Let’s take a moment to praise the unsung heroes of Stomp Tokyo: the wives, girlfriends and significant others who support us no matter how many lousy movies we make them sit through. I don’t think my own girlfriend realized what she was getting into when we hooked up almost three years ago. Could she have foreseen the endless parade of movies that would march past her retinas? The fact that I was discussing "Star Trek" by the keg should have been a pretty good indication, but love is blind — even to "Star Trek."

Even so, it wasn’t like I could hide my love of movies. Hey, I even took her to one on our first date. We got out of that show and then drove across town to see another one. There was also the fact that my house is decorated like a theater lobby with framed movie posters everywhere. And then there was that time I made her stand in line for eight hours to get tickets to "Star Wars: Episode I."

Yeah, I’m a big movie geek, but she loves me anyway. The true test of love is not hardship or time apart. It’s making your significant other sit through "Mission to Mars." If they still care after viewing "Detroit Rock City," then maybe your relationship has legs. The fact that we’re still together after "The Cell" has to say something.

For the most part, my girlfriend’s been pretty cool about my passion for film. I mean, I’ll go see anything: the good, the bad, and the out-of-focus. And she’s usually a really good sport about it. But I must confess, I’ve subjected her to some god-awful movies. She still hasn’t forgiven me for all of them. They get brought up whenever I start to whine. If I don’t want to do something for her, she will often remind me about "Simply Irresistible."

I know. I KNOW. But I had no clue about the unspeakable horror that awaited us. I thought it was going to be a cute romantic comedy. And it had Buffy in it! Who knew it also had a ludicrous plot, terrible acting and crabs dressed in tuxedos. I guess the saying is true: you only hurt the ones you love.

As penance for inflicting such pain, I let her pick the movies every now and then. It’s only fair. The other weekend, we caught up on our movie watching and she got the final say. Here’s how our "Ladies’ Choice Weekend" turned out.

STARRING: Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth

A lot of British people got their panties in a bunch when Texan Renee Zellweger ("Me, Myself and Irene") was cast as the title character in this adaptation of the best-selling novel of a single thirty-something British lass and her romantic misadventures. How dare an American play such a quintessential British heroine? Well, if Vivian Leigh can play Scarlett O’Hara, then Renee can be Bridget Jones. Calm down and have another pint, Penelope. Besides, you had no reason to worry. Renee acclimates beautifully to the role.

Zellweger is the main reason to see the film. In fact, it’s hard for me to see any other actress playing Bridget as convincingly. I read the book and while I thought Bridget was funny, I didn’t really care what happened to her. Zellweger fleshes out the character and you sympathize with her plight. Zellweger’s layered performance torpedoes the theory that she only has two expressions in her repertoire — "happy face" and "sad face" (soulless critic, you know who you are).

In addition to Zellweger, Hugh Grant ("Notting Hill") and Colin Firth ("Fever Pitch") deliver memorable turns as the men in Bridget’s diary. Grant is especially entertaining as her devilish boss. It’s nice to see him display a personality after so many movies where he just stutters and falls in love. Firth starts off a tad dull as an uptight barrister that keeps crossing paths with Bridget, but you eventually warm up to him. Grant and Firth have the best scene in the film when they get into a brawl and fight as only two pasty, boarding school-bred British guys can.

STARRING: Rachel Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, Rosario Dawson, Alan Cumming, and Parker Posey

I’ve got fond childhood memories of barricading myself in a dark living room on weekend mornings with a big bowl of cereal and my favorite cartoons. While Saturday was the time for the latest animated fare, Sunday was a haven for the classics. I can remember catching episodes of "Jonny Quest" and "Josie and the Pussycats" before church. To this day, I still equate girls in cat outfits playing rock music with organized religion. Does that make me weird?

Well, we’ll probably have to wait a few years for a "Jonny Quest" movie, but a live-action version of "Josie" is currently in theaters. The trio cast to play Josie, Melody and Valerie (Rachael Leigh Cook from "She’s All That," Tara Reid from "American Pie," and Rosario Dawson from "Kids") are appropriately perky and bring to mind their cartoon counterparts. The movie, for the most part, stays true to the concept of the series. We have a female rock band solving a mystery amidst assorted wackiness and innocuous pop tunes.

Writers/directors Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan (the masterminds behind the enjoyable teen romp, "Can’t Hardly Wait") have also worked in a breezy satire of boy bands and unbridled teen consumerism. They may be the first filmmakers to use product placement as a sight gag. Elfont and Kaplan generate some snarky laughs and exhibit a great eye for casting. [Filmboy has apparently forgotten 1992's Wayne's World. - Ed.]

Alan Cumming ("Spy Kids") and the brilliant Parker Posey ("Party Girl" and "Scream 3") are a gas as the shady record company execs that sign Josie and the Pussycats to a deal and rocket them to super-stardom virtually overnight. Cumming and Posey steal every scene and overshadow the appealing, but lightweight, Cook, Reid and Dawson. This film is a lark — a strawberry milkshake of a movie.

STARRING: David Spade, Brittany Daniel, Dennis Miller, Christopher Walken and Kid Rock

While not a chick flick, "Joe Dirt" does stars David Spade and he kind of looks like a chick so maybe that counts. Anyway, I thought my girlfriend chose this movie as revenge for "Simply Irresistible." Well, believe it or not, I still owe her because "Joe Dirt" isn’t half-bad.

The jokes here are juvenile and obvious and the whole thing looks like it was thrown together over the course of a weekend, but I’ve still seen worse. Don’t believe me? Treat yourself to a double feature some time of "Breakfast of Champions" and "Love Stinks." You’ll think "Joe Dirt" is "Casablanca."

Spade (from TV’s "Just Shoot Me" and "Saturday Night Live") plays Joe Dirt, a white trash goofball who was abandoned as a child by his parents at the Grand Canyon. The movie follows his journey to adulthood (or at least physical maturity anyway) and his search for his parents. Joe’s story is told in flashback as he relates his tale to a radio talk show host, played by Dennis Miller (from HBO’s "Dennis Miller Show" and "Saturday Night Live"). In that respect, the movie plays like a cheap, dumbass version of "Forrest Gump."

This film actually boasts a few dumb laughs and a tongue-in-cheek vibe that makes this silliness bearable. Plus, it’s got Kid Rock in a surprisingly entertaining supporting role and babelicious lovelies Brittany Daniel (naughty Eve from "Dawson’s Creek") and Jaime Pressly (from WB’s "Jack and Jill") as … well, babelicious lovelies.

Catch "Joe Dirt" in about a month when it shows up at the local cinema pub. That way you won’t be paying full price and you’ll have the benefit of downing a few beers while watching it. Inebriation is bound to boost your enjoyment levels.