The Marriage of Today: For Some, It Isn’t ‘War’

Re “To the Heart of ‘War of the Roses’ ” by Peter Rainer (Dec. 17):

I went with my husband of 12 years to see “The War of the Roses” and we both were disappointed and disturbed by it. I was most disturbed by the audience’s inappropriate laughter and cheering at some of the most violent scenes. I cannot imagine treating anyone the way this couple treated each other.

No one bothered to explain where all this hostility was coming from, except perhaps the fact Oliver had the nerve to go out and try to support his family and to make a good life for them. Cuisinarts and four-wheel-drive trucks don’t grow on trees.

It seems to be very popular and accepted in both television and movies today to make fun at the expense of men. The movie “Shirley Valentine” was particularly adept at male-bashing masquerading as humor. If the man portrayed works hard at his career he is an unfeeling oaf, and if he won’t marry you he is an unfeeling, immature Peter Pan (witness Gary on television’s “thirty-something”).

I had heard from a sociology professor that “The War of the Roses” is about “the marriage of today.” It sure isn’t about mine.

GAIL MOTIL

San Clemente