Did someone say Rom-Coms?!
So, one of the first things to know about me (if you don’t already) is that I love a good romantic comedy! I LOVE IT. See how I spent my time making a collage of some of my favorites? Yea, that’s how much I love them. :) In all seriousness, if we can get real about rom-coms for a second, they are the movie genre of choice for me because they just make me happy! Here are 5 reasons why they are my faves:
I like the predictability of knowing that I’ll get some sort of happy ending. It’s nice to know there’ll be a kiss at the end and all will be well! I know what I’m in for and it’s really relaxing to know what you can expect when there is so much uncertainty in the world.
They are funny! Comedy is in the title for a reason. Some are funnier than others especially if we are talking about Nora Ephron movies in particular which are some of my all time faves! The banter just can’t be beat. Or a lot of movies will have wacky hijinks or plot twists that are a bit silly and that’s what makes them fun.
The simplicity. Rom-coms are all about love. Nothing else. Yes, really good ones enrich the world around them and the side characters add just as much to the overall storyline, but ultimately, it’s about two people falling in love and what that connection feels like. I’m sure I’m not the only one who says or thinks this but I always say, “Who doesn’t love, love?” Ya know?
Pure escapism! Rom-coms are usually this ideal world where even though there are usually a mix of emotions coming from our romantic heroines like anxiety, exhilaration, anticipation, even sadness in moments, it always leads to celebration in the end! In real life & rarely in our journey to find love, do we go through all those emotions and come out celebrating. A lot of times real dating or trying to find that elusive “One” is all those emotions, but usually a lot of heartbreak until we do ultimately, find “The One” or “It”. And once we find “It”, there is usually lots of work to be done to keep “It” going. So, the fact that we get to see the joyful celebration of two people coming together just makes you want to escape into it.
I know some naysayers will say, “Well, nothing comes out of a romantic comedy.” “They don’t teach you anything, they’re baseless, they’re fluff.” However, I like the fact that I’m watching something simply to indulge in goodness. We don’t have to watch someone suffer to ultimately justify good things coming out of it. Trust me, I love dramas — even really dark dramas and dark comedies — and there is lot of reflection and thoughtfulness that comes out of that type of art, but the lightness of these films and the good things that happen are what make them addicting and timeless.
More recently, we’ve also seen more representation in romantic comedies with movies like Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (the books are also amazing btw) and Crazy Rich Asians. I love the movies: Something New, Maid in Manhattan and Bend it Like Beckham that came out a while ago. We still have a ways to go to see more diversity and different types of love portrayed, but I do think we are getting there. Perhaps for my next post on this I can list out my actual top 5 fave movies except, can I actually choose?! Eeeks. I don’t know. I’ll have to think on it. Share with me some of your favorite rom-coms in the comments. Would love to hear what rom-coms make you happy and perhaps it will give me the idea to revisit that movie. Or gasp! Be one I haven’t seen. :)
