ROMANTIC COMEDIES TO TAKE SERIOUSLY.
"Romantic comedies, from classics such as Trouble in Paradise (1932) to recent hits like Knocked Up (2007),
have been a cornerstone of Hollywood entertainment since the coming of sound... In spite of being popular movies with a
long and continuous history of production, romantic comedies have won only a few Oscars for Best Picture.
Romantic comedies are often dismissed as formulaic stories promoting fantasies about love.
But these comedies have a pedigree that includes William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Oscar Wilde.
Moreover, these films reward study because they deal with dramatic conflicts central to human experience.
From those conflicts arise the familiar conventions that form the foundation for the romantic comedy and portray our social manners surrounding courtship, sexuality, and gender relations."
- Leger Grindon
have been a cornerstone of Hollywood entertainment since the coming of sound... In spite of being popular movies with a
long and continuous history of production, romantic comedies have won only a few Oscars for Best Picture.
Romantic comedies are often dismissed as formulaic stories promoting fantasies about love.
But these comedies have a pedigree that includes William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Oscar Wilde.
Moreover, these films reward study because they deal with dramatic conflicts central to human experience.
From those conflicts arise the familiar conventions that form the foundation for the romantic comedy and portray our social manners surrounding courtship, sexuality, and gender relations."
- Leger Grindon
According to Mr. Grindon, romantic comedies are actually more than just a chick-flick and need to be taken seriously because they are a reflection of our society. Welp, I must agree with him, because as much as I do not enjoy watching rom-coms, I do have to say that most of these films are great ways to evaluate the society at their times.
So here are some gems that need to be taken seriously (excluding Audrey's classics):
So here are some gems that need to be taken seriously (excluding Audrey's classics):
This film is almost like a remake of Annie Hall, minus Woody Allen and his monologues.
It is about the nervous relationship between Tom and a quirky girl named Summer. He falls madly in love with her, but she
doesn't believe in love... until the very last part of the movie.
So it takes us through the journey of how the two meet, and fall apart. It's quite interesting because so many people I know
don't like to get hung up on the idea of love, and don't take relationships too seriously.
It is about the nervous relationship between Tom and a quirky girl named Summer. He falls madly in love with her, but she
doesn't believe in love... until the very last part of the movie.
So it takes us through the journey of how the two meet, and fall apart. It's quite interesting because so many people I know
don't like to get hung up on the idea of love, and don't take relationships too seriously.
500 Days of Summer (2007)
I remember watching this film in VHS when I was a 6th grader, but now I watch this in HD on Netflix.
Clueless is disregarded because of a relatively new high school drama, Mean Girls.
However, I say that this truly reflects the social manner and the hierarchy of the high school/teenage society
that is so relevant in the 90s and even today. It is not only based on Emma by Jane Austen, but it also introduces the
the technology era where clothes are matched by computers, friends communicate through cell phones, and CDs take over cassettes.
Oh, and it takes us through Cher's dotty relationship with her friends, and her ex-step brother.
Clueless is disregarded because of a relatively new high school drama, Mean Girls.
However, I say that this truly reflects the social manner and the hierarchy of the high school/teenage society
that is so relevant in the 90s and even today. It is not only based on Emma by Jane Austen, but it also introduces the
the technology era where clothes are matched by computers, friends communicate through cell phones, and CDs take over cassettes.
Oh, and it takes us through Cher's dotty relationship with her friends, and her ex-step brother.
Bridget Jones's Diary I & II (2001), (2004)
I guess it's only just for me to say that both Bridget Jones's Diary AND Bridget Jones's Diary: The Edge of Reason
are my all time favorite romantic comedies. Bridget Jones is such a lovable character who shares her story
as a single woman in her early 30's. Her romantic relationships with Daniel Clever and Mark Darcy
is not only relatable as a girl, but quite hilarious as well.
Bridget Jones also shows us the life as a single woman with a career, living in London, where she is constantly asked about her life without a man,
which says a lot about the society we live in today - it's weird that girls don't have guys to marry, rather than most guys being un-marriable.
Plus, this film is a classic because yes, Mr. Darcy is Mark Darcy.
are my all time favorite romantic comedies. Bridget Jones is such a lovable character who shares her story
as a single woman in her early 30's. Her romantic relationships with Daniel Clever and Mark Darcy
is not only relatable as a girl, but quite hilarious as well.
Bridget Jones also shows us the life as a single woman with a career, living in London, where she is constantly asked about her life without a man,
which says a lot about the society we live in today - it's weird that girls don't have guys to marry, rather than most guys being un-marriable.
Plus, this film is a classic because yes, Mr. Darcy is Mark Darcy.
A teen gets pregnant and gives the baby up for adoption.
The main plot sounds like a stupid and redundant reality show.
But, this film is more about the awkward, yet adorable relationship between Juno and the baby daddy. It was really sad to watch the scene when she gives up her baby.
Plus, Michael Cera and his orange Tic Tac is so cute in the film.
The main plot sounds like a stupid and redundant reality show.
But, this film is more about the awkward, yet adorable relationship between Juno and the baby daddy. It was really sad to watch the scene when she gives up her baby.
Plus, Michael Cera and his orange Tic Tac is so cute in the film.
Juno (2007)
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Seriously one of the funniest films ever.
This is a story about two crazies falling in love in the weirdest circumstances, which is just so funny.
The performances by the cast is amazing, plus, there is dancing - I'm glad that it didn't turn out like Dirty Dancing - It's not just about the dancing, but about the relationship growth between the characters.
It is interesting how this film defies the myth that crazy people can't, or don't deserve love, which is why this film is so amazing.
This is a story about two crazies falling in love in the weirdest circumstances, which is just so funny.
The performances by the cast is amazing, plus, there is dancing - I'm glad that it didn't turn out like Dirty Dancing - It's not just about the dancing, but about the relationship growth between the characters.
It is interesting how this film defies the myth that crazy people can't, or don't deserve love, which is why this film is so amazing.