As Valentine’s Day arrives and the season of love remains in full swing, many will search far and wide to find the quintessential romantic comedy to watch. Combining both the romantic and comedy genres, rom-coms exploded in the twentieth century and have since become a dominating genre in the Hollywood marketplace. While I had not had much history with rom-coms, I was interested to explore the genre and see how each of these movies either challenged or enhanced the preexisting formula so many rom-coms follow. To satisfy my curiosity, I compiled and watched five different rom-coms across all different appeals and subgenres. Hopefully, by the end of this list, you’ll have found a new one to watch with your loved ones this Valentine’s Day.
- Groundhog Day
The most fantastical on my list is Groundhog Day. Starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, this film takes place in our own home state of Pennsylvania, in the prominent town of Punxsutawney. While the film is mostly popular for its narrative revolving around a time loop, as well as the more serious moments that unfold throughout the story beneath the largely comedic exterior, it nonetheless contains elements of a romantic comedy. Murray plays Phil Connors, a cynical weather reporter who attempts to seduce his new producer, Rita (MacDowell), using the multiple iterations of the time loop to concoct the ‘perfect date.’ Despite this, Phil is never able to succeed in wooing Rita in any variation of the loop. Only when he begins viewing the time loop as a gift rather than a curse do his feelings for Rita become genuine, and their romance blossoms. While this eventually develops into an endearing romance, I rate it lower due to its inherent creepiness, at least at first. Despite the sweetness of the ending with Rita and Phil finally together, it doesn’t erase the numerous other moments throughout the film where Phil unsuccessfully and uncomfortably attempts to persuade Rita to date him. While I am usually forgiving of the typical cliche in rom-coms, where our two romantic leads initially dismiss each other before growing closer, Rita repeatedly rejects Phil for almost half of the film’s runtime. Ultimately, Groundhog Day is highly rated only for its unique premise and well-cast romantic leads, but not for any groundbreaking merits in the rom-com genre.
- The Proposal
The Proposal may be the most mediocre of our entire list. This film follows Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) and Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) entering into a fake marriage to prevent Margaret from being deported. Reynolds and Bullock’s chemistry is very believable, and despite its formulaic structure, I do understand the connection between them. I can also confidently say this is the most comedic of the entire list, and the antics Bullock’s character finds herself in as she helplessly tries to impress Andrew’s family are humorous enough to entertain me on my second rewatch. So why is it ranked here on this list? While I had positive things to say when I first watched this film, I couldn’t help but find it middling at best, at least when compared to the others on my list. In comparison to the other rom-coms I watched, The Proposal does nothing to set itself apart from its generic screenplay. While there is nothing inherently wrong with a standard or run-of-the-mill rom-com, the other films on the list showed me that a traditional rom-com can still stand out among its compatriots. Despite that, I would still recommend this to others if you want an innocent and much more humor-heavy film.
- Harold and Maude
Certainly, the most unconventional rom-com of our list, Harold and Maude, was suggested to me by fellow Fordian Features editor Emilia Davaro. From the moment I turned it on, I knew it would likely be the most unique take on a rom-com that I had ever seen, and, for better or worse, I’m happy to report I was not far off. This film follows the antics of the titular Harold, a death-obsessed young man who befriends an elderly yet remarkably free-spirited woman named Maude. Ultimately, the differences between the two characters lead to an unconventional yet powerful bond. Despite the absurdity with which the events of the film unfold, I must commend the chemistry and relationship between the two leads, as it transforms scenes that could have been somewhat uncomfortable into something more sincere. I did, however, question at certain points of the movie if the relationship worked well romantically, and if the same desired effect could have been achieved with a purely platonic relationship. Despite that, I still enjoyed this movie for what it was: a unique rom-com with a dark exterior but a very wholesome interior.
- 10 Things I Hate About You
A certifiable classic in the rom-com genre, 10 Things I Hate About You follows the romantic trajectory of two high school-aged sisters. The premise actually has its origins set much earlier in our history, with it being loosely inspired by William Shakespeare’s comedy The Taming of the Shrew. The sisters exhibit radically different personalities and preferences, but they both end up pursuing relationships that capture the highs and lows of high school romance. For a first-time viewing, I quite enjoyed it. The acting and casting in this film were spot on, and while it had many of the tropes that I’ve come to expect of these movies, I never felt like it was trying to be overly self-aware or meta. The conflict of the story was endearing throughout, and despite its cliched nature, I always enjoyed the story beats and character moments. However, I did find myself wanting more from this film by the end, specifically from the climax. With my rom-coms, I’ve noticed I tend to enjoy those that have something more to say about love and relationships besides the stereotypical ‘Love Conquers All’ messaging. Because of this, I was somewhat let down when I realized that this film was following in the footsteps of many other stereotypical rom-coms. Despite a lackluster ending, I quite enjoyed the film, if for no other reason than its charming performances and memorable hijinks.
- Grease
Undoubtedly the most theatrical of the entire list, Grease has endured as a cultural staple for numerous generations since its release in 1978. A favorite of my parents, I’ve likely seen it more than any other film on this list. The music is phenomenal, as is already well documented. It’s hard not to appreciate the flair and jubilance with which this movie presents itself, elevating and further dramatizing the romantic tension between protagonists Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. The romance itself is relatively typical, but it still gives both of our leading lovebirds moments to shine, such as Sandy’s “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and Danny’s “Sandy.” All that being said, I do still take some issue with the end of this film, primarily with the way the film seemingly champions Sandy and her decision to change her mannerisms and style into one more closely resembling the rambunctious Greasers. Even as a kid, I never understood from a story perspective why the lesson she learned from the film’s events led her to embrace and join Danny’s band of leather hooligans. Confusing messaging aside, I thoroughly enjoy this movie and consider it one of the most lively and euphoric films on this list.
