MovieChat Forums > Young Adult (2011) Discussion > Why would you invite your husband's ex t...

Why would you invite your husband's ex to your baby's party????

posted 12 years ago by momtosophie
20 replies | jump to latest

I'm sorry but this seemed sooooo unrealistic to me...at first I thought maybe they sent a mass e-vite and accidentally sent one to Mavis as well. But then Buddy revealed that Beth invited her because she felt sorry for her...what???? That does not make sense at all and is not in the least bit realistic...What wife would invite their husband's high school sweetheart/first love to their baby's party??? I don't know it didn't make sense at all...

Personally I would never do that, any other wives here that want to chime in???

[–] NeedysBoy 12 years ago

It was a small town...

Mavis was obviously unhappy, and had been so for a few years, at least.

Maybe, Beth did feel sorry for Mavis -- it happens.

(Also, I've had the feeling for a while now that this film is a modern Feminist re-working of Alcestis by Euripides, and hospitality plays a major part in that drama. So, something figurative may be going on with this in the film. That happens too!)

"Maybe it's another dimension. Or, you know, just really deep." --Needy

[–] momtosophie 12 years ago

I don't know...even if your first three reasons are true they are still unrealistic...so just because you live in a small town you are more inclined to invite you husband's ex to your baby's party?? just because she's unhappy? i mean if anything her unhappiness would be a great reason not to invite her, because look how it all turned out...and again no rational, woman would invite their husband's ex because they just feel sorry for her...

I know I wouldn't...maybe it's just me

[–] NeedysBoy 12 years ago

momtosophie Writes: "...just because she's unhappy?"

It's called commiseration.

"...look how it all turned out..."

No one knew before hand how it would turn out.

"maybe it's just me"

Maybe.

"Maybe it's another dimension. Or, you know, just really deep." --Needy

[–] MarvelousWombat 12 years ago

Maybe Beth just tried to be nice to her husband's old friend (ex-gf). Mavis's parents were invited too, it would have been awkward if u invited the parent but not their child. And maybe they didn't expect Mavis to come back, they just sent the invitation that's all.

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

[–] Hollywoodshack 12 years ago

I so agree it was an absurd idea. The script and film were edited so many times to become completely mechanical, sexless, and vulgar. Certainly holes could have been left..but Buddy's wife was a close friend of Mavis in high school. This was her reason to invite Mavis.

[–] urbgirl 12 years ago

Not only that. I think the wife is confident enough in her marriage and her connection with her husband that she had no reason to feel threatened by a 20 year old relationship her husband once had. I can relate.

[–] flooptydoo 11 years ago

Agree

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] WeAllKilledLauraPalmer 12 years ago

It was unrealistic, however understandable if the ex-gf were happy with their life and over the ex-bf. To me inviting Mavis was just mean spirited since it was obvious that she was trying to get Buddy's attention. And Idk if Buddy told her about the miscarriage but that baby announcement obviously shook Mavis...imo she invited her to embarrass her/mark territory.

Once upon a time there was a boy named Draco Malfoy, and he was so sexy that everyone died

[–] lockon_stratos 11 years ago

All you guys who are saying it's an absurd idea to invite your husband's ex because you saw what happened. The point of the invite was to show that Beth is the exact opposite of Mavis. She's is nice, warm and caring. So it wasn't just about Buddy and Mavis. It was more about Beth who handled the party well when Mavis went crazy.

---

[–] Balboasaurus 11 years ago

I agree with you. Beth trusts Buddy, which is why she decided to invite Mavis so that at least she could visit with relatives and old friends. The naming ceremony was as casual as getting together to watch the super bowl, and yet, Mavis shows up as eye-candy. It must kill her that Buddy loves her and is happy with her.

When 900 years old you reach, look this good you will not.

[–] Hollywoodshack 11 years ago

We know that Beth and Mavis were friends. Beth might've wanted to surprise Buddy with someone he remembered and liked well.

[–] Posh_babe 11 years ago

Where does it say in the film that they were friends? I thought Beth hated her but tried to be kind.

[–] Hollywoodshack 11 years ago

The message came--the invitation at the start of the film came from Beth. It mentions them being friends in school and she's having a baby. It was sent to Mavis on her email.

[–] Posh_babe 11 years ago

Thanks Hollwoodshack. It's been a while since I saw the film and I didn't realise that the 2 of them used to be friends. Couldn't imagine that though as Beth seemed too nice to be friends with someone like Mavis.

[–] NoraMR 11 years ago

i know right? very insensitive of her. it's not like they are that close. and buddy and Mavis haven't contacted with each other for years. It's just so weird. I just can't!! besides im sure they know that Mavis is divorced.

[–] gvytui 11 years ago

They didn't know she was divorced, or at least Buddy didn't (he was surprised to hear she was single). When you have a child, at least observing friends/family that have, you tell EVERYONE that you've procreated, and I'm sure it was done in the most joyous of spirits in sending that email to Mavis. Afterall, they seemed to remember her as being married and living the good life in the "big city", so how is sending a baby-notification their way of being insensitive?

Inviting her to the naming party was a bit different, clearly she was all over Buddy the night they went out to watch Beth's band play. But Beth is someone that understands and helps people (if it wasn't clear enough how badly they wanted to portray the two as polar opposites, Beth helps developmentally disabled kids learn, while Mavis gives them what amounts to junk food books). Beth, trying to be nice and inviting to what she can see is an obviously lonely, in-need-of-help woman, insists that Buddy invite Mavis.

I can be honest and say most women I know would never allow that, but I can admit to knowing at least a few strong/alternative women that would be fine with it.

[–] venturaa 11 years ago

No way. What's the point of her being there?

Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?