Two Day Magazine

A Love Outside the Box

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. That’s all you really have to say to get people’s attention these days. They are, after all, the reigning king and queen of Hollywood. Both are successful, attractive, intelligent and charismatic. These days, in between working on blockbuster films, they spend their time raising their children, both biological and adopted, in various parts of the world. But, while they may be the “It” couple, they don’t have the typical Hollywood love story.

Let me clarify. The Hollywood love story is, essentially, twenty-something girl meets twenty-something boy, and then, after wacky antics or possibly a healthy dose of angst, they confess their true love, kiss, and the credits roll.

Brad and Angelina were 41 and 33, respectively, when their relationship became public in August of 2005. A month prior, Pitt had just publicly split from wife, Jennifer Aniston, who’d he’d been married to since 2000. Jolie had split from her second husband, Billy Bob Thorton, in 2003, and had spent her time concentrating on her film career and humanitarian work. When they began to be seen in public together, Brad faced accusations of infidelity and Angelina was accused of “stealing” him from Aniston.

Yet, through all of this, the two have continued to be one of the most focused on and admired couples in Hollywood, even without officially exchanging wedding vows.

But, still, what is our obsession? Why do we focus on these two? Maybe, just maybe, we focus on Brad and Angelina because they aren’t the shiny Hollywood romance. Because it reassures us that the Hollywood romance only happens in the movies, and that real life romance is accessible to all of us. Romance is not a “one size fits all” situation. Yet, I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen people in their twenties or thirties bemoan that they’ll never find anyone to spend their lives with. I’ll even confess to having done so myself!  But, there is hope! Brad and Angelina both waited until later in life, when they were both well established in their careers, to settle down, have a family, and find what appears to be true love.

And ladies, take note. Angelina didn’t wait for a man to have a family. She showed women everywhere that if you want something, go for it. Nothing should get in the way of starting a loving home of your own.

“Home” is a funny word when talking about the Brangelina brood. I would hardly consider them “homebodies”. Far from confining themselves to the home and hearth, Brad and Angelina are constantly in motion, from vacationing in Europe to doing humanitarian work in Louisiana, Africa, to who-knows-where next.

While they do have a sprawling home in France where they’ll retreat to take a breather and escape the paparazzi, Brad and Angie seem to have somehow accidentally proven true one of those old adages, “Home is where the heart is.” And it’s obvious, despite a lack of wedding vows and legal status that Brad and Angelina’s hearts are with each other and with their children.

If Hollywood were scripting Brad and Angelina’s relationship from here on in, they would likely get married as soon as possible, ending the ceremony with a passionate kiss in front of the setting sun. Then the credits roll and it’s happily ever after.

But, I have a feeling Brad and Angie have something far more interesting in mind. I guess we’ll just have to stay tuned.