Romantic Comedies encapsulate two of the world's most prized possessions: love and laughter. They depict love stories between people, drawing and hooking audiences from all around the world. The genre's popularity has sky-rocketed throughout the years, making it one of the most profitable genres in film!
Romantic Comedies are often ridiculed for their oblivion and fable. However, that is particularly what makes them so loved! Aimed at girls from the ages of 13 to 18, rom-coms embody the fairy-tale dream that is pushed onto women from the moment they are born. Typically starring either a weird, quirky, girl or a popular, girly one, rom-coms create a narrative that a strong, handsome man may sweep anyone off their feet. The captivating genre very often contains a predictable, copied storyline that is characterized in many films. First, the characters meet; usually, they are appalled or not into one another. Then, they begin to spend more time together and their bond grows. The relationship is consequently built and everything seems "perfect." Well, foolish of us to assume that they were gonna live happily ever after! Typically, the story climaxes with an argument between the characters before they make up again. Then, they live happily ever after, of course.
Many rom-coms are centered around teenagers or young adults, typically those in high school. Therefore, the setting of these productions are crucial; it must be realistic for a teenager between the ages of 16 and 18 to be at a certain place at a certain time. A school is commonly the main setting for a young adult romantic comedy. However, there are also trends in these films where we as the audience see usually a restaurant of some sort that the characters enjoy and, of course, their homes. Mise-en-scene is also extremely stereotypical in these films. If a character is a geek, or a nerd, they are depicted wearing glasses and miss-matched clothing. The jocks in romantic comedies almost always wear their letterman jacket...everywhere. The popular girl or the villain is usually placed in pink colors, connoting them with femininity, short skirts, and a stylish, high-end purse.
Genre and production conventions of romantic comedies, such as the ones listed, would not be so easily recognized without the proper marketing techniques that have infiltrated society. Trailers are the core and main aspect of attracting an audience. Typically with romantic comedies, the viewer sees a snip of the beginning of the story followed by cuts of the characters' romance journey. Whether it is sweet moments shared between the protagonists, or deep, emotional conflict scenes, the common romantic comedy trailer is strategically, and effectively formulated to arouse pathos and curiosity in an audience. For instance, viewers of these trailers may think to themselves, "Wow, their relationship is so cute!" or "I wonder why they are fighting?" Recently, a rom-com named Honor Society was released. the trailer depicted the protagonists' initial plot to sabotage the main love interest; however, these scenes are followed by moments where they share a more meaningful, sweet connection, pleasing the audience with the plot change and prompting them to watch the film.
The previous genre and production conventions are visible in classic rom-coms such as She's All That. The movie depicts Laney, the protagonist, a weird, quirky girl who loves to paint. Laney has glasses, wears a ponytail, and often has paint splatter all over her clothing. She begins to spend time with the popular jock, Zach, who, you guessed it, wears a letterman jacket, and they fall in love. Then, she finds out he was dating her as a bet with his friends and they have a huge falling out at the popular mean girl's party; this villain-esc character is always put in short skirts or dresses in either pink or red. Later on, Laney and Zach make up and the movie ends with them sharing a nice moment together. The main setting of the movie is the high school they attend. Yet, often the characters are seen at Laney's house as well as her place of work, a café. In fact, the closing scene of the movie is in Laney's backyard, where the couple is seen slow dancing together.
Although not a teenage story, the film The Proposal also perfectly encapsulates the rom-com genre. However, instead of a school, the characters develop their story in an office where they are both employed. The protagonist, Margaret, is the love interest's, Andrew's, boss. She is a powerful business woman who commonly wears black pantsuits, demonstrating her need to exert power and dominance as a female employer. Andrew, a sweet, caring persona who commonly wears light blue and white representing this, despises Margaret at the beginning of the film. Margaret, a workaholic, needs Andrew to marry her in order for her to receive a green card and remain in the United States pursuing her career. As her employee, Andrew is manipulated into the agreement and the two enemies are forced to spend a bonding weekend at his family home in Alaska, preparing for their immigration interview. Throughout their time there, the audience watches the two overcome their vendetta and fall for one another. When the day comes for their fake marriage, Margaret backs out in fear that she is taking away from Andrew's life. The movie ends with Andrew professing his love for Margaret and the two reconnecting and ending up together, finalizing their classic romantic fairy tail.
If there is one genre the world is not short of, it is most certainly romantic comedies. Despite their cheesy, overused, unrealistic storylines, rom-coms are a staple in our world and have a variety of fans, me included! Some of the internet's favorite teenage rom-coms are The Princess Diaries, Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, and 13 Going On 30. As for the more adult, mature films, the iconic ones include Crazy, Stupid, Love, When Harry Met Sally, and How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days. All of these, including many, many more are definitely worth a watch!
Everyone loves a classic fairy tale; don't deny yourself that joy.
