To find this so cringeworthy?

What? Why can’t a man watch something like Wicked?

What a terrible message to send to a preteen and teen girls as well. That men are too important or good for girly musicals, to the point they wouldn’t take their own kids if they were desperate

I thought this was going to be something awful from reading the title and your opening sentence but i got the end and thought you sounded like a mean girl.

He enjoyed a film and told you. I've seen wicked and I would say similar (but less eloquently), this is so inoffensive I'm honestly struggling to understand what you mean. I think you should leave him so he can find someone who appreciates him.

I don't see the problem with what he said at all.
Sounds like a normal thing a lot of people say after seeing a film.
Nothing wrong with the word belly either.
@Bpuss if you don't like him then end the relationship - for his sake. Poor guy.

But maybe it’s just the way he talks? We all have our ways.

Not sure why people think lifting a couple of cliches from any positive review makes him 'expressive with a wide vocabulary'. He sounds like a would be film critic from the village free paper! However not the greatest sin in the world. He's just trying to sound clever. And at least he's trying!

Somebody going on a website to get other people to laugh at something I'd done would give me the 'ick'...

Indeed, and why is @Oreyt’s husband representing all men? My partner wants to see it.

I don’t see an issue here. Maybe not for you, but that doesn’t mean he’s objectively doing anything wrong. Don’t see a need to label it as cringe. Think I’d much prefer this to faux macho bravado. Best wishes.

Oh but it also means he’s the manliest man in ManTown and we all know that’s the most important thing. None of this girly nonsense, that’s demeaning, he likes actions movies called things Turbo Blaster 7 with some 90 year old action movie star has-been in the lead role, or movies where women get murdered, like a real maaaaaaan. We should all be swooning really.

Nothing wrong with what he said at all, I'd also say tummy.
My husband would also have no problem watching Wicked (6ft 2 ex sportsman whos sister worked in musical theatre, we've seen the show together - twice).

As for the mini-review... I'd actually be unimpressed that he was talking in cliche ("hallmark of a classic" is a zzz sentence) rather than having any insightful thoughts. But give me someone who actually wants to think about the art they read/watch/listen to instead of just mindlessly consuming!

I also find it unbelievably cringe. If this was ever to turn into a relationship, you'd have to feel comfortable sending the laughing emojis and telling him how cringey you found that line. Lighthearted of course, but it's important to be able to be honest, laugh with stuff, and not pretend. Can this turn into banter where he then reminds you of your own cringey moment and you both have a good laugh?

If you feel you have to pretend to enjoy "this cute little review" as other PPs put it, then for me it would be a no. I just would not be able (or happy) to pretend long term.

Surely the only answer to this is because he’s a selfish prick?

Sometimes I feel, especially on this site, rigid gender policing will never die and might actually be worse for men.

Say it with your chest, you think a man who likes musicals is gay, or not a real man (probably the same thing to you).

@Bpuss I think it's obvious that he wants to impress you OP! Instead of just saying he enjoyed the movie he's trying to be more elaborate. I would ask him jokingly if he copied the phrase of a movie review but it wouldn't make me cringe. Efforts are cute.

doesnt seem worth getting bothered about

Don't get the angst personally. The important thing is he's talking to you surely?

I think you should end it I’m sure he doesn’t want to be someone who is biting their tongue trying not to tell him how cringeworthy they find him.

He wouldn’t take his DDs to a film they wanted to see - why not?

Honestly, I don’t see the problem here. He just sounds expressive but perhaps he’s just not the one for you and would end up getting on your nerves.

I don't think there's anything wrong with what he said either.

Some people have a wider and more expressive vocabulary than others, OP. If you don't like that, that's fine, but he's not actually doing anything wrong.

Also, the stomach is an internal organ. So if he's using belly to refer to the general region, I don't see a problem with that either

sounds a bit nerdy

I mean it seems from what I heard that loads of men in the dating game are misogynists, have secret wives, give off incel-type vibes or behave all fine until one day they’ll randomly send a dick pic unasked. But seeing Wicked trumps them all - call 101.

Poor bloke. Why are you bothering woth him?