than get said object to admit they're head over heels in love with you. And I know that showing up to the door of a married woman and professing my love for them probably isn't the best of ideas, particularly when the man that woman is married to happens to be my best friend? So why has it enraptured me so?!
After Redditor Dabrigstar asked the online community, "What's something that is romantic in movies but creepy in real life?" people shared their own observations.
"Someone coming home..."
Someone coming home and finding their entire apartment full of flowers when the sender obviously had no legal way to get in.
"Those elaborate plots..."
Those elaborate plots that trick the other person into falling for you.
"Really?"
Stopping someone's wedding and asking them to be with you. Really? You couldn't shoot your shot before the wedding? It's not a surprise event. You're really going to embarrass everyone involved and destroy their wedding day when you could have just shown up last Wednesday?
"Sorry, dude..."
Relentlessly pursuing an ex who clearly doesn't want you back. Sorry dude, leaving wine and roses in your ex-girlfriend's car while she's at work isn't cute, it's super creepy and stalkerish.
"If someone..."
Chasing someone who already said no, multiple times. If someone is already in a relationship trying to break them up. "Love" at first sight, no, that's just lust and desire.
"Obsessive..."
Obsessive and unrequited love sometimes spanning YEARS that ultimately succeeds because the less interested party gets worn down, and realizes they're a big dummy and they loved them after all.
"Have fun..."
Breaking through airport security to profess your love.
Have fun getting tased and sent to prison, jackass.
"Maybe more disgusting..."
Maybe more disgusting than creepy but having spontaneous sex then just putting their clothes back on and going about their day without even cleaning themselves up.
Serenading someone in general without breaking eye contact. Yeah, the editing makes it look good and all... but in reality it's more of a mix of creepy, awkward, and altogether wishing the moment was over.
"No."
Forced kisses to shut up.
My guy, she's being emotional and trying to work through her feelings and all you do is claim her lips. No.
"He stalked me online..."
Turning up at your door with flowers. I once had a chap do this to me - I'd canceled the first date as I got a creepy vibe from him. He stalked me online, found my address, drove three hours, and turned up with a dozen red roses. Luckily I got a family member to answer the door and say I wasn't there, as he'd texted me half an hour before to ask whether I was home. I later let him know that this was NOT okay.
"Pretty much..."
Pretty much every film where the lead guy follows around his love interest and badgers her into a date despite telling him no multiple times.
"The trope..."
The trope where two guys fight over a woman who gets absolutely no say in who she dates.
"Telling someone..."
Telling someone you have feelings for them using handwritten signs and a cheap tape player outside their home just weeks after their wedding at which you were the best man while her husband who is your best friend sits inside watching a f****** quiz show.
"Not sharing..."
Not sharing the door you're floating on in the middle of the freezing Atlantic Ocean after you survive the capsizing of the Titanic.
"If you don't mind..."
Surprising your partner with massive financial decisions.
If you don't mind, I'd like to weigh in before you buy me a car or even a f****** house!
"Then he follows her..."
Singing at someone.
Recently watched Top Gun again and the scene in the bar is so disgusting. Then he follows her into the bathroom! Even when she is there with another man and had told him no.
"I watched..."
I watched The Holiday recently, and something that struck me as weird which is never addressed in the film is that Jude Law's character has sex in his sister's bed with basically a complete stranger.
"When two strangers..."
When two strangers who travel randomly together decide to end up in the same destination without even knowing each other well and they fall in love.
Breanna Michele/TikTok
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