The romantic comedy, or “rom-com”, has become a staple genre in which Hollywood can perpetuate upon couples, yearning for a breezy date. But, there is an inherent problem with the modern day romantic comedy. From the start, the film is not the question of whether or not the two gorgeous looking stars will get together, but how they will get together. The formula inevitably brings forth the structure of the two stars either meeting in a cute way or in a precarious situation. Then the relationship goes through its ups and downs as the leading lady will probably fall down in a “hilarious”, slapsticky way, while the guy probably takes off his shirt.
Then again, this was exactly the structure that some of the best romantic comedies of all time, from “The Apartment” to “Bringing Up Baby”, have followed. The question then becomes, why modern day “rom-coms” feel so contrived nowadays. It could simply be because the screenwriters of those movies try to appeal to the common denominator. These films, like fairy tales, are an escape from everyday life in which it is easy to meet the perfect man or woman at the top of the Empire State Building.
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