Romantic comedies (often called "rom-coms") have been a Hollywood mainstay for decades. And while these films can appeal to a broad audience, over the past few years they have become increasingly targeted toward women. As a result, female audiences have propelled many of these so-called "chick flicks" to new heights at the box office. Of course, one of the reasons for these films' success is their steadfast commitment to romance: Love, however improbable, always wins out at the end—with extra points for a wedding. And while some argue that the whole point of a rom-com is to get lost in the fantasy, a number of critics and researchers have recently begun to question their effects on women. Specifically, how do such idealistic portrayals of relationships affect women's views of real-life love? Are rom-com fantasies innocent fun or do they invariably set women up for disappointment?
For this journal, you will analyze two romantic comedies. In your analysis, consider the relationship between the films' romantic fantasy and everyday reality. What is the underlying message about love, romance, and sex? Who are the heroines of the films and how realistic are they? And how are the male love interests portrayed? What do these films say about the men women want to be with?
Watch two of the following films for this reflection:
- 2001:
- The Wedding Planner
- Serendipity
- Bridget Jones's Diary
- Shallow Hal
- Someone Like You
- Kate & Leopold
- 2002:
- Brown Sugar
- Maid in Manhattan
- Sweet Home Alabama
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding
- 2003:
- The Break-Up
- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
- Something's Gotta Give
- What a Girl Wants
- Love Actually
- 2004:
- 50 First Dates
- A Cinderella Story
- The Wedding Date
- Along Came Polly
- 13 Going on 30
- 2005:
- Hitch
- Just Like Heaven
- Must Love Dogs
- Fever Pitch
- Just Friends
- The 40-Year-Old Virgin
- 2006:
- The Holiday
- Failure to Launch
- The Break-Up
- She's the Man
- 2007:
- Knocked Up
- Music and Lyrics
- No Reservations
- I Think I Love My Wife
- 2008:
- 27 Dresses
- Definitely, Maybe
- Forgetting Sarah Marshall
- Fool's Gold
- Made of Honor
- What Happens in Vegas
- Mamma Mia!
- 2009:
- Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
- It's Complicated
- He's Just Not That Into You
- The Proposal
- The Ugly Truth
- 2010:
- The Back-up Plan
- Leap Year
- Love and Other Drugs
- Valentine's Day
- The Switch
- 2011:
- Crazy, Stupid, Love
- Friends with Benefits
- Just Go with It
- New Year's Eve
- What's Your Number?
- No Strings Attached
- 2012:
- The First Time
- Think Like a Man
- This Means War
- 2013:
- About Time
- Warm Bodies
- Austenland
- 2014:
- That Awkward Moment
- Two Night Stand
- Playing It Cool
- About Last Night
- 2015:
- Trainwreck
- Sleeping with Other People
- Accidental Love
- 2016:
- How to be Single
- La La Land
- 2017:
- The Big Stick
- Home Again
- Everybody Love Somebody
- "Are Romantic Movies Bad for You?" (Time)
- "How Romantic Comedies are Failing Women (and How to Fix It)" (HuffPost)
- "How Rom-Coms Undermine Women" (Atlantic)
- "The Psychology of Romantic Comedies: What are These Movies Doing to Our Love Lives?" (E! News)
- "In Defense of Romantic Comedies" (Acculturated)
- "Why Watch Romantic Comedies" (BitchFlicks)
Required:
- MLA Style
- 2 pages in length
Due: Wed 3.7/Thu 3.8
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