Genre: Romantic Comedy
Romantic comedies, rom-coms, have been a very popular genre for films and TV shows for years, providing emotional connection, hope, comfort, acting as an escape for those with the universal desire for love. Rom-coms make people feel happy and fulfilled, feelings that are not as popular in other genres. It is a simple, yet enchanting genre that almost anyone can enjoy.
The typical target audience for rom-coms is primarily women and young adults who enjoy feel-good storylines and emotion-packed plots, acting as a break from reality or connection to their own love lives. These films also target teen girls with relatable films portraying themes of high school and first love that may feel personal, or even nostalgic. This genre has historically targeted females, gaining the nickname "chick flicks," but has modernized over the years to reach a wider audience, appealing to a more diverse group of people, including the LGBTQ+ community with more inclusive storylines.
Some popular rom-com genre conventions are "The meet-cute," obstacles, grand gestures, and the resolution. Others may be rivalries, awkward moments, jealousy, comedic effect through side characters, and themes such as confidence, identity, and growth. These different conventions create the story as a whole and are integral to the evolution of a love story. Many times they set the foundation of a relationship, and show the progression as its love grows. Finally, many rom-coms often incorporate the setting as its own character into the storyline, affecting the plot in several ways. Many films are set in large and recognizable cities like New York or Paris, making the story feel more real for viewers. Not only are the settings aesthetically-pleasing on screen, but people can place themselves into real-life settings where they are watching stories unfold.
To create an aesthetic and lighthearted mood, many rom-coms use high-key lighting, colorful settings, and upbeat music, shifting it depending on the mood. Certain camera shots such as mid-shots are used to show body language between characters, specifically love interests, allowing viewers to understand through visual elements, the status of a specific relationship. These films often incorporate montage clips to progress the story visually, with quiet moments of two characters falling in love. Rom-coms rely heavily on these conventions, and need editing, acting, timing, humor, and emotion to succeed.
Rom-coms are defined by their institutional conventions that have evolved through the history of the genre. While many people see the use of these conventions as predictable, they are ultimately vital to the success of rom-com films. This includes the core narrative in which different stories are recycled, such as meet-cutes, obstacles, developments, grand gestures, and a "happily ever after." These are paired with character tropes such as, relatable protagonists, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and infidelity.
In addition to these, the mise-en-scene often incorporates urban settings in major cities, high-key lighting, and low for dramatic effect, and an upbeat or over-the-top soundtrack where audiences can clearly understand and see the emotions that are being portrayed in more ways than just the characters' portrayal. These are all vital to partner with the themes such as escapism, as these films are intended to be dream-like and comforting.
1. Bridget Jones's Diary
Bridget Jones's Diary is 2001 romantic comedy film and loose adaptation of Jane Austen's, Pride and Prejudice, that follows the start of a new year for 32-year-old Bridget who takes control of her life and begins to keep a diary, in hopes to improve herself. However, her life turns upside down when two different men begin fighting for her affection. This film follows the love triangle trope, and relies on its use of drama, humor, and portrayal of romantic gestures to satisfy audiences, while keeping them on their toes.
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