It seems that the Indonesian film industry is really, really out of ideas. 

Well, at least, ideas are aplenty, but many producers and writers have tended to stick to their comfort zones and churn out films that turn out poorly, as if they’re telling the audience, “this is what you like, so watch it”.

 The industry’s obsession is with one of the most reviled topics of discussion among young Indonesians: marriage. 

Marriage-themed films have been a staple of the Indonesian film scene for decades, but for some reason, the theme has been further emphasized in the past few months or so this season, with a particular focus on films about millennial youngsters getting married.

 And, unfortunately, many of the recent releases have been atrocious and some even painful to watch, filled with forced and cringe-worthy dialogue, boring and predictable storylines and constant depictions of ageist stereotypes.

There was the massive Vanessa Prischilla and Adipati Dolkien vehicle #TemanTapiKawin, (#FriendsButMarried) which in concept would have been good, but was ruined by their severe lack of chemistry, unconvincing performances and mountains upon mountains of cringe dialogue.

Read also: Let's talk about the pressure of getting married in your 20s

 There was also the Syaiful Drajat film, Takut Kawin (Afraid of Marriage), a film that aimed to glorify marriage but only served to depict that marriage-minded men were incredibly weak and marriage-minded women should be taken pity on.

One observation about some of the aforementioned films above is that many of the screenwriters or producers tended to be those from older generations that placed greater value on marriage. 

 Do these older-generation types realize that most of the young today do not think the way they do? Why are they constantly trying to shove down the idea that marriage and relationships are the most important thing in their lives?

The industry does not seem to think the public is tired of these kinds of films.

A new film about marriage directed by Rudi Aryanto and produced by Sukdhev Singh and Wicky V. Olindo, The Perfect Husband, which hits theaters April 12, is not really any different from the titles above and it provides nothing that could make it stand out from the rest of the marriage-themed films.

 Amanda Rawles plays the main character in this film, Ayla, who has to struggle with the whims of her headstrong, but broken father Tio (Slamet Rahardjo) in terms of relationships and choices.

Tio, who is widowed, tries to exert greater control over his youngest daughter’s life, even in relationships as he adopts the old-fashioned method of matchmaking, to Ayla’s chagrin.

Ayla’s match is depicted as a young, good-looking, mature and financially steady pilot, Arsan (Dimas Anggara) and the film initially depicts him as being perfect in every way, compared to Ayla’s actual love of her life, the shaggy, poorly dressed rock singer Ando (Max Bouttier).

 The rock star is depicted as financially unstable, crass and improperly dressed but having a big heart, while the pilot is depicted as polite, stern and perfect. 

Read also: Portrayal of women in films, soap operas

Flaws and inner character aside, which of these ones would be preferred by Indonesian parent? Because obviously, parents will always want what’s best for their kids, even if it is in spite of what their kids really want.

 That is, what I think, the biggest takeaway from this film. 

You are never truly independent of your parents until they’re gone, and your parents love you so much that they aren’t willing to see their kids suffer in life.

 But despite this takeaway, The Perfect Husband is chock-filled with not-so-subtle propaganda about how great marriage is and how important finding true love is in one’s life as if the cure for unhappiness is and only is love.

 This plays out badly though.

In one scene, Amanda’s character wails over the fact that she cannot be with her rock-star boyfriend and says things such as “he’s the perfect husband [sighs]”, then immediately gets into a laughable fight with another woman talking to her rock-star boyfriend.

Other scenes show how Tio’s kids often try to get him to admit that he wants to marry again, to his annoyance of course.

 Feeling unhappy? Get married. You cannot be with someone you like? Destroy every person that tries to get close to them. This is a shallow way of thinking and it is a poisonous one to spread.

 It is ironic that this film advertises itself as a comedy, because it is hard to tell when to laugh as the jokes are forced and over-the-top as if the filmmakers have tried nothing and they’re already out of ideas.

____________________________

The Perfect Husband

Director: Rudi Aryanto

Cast: Dimas Anggara, Amanda Rawles, Maxime Bouttier, Slamet Rahardjo, Tanta Ginting, Maya Mulan, Dolly Martin, Bunga Zainal

Running Time: 108 minutes

Rating: Teen

Genre: Romantic comedy

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