Are you a “10 Things I hate About You” kinda girl? Or maybe you’re more into period pieces like “Pride and Prejudice.” Perhaps you like melodramatic films like “The Notebook.” Whatever your favorite rom com is, we can all agree on something, we enjoy them.
Romantic comedies, often referred to as rom coms, are the labels given to films or literature that follow a story line of lighthearted love and humor, which in most cases end in a happily ever after.
Rom coms have surprisingly been around for decades. Considered by many as one of the earliest rom-coms, Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Nights Dream,” written in 1596, set the stage.
While these movies are universal, they often resonate strongly with teenage girls. Their incorporation of love and friendship as well as relatable main characters make these stories appealing to the teenage girl mind because we all want to at least obtain one aspect of these character’s lives. Whether it be the “perfect” boyfriend, the dream car, their job, or even a personality trait.
In short, rom coms give us an inspiration of how we want our life to turn out especially romantically.
Growing up with films like “27 Dresses” and “How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days” gave me an expectation of what my life would be like as an adult. However, as time goes by and I am exposed to people who are actively going through adulthood, I realize that it’s nothing like in the movies.
Movies that portray love and life realistically are often dismissed as “cringe.” “Bridget Jones Diary” stands out as an example of a rom-com that balances humor with genuine insights into relationships and personal growth. While other movies satisfy our hopeless romantic hearts, movies such as these truly portray what adulthood and love is truly like in the real world.
While it’s easy to get caught up in the fictional world of romantic comedies, it’s important to remember that these films are just that, fiction. They offer us an escape, especially in this specific time of our lives where a lot of us have very important decisions to make regarding our future, study and take standardized testing, and performing well in sports. These movies inspire us to dream of our own fairy tale ending. However, they can also set unrealistic expectations if we aren’t careful to separate fiction from reality.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying these movies for what they are, entertainment and a source of inspiration. They show us the charm of love, the thrill of new relationships, and the joy of finding that special someone. Yet, it’s just as important to appreciate and embrace the imperfect, messy, and mostly unpredictable nature of real-life relationships.
Ultimately, romantic comedies can coincide with our understanding of what love realistically is like. We can watch them with a smile, knowing that while our own love stories may not happen with such perfection, they are unique, genuine, and just as important. In the end, the key is to find a balance between our dreams and reality. We can appreciate the romance in everyday life while enjoying the escape that rom-coms give.
