It's refreshing to know that in this age of #metoo, and being hyper sensitive to sexual assault the sensationalization of sexual coercion, use of date rape drugs, theft, and financial rape against men as some sort of sick empowerment story can still be boldly told. I'm overjoyed the women portrayed got off with slaps on the wrist for their multiple crimes. Who doesn't want a, "you go girl, moment?
The fact that women have been reaching ever higher heights of success socially, and professionally for decades now, is considered a cause for celebration by many. With that in mind, I was curious to know just how Hollywood was going to pull off the evergreen trope of, "woman as the eternal victim," and boy did this joke of a movie deliver. The writers and director decided to absolve the main antagonists (did you think they were protagonists?) of guilt using the oldest gynocentric excuse in the playbook, "men are hurt bad, but women most affected." Of course! How else are we supposed to buy into the idea that a group of sleazy women conspiring to sexually, emotionally, and chemically manipulate a male victim into a vulnerable position to be financially raped is seen as somehow acceptable, let alone entertaining?
Think about this: A group of people comprising a chain of command considered this movie to be fit for the silver screen?! Amazing. I will keep this in mind the next time some female (likely falsely) accuses a group of men of gang rape because, you know, standards.
I suppose if society didn't have double standards in favor of women, then we would have no standards at all, right? I will keep the fact that a movie like this was released in mind the next time I'm implored to care about the, "suffering of women." In the mean time, I'll be on the lookout for that empowering and entertaining movie where a group of men employ unethical, and illegal manipulation techniques in order for them to rape women with impunity, and when they do eventually get caught only suffer a slap on the wrist. We can even give it a catchy, and empowering title like, "Shakers." Yeah... I won't hold my br