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Isabel is a manipulative, mean person SPOILERS

posted 12 years ago by shondy26
24 replies | jump to latest

I spent the whole movie blown away by how selfish and manipulative the character of Isabel was written. First, she uses her charm and beauty to cut in the bathroom line in front of people who had been waiting their turn. Then she jets after sleeping together only to return 3 months later and announce she is pregnant When Alex doesn't respond the way she likes, she runs off without leaving any contact information. He chases after her and apologizes for his response due to being shocked. He complies with her requests. She totally decorates his house without discussing it. She finds out his job will be soon moving him back to New York and she absolutely refuses to discuss it. I consider myself a feminist and think women should have an equal say in where the family lives, but from how the movie played out, she didn't do much in the way of work so it would only be reasonable to live where his work took them. She gets angry that he hasn't told his parents that they married after just meeting, but I don't think it was crazy for him to be nervous and to not want to tell that over the phone.
I do understand Isabel being upset when she discovered he had taken a job that would move them back to New York through his boss instead of him, but I don't know how he could have told her without her freaking out. But the kicker for making this character totally unredeamable was her telling Alex that she had lost the baby when she hadn't. What a terrible thing to do -- both make someone grieve a baby that wasn't dead and lying so the father would not be in the picture.
Oh, and I forgot this. At the beginning of the movie when she found out that he was supposed to be moving back to New York CIty, instead of discussing this, she just made her 5 older brothers and her ex boyfriend load him up and take him to the desert to intimidate him into staying in Las Vegas.
She spends half the movie throwing a fit because he wasn't being honest while she was the most deceitful character in the movie. She acts like him being scared to tell her he had to move back to New York is the same as lying about a miscarriage.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] David_Brown 11 years ago

I have seen the film multiple times, and you are reading far too much politics into it. I am a guy, a Conservative, and a huge Salma Hayak fan, and the main reason I have watched it many times, is being a Salma fan (I have reviewed this and several other Salma films). On to the film: The baby was not primary, it was secondary (as Alex pointed out), these are two people from very different worlds who fate brought together. Both Alex and Isabel have their flaws, and are scared to death of things and people such as their parents, and each other. Yes, this includes Isabel who admitted as much to her grandmother. Alex is the protagonist, so you see more of his issues, but he is NOT cold, cruel & boring. Alex does not always know what he wants, but he knows what is right and wrong: Including in this is not taking the easy way out and marrying Cathy Stewart (he pointed out to his friend Jeff, she has pursuing her since the 5th Grade), Majoring in Architecture at Yale (NOT an easy Major, because of the level of Math and technical drawing involved), looking for Isabel after the one night stand, and meeting her parents, and marrying her in the first place (lots of guys would not do that). Alex is also the one who goes the extra mile for her (Including riding the mule to her grandmother's in Mexico (something that really impresses Isabel)). The one compromise she does make, is the willingness to move to New York ("Do you think she (the baby) will like New York?"), but even then, he chooses her lifestyle (He responds by saying "Not as much as camping in the desert" Then she says: "With A Few Grey's Papaya's" (a New York hot dog)). While it is obvious that Alex can adapt better to Las Vegas than Isabel could to New York, making the sacrifices necessary (including income reduction), is not that easy. Do yourself a favor, and take the liberal glasses off and enjoy the film, you might like it better.

[–] biggacy4 10 years ago

Interesting input

[–] corkymp89 11 years ago

She wasn't trying to say she had a miscarriage, she was trying to lie and say she was never pregnant and that it was a "sham", her exact words.

[–] happyphantom9 11 years ago

Huh? When was that? She was trying to lie and say she had miscarried. When he comes to see her in the hospital, "there is no baby" implied she miscarried. She then said that if she hadn't been pregnant, she wouldn't have gone to his house and they wouldn't have gotten married, etc. Also, Alex was there for the ultrasound - so it wouldn't make much sense for her to claim she was never pregnant to begin with.

[–] Gypsy12 11 years ago

No, those were NOT her 'exact words'. She NEVER said she was never pregnant. You obviously didn't watch the movie or at least pay attention. She told Alex she MISCARRIED (hence being in the HOSPITAL, duh, if she was never pregnant, WHY in blazes hell, would she be in a HOSPITAL? DUH!!! Use your brains). She said there is no more baby, meaning she MISCARRIED.

[–] mikekrit62 11 years ago

Really...so the big belly, the baby shower, the OBGYN doing the sonogram was a grand "scam"? The baby kicking to the music at the club opening?

How do people sit and watch a movie and then so completely misinterpret it? I mean, this wasn't Citizen Kane either.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Livana_Faolan 10 years ago

No, she wasn't. She was obviously pregnant. Did you miss the part where she gave birth to a daughter? Where do you think the baby came from? The sky?

[–] Helenlaurence 8 years ago

No you've got this wrong- she was already looking pregnant and she'd had a scan! Hard to make that up!
She pretended she had a miscarriage

[–] MerckxViolin 11 years ago

Isabel a manipulative and mean person??? Huh? I am missing something here?
Throughout the entire movie, I constantly was telling myself "Wow, I wish my 3 EX-WIVES were kind, thoughtful and acted passionately out of LOVE in the same ways as Isabel did!"
Yes, that's correct, all 3 of my ex-wives I wish were similar to her.
My last ex wife was half Mexican, and many years before her, I lived a couple years with another girl whom was half Mexican. I can tell you from my experience these woman come from a culture much different from my English/Irish background.
They are VERY passionate in their feelings and express openly. they make what appear to be selfish dicisions but are usually based on love. Family of course is extremely important, and old ways of machismo like Isabel's father is very normal.
I really like both Alex and Isabel...They both discovered their deep mutual love and their personal and cultural differences WERE spread apart as wide as the Grand Canyon, but utimately, they found away to close it together.

[–] jporter-6 11 years ago

I have never read a worse analysis of a character than the one you wrote here. I won't call names or attack you, but boy are you wrong.

[–] Livana_Faolan 10 years ago

The only time I thought she was cruel and heartless is when she lied to Alex about losing the baby and then ran off to Mexico like a coward, while believing that she was doing them both a favor.

[–] davidjanuzbrown 10 years ago

Isabel is not heartless she is a very scared woman ( especially as it relates to her father, and Alex ( she does not really believe Alex will choose her)). Alex also is very scared of his family ( which is why he lies to them about Isabel). They also both run away to what they know best: Isabel to Mexico and Alex to New York. The whole point of the movie is that these two people from different worlds are made for each other ( even though they do not realize it ( especially Isabel)). From the very beginning with the birth control failing to the "Signs" that Alex saw ( such as the little girl named Isabel, the dog, and the Grand Canyon photo). It has to be Alex that will make the compromise because not only is he the protagonist of the story ( as I pointed out before), but Isabel brings the the family environment that he felt right at home in ( we saw that when he met the family). Las Vegas is also more practical because there are plenty of family members to help with Isabel and the baby when Alex is working ( plus she could continue with her photography). Those options would not be available in New York. Trust me, Isabel ( nor Alex) are mean or manipulative, they are just two people who needed each other, and a higher power brought together.

[–] Val-El 10 years ago

@davidjanuzbrown - while I do agree with you basic premise that they should be in Nevada, they made an agreement in the ambulance that the baby would grow up in NYC and they would vacation in the desert.



[–] davidjanuzbrown 10 years ago

If you watch the final two minutes you will know they end up in Nevada. Isabel:,"Do you think she will like New York?" Alex:,"Not as much as she will camping in the desert." Isabel: "With a couple of Grey's Papaya's."'Then after Alex says we are divorced, she kisses him, and they remarry at the Grand Canyon. There is another scene where one of Isabel's brothers warns Alex not to take her away from there because her "Life and Photography are here." Now living in Arizona ( and from New York), I can tell you that it can be miserable in Arizona ( or Nevada) in the Summer, so they may spend time in New York ( especially in July), but they are going to be living in Nevada.

[–] davidjanuzbrown 10 years ago

[–] Gypsy12 10 years ago

I think its pretty clear from the dialogue (camping in the desert ie vacations vs 'like living in New York') that they live in New York but spend vacations in Nevada. That was established long ago.

[–] davidjanuzbrown 10 years ago

The opposite is established ( like when her brother discussed how important Nevada was to Isabel). The entire point was Isabel was willing to compromise and move to New York. But Alex knew that living in Nevada would be best for all concerned. The wedding scene taking place at the Grand Canyon showed that. Another key point is that Isabel's life was a better way of life for Alex ( including the Hispanic "Mi Familia" (which is something that he mentioned to Isabel) when he first met them))). Another key point were the signs which reminded Alex where his life and destiny lie... With Isabel IN Nevada, not New York.

[–] Gypsy12 10 years ago

I'm surprised anyone would think that because what the brother said is completely irrelevant. Isabel HERSELF, said that she would go. Nullifying what her brother said. The theme throughout the movie was that Alex, the man that she loved, his work was in New York. And Isabel, in her own words, said that she would move there and 'give it a try'. The family really was NOT a factor, because it came before it was established that they would live in New York. The rest of the narrative (signs) were about Alex and Isabel belonging together - NOT that they belong in Nevada per se. On one of the discs, (I'll try and find an online clip for you) one of the Producers said that they ended up living in New York. Since Isabel loved Alex, and his work was in New York, its a no brainer. They would move to New York and vacation 'camp' in the desert. This is not even in question since one of the execs on the movie said they reunited and moved to New York. Unfortunately, you got it wrong, you misinterpreted it all.

[–] Helenlaurence 8 years ago

I'm undecided about her- but the lie about the baby went too far.
To pretend the baby died is unforgivable. I think the filmmakers made a mistake with that- as I think audiences were supposed to sympathise with her (and him as well.)

[–] MurphAndTheMagicTones 9 years ago

If she was manipulative, she wouldn't have made that offer to live in New York if they could have the baby in Las Vegas first.

The biggest mistake she made was trying too hard to give him the "out" to walk away. Particularly by saying she miscarried. He finally figured out he had to choose between career and love, and like virtually every other romcom, Alex spent the first 90 minutes of the movie choosing wrong before finally choosing correctly at the end.

How you think she's manipulative is beyond me. Lying about the miscarriage is a bit mean, but that's the only mean thing she did.

---
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to exit the doughnut!"---Nick Fury, Iron Man 2

[–] davidjanuzbrown 9 years ago

You are correct, Isabel is neither mean nor manipulative ( we are talking Salma Hayek who could win almost any guy). Even that lie was not really mean. She was hurt, and Alex took responsibility for that. Keep in mind How many women would have used that baby as a way to keep Alex or get tons of child support. Instead she chose to do neither. The biggest weakness of hers ( and Alex as well) is a fear of their parents. The funny thing about Alex is it was not career or Isabel he can have both because of his profession. He just had to decide between his parents and Isabel. Of course, inside and out Isabel was the better choice ( Salma who in my opinion ( among with Sophia Loren in her prime) is the most beautiful actress ever), but she brought the family life that he liked but never had, and a devotion to him. Once the signs were shown to him ( especially the scene that showed his choice for the future. With the little girl ( who you could tell was part Hispanic) named Isabel ( they did not say the name of the baby girl at the end, but it would not shock me if he chose Isabel) or getting on the helicopter with his parents and Cathy Stewart) it became a very easy decision.

[–] crysjumar 8 years ago

wow. I guess people view the movie from different angles.

i didn't see any of it they way you have portrayed her actions.

Take your pinche color-coordinated sponsored chingada and take a flying fck