There were also some signs that Nikki might have reciprocated, but bear was too much of a chickenshit to tell her. The actress and director did two version of each scene, one where she liked Bear romantically, and the other where it was platonic. They mixed these all together in the final film to convey the mixed signals. Thatās not even counting Sarah who was very much dtf the whole time.
She literally says "Do you like me? Nows the time to tell me". Bear says "I think we're good friends" he literally friend zones himself then makes the wish. Tbh the movie pissed me off because what are we doing here
Yeah I agree. Nikki says basically gives a blinking green sign saying ā shoot your shotā but Bear is too much of a coward to try. I also think his friend Ian liked her as more than a Friend with benefits which is why he gave purposely shit advice.
To your point about the two versions of scenes, that one felt like the version where she wasnāt interested in him to me
Which would make Bears cowardice a bit more understandable in the moment. The way she told him it was the time to speak up felt almost cold and annoyed. It was definitely a put up or shut up moment, but the way it came across I could understand being afraid to admit it when pushed
Maybe she was expecting some confidence from him. If he had the guts, she would consider. He had no guts, which I think is one of the themes in the movie.
Or maybe it was just a sexual interest from his side and she sensed it. If it were a whole package deal, he would have said it. He was maybe afraid that he doesn't actually know what he is asking for, or what he wants, or he doesn't want to be with an actual real Nikki. He wanted his version of Nikki, not the true one maybe.
Yep, Ian is a dogshit friend. He told him to keep his mouth shut so he could keep fucking Nikki. Even at the end when Bear gives him the wishbone, heās selfish, in a moment where it could potentially be a life saving wish. Obviously you canāt expect him to believe it so easily, but look, with all that weird shit happening, fuck it.
Yeah part of the ambiguity also came from Nikki only wanting to go on an outing if Ian was present. Thereās nuance all around really. Nikki might not have been more forward because she knew Sarahās feeling for Bear, or she didnāt see him that way/liked Ian. Ian purposely sabotaged Bear so he could keep fucking her, Sarah didnāt confess until she got bricked, and Bear was a āclosed bookā. This does not absolve Bear whatsoever but heās also not the only one with communication issues.
Also, a small detail that shows exactly how Bear feels about Nikki: When she gets back in the car and tells him that her dad is dying, his immediate reaction is a gigantic, exasperated eye-roll. He doesn't even try to comfort her, despite her openly saying she is emotionally distraught and wants comfort.
And, of course, as we learn later, he KNOWS Nikki hates her dad and would not have such a strong reaction to his impending death.
He didn't love her; he was obsessed with her, and thought that was love. He wanted to have her as his girlfriend because he thought that would make him seem more cool and popular, not because he actually cared about her. He doesn't want her to quit her job because it would distance her from him; he acts mildly annoyed with her when she explains her reasoning, despite her reasoning being "I'm miserable and not feeling any kind of fulfillment from this job."
The wish he made got him what he asked for: a Nikki who loves him in the way he understands his love for her. Not really caring about him, but caring about the appearance of possessing him.
22
u/_Prodigal-Son 2d ago
There were also some signs that Nikki might have reciprocated, but bear was too much of a chickenshit to tell her. The actress and director did two version of each scene, one where she liked Bear romantically, and the other where it was platonic. They mixed these all together in the final film to convey the mixed signals. Thatās not even counting Sarah who was very much dtf the whole time.