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Conventions of the Romantic Comedy Film

Conventions of the Romantic Comedy Film. JC Clapp, HUM 110: Introduction to American Film, North Seattle College. Themes. Films are light-hearted, humorous, and centered on romantic ideals where love is able to conquer all. Romantic union is destined or due to fate

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Conventions of the Romantic Comedy Film

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  1. Conventions of the Romantic Comedy Film JC Clapp, HUM 110: Introduction to American Film, North Seattle College

  2. Themes • Films are light-hearted, humorous, and centered on romantic ideals where love is able to conquer all. • Romantic union is destined or due to fate • “True Love” is the prevailing underlying theme

  3. Narrative Basic Plot Formula (Contrived):1. Man and woman are unsatisfied in life2. Meet-cute3. Happy together4. Part ways due to argument, misunderstanding, or obstacle5. Independently transform and overcome their internal obstacles6. Ultimately reunite to declare their love

  4. Characters • Leading Man (Romantic Lead): Handsome, with boyish charm, likeable, witty, smart, a little lost in life and doesn’t quite know what he wants/needs, a bachelor in need of a good woman • Leading Lady (Romantic Lead): Beautiful, relatable, independent, plucky, unconventional, unlucky in love, lonely, convincing, and down-to-earth • Man’s best friend/buddy: adds humor, less attractive than Leading Man, goofy/dorky, loyal • Woman’s best friend/confidant: adds humor, less attractive than Leading Lady, kind, good listener, smart, loyal, spunky • Older mentor: teacher, parent, or boss of main characters that offer support and wisdom

  5. Setting • Usually in large urban city such as London or New York in modern day. • Often set around Christmas time or Valentine’s Day (holidays), which friends and family would naturally get together – or, set in the summer at a wedding or a family reunion

  6. Cinematography, Lighting, Music • Uses continuity editing to draw attention away from the camera – very smooth editing creating seamless transitions • Happy tone using natural and bright lighting. Lighting may darken a bit to reflect the character’s negative mood, but that doesn’t last long. • Usually uses only well-known pop songs as the soundtrack

  7. Cultural Connections • Romantic Comedies both inform and reflect current social values • Rom-coms are rarely cinematically well-made films – they are seen as cheap pulp • Called “chick-flicks,” they aren’t taken seriously • So why are they so enduring?

  8. Why are romantic comedies so popular? • The combination of hope and humor packaged in an escapist fantasy is appealing to the target audience (primarily single heterosexual women in their 20s-30s) • Traditional dating traditions and values surrounding romantic love are reaffirmed, which is comforting to many as society progresses quickly • They are light and don’t require much thought; they have easy plots to follow and the happy endings are predictable – all of which is relaxing and escapist entertainment • They reaffirm deeply held beliefs in Western culture surrounding love at first sight, the concept of soul mates, idealization of your “perfect” partner, and how love conquers all. • Audiences identify with aspects of what the characters are experiencing and are in the phase of life where they are looking for a long-term romantic partner.

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