An Appeal for Better Romantic Comedies

50 First Dates (2004)

Like so many other women before me, I too have fallen victim to swooning over the occasional movie which falls under the blanket term of 'romantic comedy'. I've sighed as the two unlikely love interests find passion and some strange mutilated version of true love based mostly on the fact that the script said these two characters must fall in love with one another, so that's exactly what they're going to end up doing. While there are exceptions to the rule, these films have the tendency to all follow the same exact formula time and time again, and on top of being lazy filmmaking it also depicts a rather unhealthy foundation for any sort of relationship (be it platonic or romantic).

For some reason, the two protagonists must always begin their story hating one another. Their distaste for each other could range from one-sided affection (varying from a light crush to obsessive pining which the other ignores) to absolute loathing (as seen in the admittedly hilarious The Proposal), but they must never start out equally interested in one another, or even mildly attracted to each other in some cases. Then, for some strange reason, both parties catch themselves suddenly interested in the other person. Perhaps one person spotted the other being surprisingly kind to an elderly person, or petting a stray dog, but they saw something which invoked a confused feeling of attraction.

Of course, because the film needs conflict, one character must lie to the other early on in the relationship. Whether it's a small white lie which will be exaggerated and muddled as the film's plot progresses, or an elaborate deception that they regret and desperately attempt to take back, there must always be an act of dishonesty or selfishness on one partner's side. Just as things between our two lovers appear to be perfect, the lie or act of selfishness is revealed, and the audience is forced to watch both lovers mope around (one feeling understandably heartbroken because they've just realized that the person they were in love with was either cruel or dishonest, and the other simply feeling guilty for making such a terrible decision). Then, for whatever reason, the person who was hurt so badly decides to forgive the other partner, and they both live happily ever after.

This formula has been copied and pasted time after time, to the point where the trope of the liar revealed with the montage of sad music and slow vacant panning shots of our depressed and guilt-ridden protagonist is practically a joke. That being said, I demand better romantic comedies.

I demand romantic comedies where the conflict doesn't come from relationships being built on a foundation of lying and manipulation, but instead where it comes from realistic outside factors (financial problems, issues with families, or perhaps something completely unrelated at all). I demand romantic comedies which depict healthy and happy relationships rather than the same scenes of two people screaming that they hate each other before suddenly deciding they're in love because the screenwriter and director agreed that they should be. Romantic movies can be moving and beautiful, and film is perhaps the best medium to portray such a strong and intense aspect of a person's life, but moviegoers keep settling for less so we keep being shown the same chain of terrible and depressing events which I can't imagine led to a happy and long-lasting relationship after the credits roll.

Admittedly, there are romantic comedies which abuse all of these tropes yet still have a special place in my heart (The Wedding Singer, The Proposal, and Music and Lyrics are three which immediately come to mind when it comes to movies in the genre which still make me get a little misty eyed), but that isn't a reason to settle for less than what filmmakers are capable of. So, this is my invitation to expect better from this genre of film, and to long for something which depicts relationships as more than just two conventionally attractive (oftentimes caucasian) people hating each other, falling madly in love, hurting one another, and then deciding to stick together without much of an apology. Let's agree to look for more in the movies we see, and more in the examples movies are setting for young teenagers who truly believe that Hollywood is showing them what love is meant to be.