Romantic Comedies:Movie Genre Analysis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCetfaS7GAo

What is a Romantic Comedy

Lighthearted movie genre where two people, usually a man and woman, fight over obstacles (often very funny obstacles) to finally find true love in the end

Are all Romantic Comedies the same? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2ziKIzVswc

Top 10 Romantic Comedies(1978-present)

10) Sweet Home Alabama 9) Coming to America 8) Bringing Down the House 7) As Good As It Gets 6) Runaway Bride 5) There’s Something About Mary 4) Pretty Woman 3) Hitch 2) What Women Want

and the #1 Romantic Comedy…

My Big Fat Greek Wedding!

Movie Trailer:

Where do romantic comedies take place?

Common Settings: Weddings

Hitch The Wedding Singer

Parents’ House Meet the Parents Failure to Launch

Vacation Six Days, Seven Nights The Holiday

Work (often at a magazine)

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Never Been Kissed

What do Romantic Comedies Look Like?

1. The “Meet Cute”: Two potential lovers encounter each other in a quirky/comical/unexpected event

Ex: SerendiptyIt Happened One NightThe Wedding Planner

What do Romantic Comedies Look Like?

2. The “Mistaken Identity”: There a is a fundamental misunderstanding (intentional or accidental) about who a person is

Ex: 50 First Dates Maid in Manhatten

Shallow Hal

What do Romantic Comedies Look Like?

3. Sexual Tension: The postponing of consummationEx: The Sweetest Thing

No Reservations

10 Things I Hate About You

The Language of Romantic Comedies Dialogue must be

witty and elicit laughter But it also must pull

on viewers’ heartstrings

Characters must use a realistic, conversational tone But appropriate

emotional music should also be playing in the background

The Language of Romantic Comedies

“I’m just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her.” –Notting Hill

“Dancing is just a conversation between two people. Talk to me.” –Hope Floats

“When they asked me what I liked best, I’ll say it was you.” –City of Angels

“You had me at hello” –Jerry Maguire

Being Critical Of Romantic Comedies

Romantic Comedies often promote the following values:

Heterosexuality and marriage is the norm

You are alone and uncompleted if single

You have one true love

The End

And they live happily ever after………

or at least till the credits ended….