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Friends Forever?

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Who says dating is just for couples and that the only way to make friends is to join a sorority?

While the focus of these articles has been on romantic relationships, platonic friendships can be the most substantial and valuable relationships people have. With that in mind, the Daily Bruin decided to set up two female students in order to help introduce them to new people.

Our two “Girl Talk” participants were Gelareh Nikpour and Suzanne La Barre. A fourth-year psychology student, La Barre describes herself as an outgoing girl with her own sense of style. Nikpour, a second-year women’s studies and international development studies student, is described by her friends as a spunky, smart entertainer.

The two girls first got acquainted while sipping on their Chai tea and banana-chocolate hazelnut shake at Cacao, a small coffee shop on Santa Monica Boulevard. Complementing the distinct and unique coffee shop setup, their own personalities shined through their conversations and interactions.

“Gelareh was an amazing person,” said La Barre. “She had all the qualities I look for in a friend – she was interesting, intellectual and had great hair.”

Enjoying Cacao’s ambiance, as well as each other’s company, the two talked about everything from the Clothesline Project and feminist issues to school and pornography.

“There wasn’t really an awkward silence when we spoke,” said Nikpour. “We had a lot in common regarding women’s issues and ideas about society at large.”

From their chattering at Cacao, the two then went to the Century City AMC to further their friendship by watching “Down With Love.” The movie recounts the story of a suave New York journalist, played by Ewan McGregor, and a staunch ’60s feminist, played by Renee Zellweger, who tries to redefine the women’s roles in society.

“The movie was a good spoof on all the older romantic movies,” said La Barre. “The exaggeration and over-the-top plot twists and characters made the movie really entertaining.”

Not only did the acting and the ability to exaggerate actions and emotions impress the two friendly gals, but the movie’s costumes and set designs also awed them.

“The costumes and sets were extremely colorful,” said La Barre. “They were so bright and catchy – they really kept your attention and gave you the impression that you were in ’60s New York.”

While the costumes and sets added to the success of the movie, McGregor also played a huge role in winning over the hearts of these viewers.

“There were numerous scenes when Ewan took his shirt off or when he was just in a towel,” said Nikpour. “Those scenes definitely kept me watching the movie and concentrating on the screen even when Renee was in the way with her high-pitched and squeaky voice.”

McGregor’s accent and suave personality also added to his charm, according to La Barre. The characters themselves were more like caricatures, rather than real people, which entertained rather than put off the two viewers.

“The movie, did, however lose some of its entertaining aspect at the end,” said Nikpour. “The whole movie was a spoof of romantic movies, but the end, which was very predictable, left the viewer feeling like it blended into those older movies rather than trying to make a statement against them.”

According to La Barre, the movie combined both humor and extravagant plot twists to keep viewers on their toes. There were many scenes where audience members were totally thrown a curve ball and shocked with what was going on, she added.

From their tasty treats both at Cacao and on the screen, the two created the foundation for a friendship.

“This was a great experience,” said Nikpour. “So often I meet girls I want to hang out with, but never get a chance to – so it was refreshing to actually hang out with someone new and click with them.”