Cupid's Arrow

God of Love 
Luke Matheny, 2010

"We can help you get Kelly."

"That's nice but aren't you guys kind of in love with me?  Isn't that like a conflict of interest or something?"

"That is why we'll help you, we love you and we want you to be happy"

Throughout God of Love, there are multiple intriguing themes.  First is that of love itself.  As Raymond Goodfellow finds out, love is not a possessive force that takes hold over one another, but a caring and nurturing energy meant to inspire both parties.

It is clear that Raymond's fate is not to be with Kelly from the beginning.  His best friend knows far more about the girl that Raymond supposedly "loves".  He spends his 6 hours with her focused on himself, not taking into account her desires and instead taking her along to please his own.  It is this failure that seems to cause her lack of response to him.

In his walk around town, Raymond then tries to find solace in others, pricking everyone he can find with various love needles.  After realizing that numbers do not fill the void, he vents to them about Kelly.  Their response at first inspires him to try harder with Kelly.  However, almost as if this quote replays in his head, he pricks his friend instead, giving Kelly a chance with her true love and by default happiness.

This story is both inherently sad and happy.  Cupid, who feels love as strongly as anyone else, is destined to be alone.  It is his job, his love that inspires so many others to find their own.  However, even though Cupid is on his own, the story seems to end happily.  Raymond rides off to god knows where ready to spread Cupid's work far and wide and upbeat music plays.

Overall, there is an optimistic tone to this story, a happy ending.  While true love may not be achieved, a true understanding of love is, and more some that may be just as important.  Raymond gives up his own desires for the better of the one he loves and the one who truly cares about.

Still, there are unanswered questions about love.  Is it fate?  Choice?  Premeditated union determined by some unqualified, lonely deity?  To say that there is one single type, or absolute version of love is impossible.  Love cannot be set in stone, as it can be experienced in a plethora of ways, each with its own expression of feeling.  God of Love doesn't seem as though it intended to the viewer to feel sad, or overly contemplative.  However, these are questions one cannot help but ask when so few were answered.  God of Love is quirky, upbeat and comical.  It leaves the viewer optimistic, and when it comes to love sometimes that's all people really need.