I like me a good romantic comedy. Liked them when I was younger. Now, they are still quite entertaining although I like more serious movies, dramas and good films too.
When I was in highschool I did watch quite a few. And recently too I have caught up on watching a few. Like Notting Hill. A legit typical RomCom with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
I thought of the romantic comedies I grew up watching and how they have evolved over the years. So I will do a recap of RomComs throughout the '90s, 00's and 10's.
RomComs of the 90's
Clueless
Sleepless in Seattle
Sliding Doors
4 Weddings and a Funeral
Notting Hill
My Best Friend's Wedding
These are quite romantic, full of the serendipity of romantic love. Cutely clumsy leading ladies and galant, gentlemanly, too-good-to-be-true leading men. There are some interesting plot lines in Sliding Doors and some twists in that movie. Clueless is quite entertaining because of the 90's fashion outfits and trends. Sleepless in Seattle is, well, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. The last 3 all had either Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in them. Bumbling lead characters and love at first sight kind of thing.
RomComs of the 00's
Love Actually
50 First Dates
He's Just Not That Into You
Knocked Up
27 Dresses
500 Days of Summer
The romantic comedy trend seemed to have died with Love Actually. That was the last legit RomCom. Hugh Grant's career seemed to be floundering, as did Julia Roberts'. It gave way to a more realistic portrayal of love. Love despite the harsh realities of life like Knocked Up where Katherine Heigl's character gets pregnant and has to deal with it. Also, rejection in 500 Days was portrayed poignantly. Also the anti heroes of He's Just Not That Into You taught women how men other than Hugh Grant think, a shock in the face of all the fluffy dreamy RomCom's in the 90's.
RomComs of the 10's
Crazy, Stupid Love
No Stings Attached
It's Kind of a Funny Story
Silver Linings Playbook
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
How to be Single
These RomComs showed how love in the urban, modern and savvy world worked. We have different arrangements like No Strings Attached and lots of casual dating in How to be Single, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Stupid Crazy Love. Irresponsible guys feature in least 2 of these. Silver Linings Playbook and It's Kind of a Funny Story are about mental patients being in love with each other, showing awareness of mental illness nowadays. I especially like the way dating was portrayed in How to Be Single where it is actually okay to even be single and happy.
Overall, RomComs are more cynical in the 00's and 10's than the 90's. Love in the 00's and 10's is not a be all end all. It is more realistic, less soppy and fewer airport chases. It shows the aspirations of dating throughout the years with people being more savvy now. The 90's RomComs were aspirational in the wrong type of way. They taught unhealthy things about love to young impressionable girls, and now, the funny, cruel and messy side of love is portrayed.
Having said that, I do miss the naive love stories of the 90's though. So much more entartaining sometimes. There are no good RomComs now.Labels: entertainment, movies
