The Romantic Comedy, or Rom-Com, is a chick flick staple. While movies like Knocked Up, Definitely, Maybe, and even What Women Want have had success taking the guy’s point of view, there’s little danger of the rom-com becoming male territory. Women love them because they have almost no basis in reality, and always have happy endings[1]: their idealized view of the world is a pleasant contrast to modern divorce statistics. Though we inevitably know what will happen, and though we are smart enough to realize the situations presented on screen are about as likely as the Cubs winning the World Series, we still can’t wait to go along for the ride. Why? Because the rom-com provides hope. They tell us there’s always the chance for romance.
There are more terrible romantic comedies than any other subgenre of chick flick. They make good money regardless of plot, so the studios keep churning them out. The true aficionado is well aware of the difference between the Jennifer Aniston/Vince Vaughn disaster The Break-Up and a classic that mothers pass down to their daughters like The Princess Bride.
[1] With the possible exception of My Best Friend’s Wedding.
