Don't be a bad liar.

“I love you. I’ve loved you from the moment we raced each other in that park. I’ve loved you at every dance, on every walk, every time we’ve been together, and every time we’ve been apart. You do not have to accept it or embrace it or even allow it. Knowing you, you probably will not. But you must know it, in your heart. You must feel it because I do. I love you. I want a life that suits us both. I know I am imperfect, but I will humble myself before you, because I cannot imagine my life without you, and that is why I wish to marry you.”

I keep thinking about this moment and how the entire audience has been conditioned to anticipate his reaction being anger or selfishness.

And then he says this.

Are you okay?

That empathy and concern and putting the self aside to focus on the well being of the person you love is revelatory in a movie aimed at young women.

More male romantic protagonists like this please and let’s recondition ourselves to expect this kind of reaction and not the other one.