LOL wtf is a dinnerlady?
shareI became overly annoyed with the phrase ... it just didn't fit. The kid was too old and it didn't work.
Did we ever find out what a "dinnerlady" is? I am curious about that too ...
Dinner lady is what we call the women who work during lunch times at UK schools this includes cooks and the staff that patrol the playgrounds and drag you all in if there is the slightest rain. I seem to remember dinner ladies being nice when I was a nipper!!
"mmm,mmm,mmm.....DINNER IS IN THE OVEN!!!"
I did not find it bothersome and found the term of the endearment to be heartfelt. In my opinion, it did not seem age-inappropriate because Artie was still at a young enough age - however, I would have agreed with you if Clive was calling his elder son "sweetheart."
shareI wouldn't be suprised if most of these comments are from Americans. I too am an American, and I think that many consider it not 'masculine' enough for a dad to call his son sweetheart. I thought it was adorable and am all for a man who shows his son affection.
Interesting, after we watched this movie last night we were out at the store and saw a young dad with a son just a bit younger than Artie. The little boy was sort of trailing behind and the dad called out "Come on sweetheart." The Dad was probably in his late 20s, which surprised me because most guys would just think it too uncool to call their son by that term of endearnment in front of strangers. I thought it was adorable.
I agree most of these comments sound like they are coming from people who have lived in the USA most of their lives. Why should a Dad not call his son "Sweetheart" no matter how small or big? It is about how sweet we find someone's heart, right? So, what's the problem? I'd have no problem calling anybody I love using any term of endearment I want. On the other hand, if you have a problem with somebody who uses such lovely terms on you, it means you've missed out on a lot of love!!!
sharethat was so annoying!When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...
Nlole --
Thanks for telling me what a "dinner lady" is! I guess that makes perfect sense ... it is exactly what it sounds like! Go figure. Over here in North America she is called the "Lunch Lady" -- or so Adam Sandler called her in his little song about one.
Also, since you are English (I'm assuming although I apologize if you'd rather be a Brit or British ... when I was over there I quickly learned the difference but I don't know where you reside so ... you understand) I have another food-related question for you. In the film An Education, they mention going out for a "spot of supper" and Jenny's schoolgirl friends get all worked-up and excited about it because they've never had it. What is special about a "spot of supper"?
'a spot of supper' is simply just going out for a bite to eat.
Basically, going out for a meal in that kind of play-it-down-a-bit way of the British upper classes.
Worked for me! Plus I've realized that Clive Owen is fast becoming one of my favorite actors.
Okay, IMDB friends, I'm American and have heard plenty of fathers **in America** calling their young sons, "sweetheart." (witnessed it a lot when working with families in schools and medical environments).
The boy was not too old for this. People who have issues with their own feelings about what they believe this word should mean, how they think it should be used - they are free to do things differently with their own kids. But in some families it's quite normal, very traditional.
Our feelings are our own - as adults we can voice them. But in the end no need for us to suffer over a choice a parent makes about how to verbalize love for their own child. And certainly, as both boys & girls grow up, they tend to let Mom and Dad know when it's time to stop with the terms of endearment, kissing goodbye in front of friends, etc., lol!
What a bunch of homophobic jerks you all are. How do you know it's not an acceptable term of endearment that's perfectly acceptable in Australia? You Americans think you're so right and the rest of the world is wrong.
Get over yourselves.
He's ENGLISH. We call people sweetheart. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. And as for the comment about calling him 'BUDDY'. NO-ONE in England calls their son buddy. At least not in my world!!!
Honestly, Americans .....
My friend used to call his son 'honey' when he was young, which I thought was a little odd at the time. But the bottom line was that he was completely open and unabashed in his love for the boy, and wasn't tentative about expressing it.
Excellent film though; I really enjoyed it.
When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.
Saw this movie for the first time last night...didn't find 'sweetheart' at all distracting or unusual. It came naturally, as would 'honey', 'buddy', 'mate' or any other endearment in the right context. 'Buddy' would be as far off the mark as it was possible to be in the speech of an English expatriate in South Australia. And did I read correctly that somebody regarded Clive Owen's character as a sportscaster? My apologies if I misread, but if I didn't, I can say without fear of contradiction-- as a former journalist of 39 years-- that there's one hell of a difference between sportswriter and sportscaster. I can understand why anybody who got that wrong would also fail to understand the appropriateness of 'sweetheart' in this story.
shareYeah, the guy is a macho sportscaster talking like a ... whatever a "dinnerlady" is.
It was creepy and distracting in the movie.
Why do you assume he is a macho sportscaster? Only in the US do you get the knuckle-dragging clowns that idolise people who play dress-up.
shareBecause he was a macho sportscaster, do you remember when he was in the box doing his job?
I may have long arms and worn knuckles but I also have a brain and memory.
Maybe you can find one on Ebay, so go there for while until you can grow up.
I think you are too ready to put people in boxes. Would that you were in one yourself.
shareQuite.
"Sweetheart" is a normal term of affection in the UK/Commonwealth, because we are not frightened by the weird, Puritanical American idea that complete strangers might think we were in some way emasculating our sons by showing love and recognising that they are dependent on us.
So just relax and try not to be so uptight, "buddy".
Are you replying to my post?
shareQuite.
"Sweetheart" is a normal term of affection in the UK/Commonwealth, because we are not frightened by the weird, Puritanical American idea that complete strangers might think we were in some way emasculating our sons by showing love and recognising that they are dependent on us.
So just relax and try not to be so uptight, "buddy".
um.....no. He was working in the Press Box, where sportsWRITERS sit to get the best view to write about the match. Remember when he decided to stay at home to be with his boys rather than go to Melbourne to report on the tennis match? It would be pretty hard to "sportscast" from his armchair! Or maybe you just don't understand the difference between "sportscasting" and "sportswriting." I'm sure you could probably buy a dictionary on Ebay.
Should he call him MATE?
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking-up too much space.
Too bloody right! My 7 year old son gets mate...or ratbag if he's playing up. I found sweetheart a bit out of place but put it don't to Warr being a pommie wanker.
shareAgreed. 'Mate', more often 'matey', and sometimes 'little mister' I also used to call my son 'brother-man', but that's just me. 'Sweetheart' is awkward and weird.
...then whoa, differences...