MovieChat Forums > 17 Again (2009) Discussion > One thing I can NOT get over

One thing I can NOT get over

posted 8 years ago by alexaw9
5 replies | jump to latest

Not a plot hole, not the time warp or anything ... the fact that Maggie was dating a guy who constantly bullied her younger brother - and not just calling him names (not that that's okay), but duct taping him to a toilet and shoving him in a washing machine. She was obviously not uncomfortable with any part of him (look at the way she looks in the scene when she says "he's my forever" and how she says it). I understand people can be confused and she could have been insecure and tried to ignore it. But it was just too extreme for it to be okay. And it's not like she was just putting up with it - She didn't even think Alex could get a friend on her own; she thought Mark was only being friends with him to get to her. She really thinks nothing of him. That is not normal or okay or healthy sibling rivalry. I have maybe a little sympathy, and no empathy for her in this movie.

[–] TommyJarvis82 (2480) 7 years ago

Oh.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 6 years ago

Ice seen so many Western films that have a contemptuous sibling relationship like this that I can never understand but figured it's just cultural differences since the West isn't big on family relationships.

[–] ItalianBuju (793) 4 years ago

This is extreme even for the West.
Most siblings that dont get along have the "I can hurt you but nobody else better touch you" mentality. I came to the messages boards to see if anyone brought this up cuz it seems ridiculous to me too.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (12381) 4 years ago

You would be surprised at how willfully blind some people get when they're smitten by someone who finally give them romantic attention. They'll change their whole arrangement of thinking so that their reality aligns with what they want, rather than what's going on in front of them. It's much worse for teenagers because they aren't as experienced with human nature as adults are.

I remember dating a guy in high school whom I let call my brother an "asshole" because my brother chose to play video games instead of doing something with me. I partially agreed with my boyfriend, and felt great that someone actually seemed to "get" me, or so I thought. These days I'd break their nose if they tried talking about my brother like that. At least I can count on my brother when I need him. I can't say the same about a lot of people, least of all immature boyfriends.

[–] ATG6 (3000) 2 years ago

The brother probably didn't tell her the worst things that happened. It would be too embarrassing to him. She probably thought her boyfriend was just teasing or picking on him a bit, like she probably did herself.