Romantic comedy - Revision history

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2026-02-25T16:32:43Z

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2022-06-15T18:30:14Z

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WikiDwarf: Reverted edits by CentDog (talk) to last revision by WikiDwarf

2021-11-27T13:16:13Z

Reverted edits by CentDog (talk) to last revision by WikiDwarf

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:46, 27 November 2021
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	It was not until the creation of [[Courtly love\|romantic love]] in the western European [[Middle Ages\|medieval]] period, though, that "romance" came to refer to "romantic love" situations, rather than the heroic adventures of medieval [[Romance (heroic literature)\|Romance]]. These adventures, however, often revolved about a knight's feats on behalf of a lady, and so the modern themes of love were quickly woven into them, as in [[Chrétien de Troyes]]'s ''[[Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart]]''.<ref>C.S Lewis, ''The Allegory of Love'', p 19 {{ISBN\|0-19-281220-3}}</ref>		It was not until the creation of [[Courtly love\|romantic love]] in the western European [[Middle Ages\|medieval]] period, though, that "romance" came to refer to "romantic love" situations, rather than the heroic adventures of medieval [[Romance (heroic literature)\|Romance]]. These adventures, however, often revolved about a knight's feats on behalf of a lady, and so the modern themes of love were quickly woven into them, as in [[Chrétien de Troyes]]'s ''[[Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart]]''.<ref>C.S Lewis, ''The Allegory of Love'', p 19 {{ISBN\|0-19-281220-3}}</ref>

	[[Shakespearean comedy]] and [[Restoration comedy]] remain influential. The creation of huge economic social strata in the [[Gilded Age]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}}, combined with the heightened openness about sex after the [[Victorian era]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} and the celebration of [[Sigmund Freud]]'s theories, and the birth of the film industry in the early twentieth century, gave birth to the [[screwball comedy films\|screwball comedy]].{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} As class consciousness declined and [[World War II]] unified various social orders, the savage screwball comedies of the twenties and thirties, proceeding through [[Rock Hudson]]~~–Doris~~ Day-style comedies, gave way to more innocuous comedies.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} In 1972 ''[[What's Up, Doc? (1972 film)\|What's Up, Doc?]]'' was a success, although the film follows the conventions of the screwball comedy, as its tagline confirms: "A Screwball Comedy. Remember them?".		[[Shakespearean comedy]] and [[Restoration comedy]] remain influential. The creation of huge economic social strata in the [[Gilded Age]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}}, combined with the heightened openness about sex after the [[Victorian era]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} and the celebration of [[Sigmund Freud]]'s theories, and the birth of the film industry in the early twentieth century, gave birth to the [[screwball comedy films\|screwball comedy]].{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} As class consciousness declined and [[World War II]] unified various social orders, the savage screwball comedies of the twenties and thirties, proceeding through [[Rock Hudson]]–[[Doris Day]]-style comedies, gave way to more innocuous comedies.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} In 1972 ''[[What's Up, Doc? (1972 film)\|What's Up, Doc?]]'' was a success, although the film follows the conventions of the screwball comedy, as its tagline confirms: "A Screwball Comedy. Remember them?".
	The more sexually charged ''[[When Harry Met Sally]]'' had a successful box office run in 1989, paving the way for a rebirth for the Hollywood romantic comedy in the mid-1990s.		The more sexually charged ''[[When Harry Met Sally]]'' had a successful box office run in 1989, paving the way for a rebirth for the Hollywood romantic comedy in the mid-1990s.

	The French film industry went in a completely different direction, with less inhibitions about sex.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} [[Virginia Woolf]], tired of stories that ended in '[[Happy ending\|happily ever after]]' at the beginning of a serious relationship, called ''[[Middlemarch]]'' by [[George Eliot]], with its portrayal of a difficult marriage, "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people."		The [[Cinema of France\|French film industry]] went in a completely different direction, with less inhibitions about sex.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} [[Virginia Woolf]], tired of stories that ended in '[[Happy ending\|happily ever after]]' at the beginning of a serious relationship, called ''[[Middlemarch]]'' by [[George Eliot]], with its portrayal of a difficult marriage, "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people."
	== Effects ==		== Effects ==
	=== On society today ===		=== On society today ===
Line 62:		Line 62:
	A study was conducted at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to understand this phenomenon. They studied 40 top box-office films released between 1995 and 2005 to establish common themes. Then they asked hundreds of people to complete a questionnaire to describe their beliefs and expectations in romantic relationships. Researchers found that people who enjoyed movies such as ''[[You've Got Mail\|You’ve Got Mail]]'', ''[[The Wedding Planner]]'', and ''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)\|While You Were Sleeping]]'' often failed to communicate with their partners effectively. They also believe that if someone is meant to be with you, then they should know your needs without you telling them. Although this study is just one of a handful, it shows a correlation of how people's expectations are distorted through watching romantic comedies.<ref name="Harrell"/>		A study was conducted at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to understand this phenomenon. They studied 40 top box-office films released between 1995 and 2005 to establish common themes. Then they asked hundreds of people to complete a questionnaire to describe their beliefs and expectations in romantic relationships. Researchers found that people who enjoyed movies such as ''[[You've Got Mail\|You’ve Got Mail]]'', ''[[The Wedding Planner]]'', and ''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)\|While You Were Sleeping]]'' often failed to communicate with their partners effectively. They also believe that if someone is meant to be with you, then they should know your needs without you telling them. Although this study is just one of a handful, it shows a correlation of how people's expectations are distorted through watching romantic comedies.<ref name="Harrell"/>
	==See also==		==See also==
	* Bromantic comedy		* [[Bromantic comedy]]
	* Situational comedy or "sitcom"		* [[Situational comedy]] or "sitcom"
	* Chick flick		* [[Chick flick]]
	* List of romantic comedy films		* [[List of romantic comedy films]]
	* List of romantic comedy television series		* [[List of romantic comedy television series]]
	==References==		==References==
	{{Reflist\|30em}}		{{Reflist\|30em}}
Line 74:		Line 74:
	*[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=romanticcomedy.htm Romantic Comedy Movies] – Top 290 (1978–present) by [[Box Office Mojo]]		*[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=romanticcomedy.htm Romantic Comedy Movies] – Top 290 (1978–present) by [[Box Office Mojo]]
	*[https://www.imdb.com/chart/romance Top Rated Romance Titles] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221160701/http://www.imdb.com/chart/romance/ \|date=2016-12-21 }} by IMDB		*[https://www.imdb.com/chart/romance Top Rated Romance Titles] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221160701/http://www.imdb.com/chart/romance/ \|date=2016-12-21 }} by IMDB
	*[https://qzlyrics.com/romantic-song-lyrics/ Romantic Song Lyrics]
	{{Film genres}}		{{Film genres}}
	{{Comedy footer}}		{{Comedy footer}}

CentDog: Undo revision 233690

2021-11-27T11:49:56Z

Undo revision 233690

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:19, 27 November 2021
Line 50:		Line 50:
	It was not until the creation of [[Courtly love\|romantic love]] in the western European [[Middle Ages\|medieval]] period, though, that "romance" came to refer to "romantic love" situations, rather than the heroic adventures of medieval [[Romance (heroic literature)\|Romance]]. These adventures, however, often revolved about a knight's feats on behalf of a lady, and so the modern themes of love were quickly woven into them, as in [[Chrétien de Troyes]]'s ''[[Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart]]''.<ref>C.S Lewis, ''The Allegory of Love'', p 19 {{ISBN\|0-19-281220-3}}</ref>		It was not until the creation of [[Courtly love\|romantic love]] in the western European [[Middle Ages\|medieval]] period, though, that "romance" came to refer to "romantic love" situations, rather than the heroic adventures of medieval [[Romance (heroic literature)\|Romance]]. These adventures, however, often revolved about a knight's feats on behalf of a lady, and so the modern themes of love were quickly woven into them, as in [[Chrétien de Troyes]]'s ''[[Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart]]''.<ref>C.S Lewis, ''The Allegory of Love'', p 19 {{ISBN\|0-19-281220-3}}</ref>

	[[Shakespearean comedy]] and [[Restoration comedy]] remain influential. The creation of huge economic social strata in the [[Gilded Age]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}}, combined with the heightened openness about sex after the [[Victorian era]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} and the celebration of [[Sigmund Freud]]'s theories, and the birth of the film industry in the early twentieth century, gave birth to the [[screwball comedy films\|screwball comedy]].{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} As class consciousness declined and [[World War II]] unified various social orders, the savage screwball comedies of the twenties and thirties, proceeding through [[Rock Hudson]]~~–[[Doris~~ Day]]-style comedies, gave way to more innocuous comedies.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} In 1972 ''[[What's Up, Doc? (1972 film)\|What's Up, Doc?]]'' was a success, although the film follows the conventions of the screwball comedy, as its tagline confirms: "A Screwball Comedy. Remember them?".		[[Shakespearean comedy]] and [[Restoration comedy]] remain influential. The creation of huge economic social strata in the [[Gilded Age]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}}, combined with the heightened openness about sex after the [[Victorian era]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} and the celebration of [[Sigmund Freud]]'s theories, and the birth of the film industry in the early twentieth century, gave birth to the [[screwball comedy films\|screwball comedy]].{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} As class consciousness declined and [[World War II]] unified various social orders, the savage screwball comedies of the twenties and thirties, proceeding through [[Rock Hudson]]–Doris Day-style comedies, gave way to more innocuous comedies.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} In 1972 ''[[What's Up, Doc? (1972 film)\|What's Up, Doc?]]'' was a success, although the film follows the conventions of the screwball comedy, as its tagline confirms: "A Screwball Comedy. Remember them?".
	The more sexually charged ''[[When Harry Met Sally]]'' had a successful box office run in 1989, paving the way for a rebirth for the Hollywood romantic comedy in the mid-1990s.		The more sexually charged ''[[When Harry Met Sally]]'' had a successful box office run in 1989, paving the way for a rebirth for the Hollywood romantic comedy in the mid-1990s.

	The ~~[[Cinema of France\|~~French film industry]] went in a completely different direction, with less inhibitions about sex.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} [[Virginia Woolf]], tired of stories that ended in '[[Happy ending\|happily ever after]]' at the beginning of a serious relationship, called ''[[Middlemarch]]'' by [[George Eliot]], with its portrayal of a difficult marriage, "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people."		The French film industry went in a completely different direction, with less inhibitions about sex.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} [[Virginia Woolf]], tired of stories that ended in '[[Happy ending\|happily ever after]]' at the beginning of a serious relationship, called ''[[Middlemarch]]'' by [[George Eliot]], with its portrayal of a difficult marriage, "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people."
	== Effects ==		== Effects ==
	=== On society today ===		=== On society today ===
Line 62:		Line 62:
	A study was conducted at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to understand this phenomenon. They studied 40 top box-office films released between 1995 and 2005 to establish common themes. Then they asked hundreds of people to complete a questionnaire to describe their beliefs and expectations in romantic relationships. Researchers found that people who enjoyed movies such as ''[[You've Got Mail\|You’ve Got Mail]]'', ''[[The Wedding Planner]]'', and ''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)\|While You Were Sleeping]]'' often failed to communicate with their partners effectively. They also believe that if someone is meant to be with you, then they should know your needs without you telling them. Although this study is just one of a handful, it shows a correlation of how people's expectations are distorted through watching romantic comedies.<ref name="Harrell"/>		A study was conducted at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to understand this phenomenon. They studied 40 top box-office films released between 1995 and 2005 to establish common themes. Then they asked hundreds of people to complete a questionnaire to describe their beliefs and expectations in romantic relationships. Researchers found that people who enjoyed movies such as ''[[You've Got Mail\|You’ve Got Mail]]'', ''[[The Wedding Planner]]'', and ''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)\|While You Were Sleeping]]'' often failed to communicate with their partners effectively. They also believe that if someone is meant to be with you, then they should know your needs without you telling them. Although this study is just one of a handful, it shows a correlation of how people's expectations are distorted through watching romantic comedies.<ref name="Harrell"/>
	==See also==		==See also==
	* [[Bromantic comedy]]		* Bromantic comedy
	* [[Situational comedy]] or "sitcom"		* Situational comedy or "sitcom"
	* [[Chick flick]]		* Chick flick
	* [[List of romantic comedy films]]		* List of romantic comedy films
	* [[List of romantic comedy television series]]		* List of romantic comedy television series
	==References==		==References==
	{{Reflist\|30em}}		{{Reflist\|30em}}
Line 74:		Line 74:
	*[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=romanticcomedy.htm Romantic Comedy Movies] – Top 290 (1978–present) by [[Box Office Mojo]]		*[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=romanticcomedy.htm Romantic Comedy Movies] – Top 290 (1978–present) by [[Box Office Mojo]]
	*[https://www.imdb.com/chart/romance Top Rated Romance Titles] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221160701/http://www.imdb.com/chart/romance/ \|date=2016-12-21 }} by IMDB		*[https://www.imdb.com/chart/romance Top Rated Romance Titles] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221160701/http://www.imdb.com/chart/romance/ \|date=2016-12-21 }} by IMDB
			*[https://qzlyrics.com/romantic-song-lyrics/ Romantic Song Lyrics]
	{{Film genres}}		{{Film genres}}
	{{Comedy footer}}		{{Comedy footer}}

WikiDwarf at 12:51, 24 November 2021

2021-11-24T12:51:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:21, 24 November 2021
Line 50:		Line 50:
	It was not until the creation of [[Courtly love\|romantic love]] in the western European [[Middle Ages\|medieval]] period, though, that "romance" came to refer to "romantic love" situations, rather than the heroic adventures of medieval [[Romance (heroic literature)\|Romance]]. These adventures, however, often revolved about a knight's feats on behalf of a lady, and so the modern themes of love were quickly woven into them, as in [[Chrétien de Troyes]]'s ''[[Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart]]''.<ref>C.S Lewis, ''The Allegory of Love'', p 19 {{ISBN\|0-19-281220-3}}</ref>		It was not until the creation of [[Courtly love\|romantic love]] in the western European [[Middle Ages\|medieval]] period, though, that "romance" came to refer to "romantic love" situations, rather than the heroic adventures of medieval [[Romance (heroic literature)\|Romance]]. These adventures, however, often revolved about a knight's feats on behalf of a lady, and so the modern themes of love were quickly woven into them, as in [[Chrétien de Troyes]]'s ''[[Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart]]''.<ref>C.S Lewis, ''The Allegory of Love'', p 19 {{ISBN\|0-19-281220-3}}</ref>

	[[Shakespearean comedy]] and [[Restoration comedy]] remain influential. The creation of huge economic social strata in the [[Gilded Age]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}}, combined with the heightened openness about sex after the [[Victorian era]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} and the celebration of [[Sigmund Freud]]'s theories, and the birth of the film industry in the early twentieth century, gave birth to the [[screwball comedy films\|screwball comedy]].{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} As class consciousness declined and [[World War II]] unified various social orders, the savage screwball comedies of the twenties and thirties, proceeding through [[Rock Hudson]]~~–Doris~~ Day-style comedies, gave way to more innocuous comedies.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} In 1972 ''[[What's Up, Doc? (1972 film)\|What's Up, Doc?]]'' was a success, although the film follows the conventions of the screwball comedy, as its tagline confirms: "A Screwball Comedy. Remember them?".		[[Shakespearean comedy]] and [[Restoration comedy]] remain influential. The creation of huge economic social strata in the [[Gilded Age]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}}, combined with the heightened openness about sex after the [[Victorian era]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} and the celebration of [[Sigmund Freud]]'s theories, and the birth of the film industry in the early twentieth century, gave birth to the [[screwball comedy films\|screwball comedy]].{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} As class consciousness declined and [[World War II]] unified various social orders, the savage screwball comedies of the twenties and thirties, proceeding through [[Rock Hudson]]–[[Doris Day]]-style comedies, gave way to more innocuous comedies.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} In 1972 ''[[What's Up, Doc? (1972 film)\|What's Up, Doc?]]'' was a success, although the film follows the conventions of the screwball comedy, as its tagline confirms: "A Screwball Comedy. Remember them?".
	The more sexually charged ''[[When Harry Met Sally]]'' had a successful box office run in 1989, paving the way for a rebirth for the Hollywood romantic comedy in the mid-1990s.		The more sexually charged ''[[When Harry Met Sally]]'' had a successful box office run in 1989, paving the way for a rebirth for the Hollywood romantic comedy in the mid-1990s.

	The French film industry went in a completely different direction, with less inhibitions about sex.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} [[Virginia Woolf]], tired of stories that ended in '[[Happy ending\|happily ever after]]' at the beginning of a serious relationship, called ''[[Middlemarch]]'' by [[George Eliot]], with its portrayal of a difficult marriage, "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people."		The [[Cinema of France\|French film industry]] went in a completely different direction, with less inhibitions about sex.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} [[Virginia Woolf]], tired of stories that ended in '[[Happy ending\|happily ever after]]' at the beginning of a serious relationship, called ''[[Middlemarch]]'' by [[George Eliot]], with its portrayal of a difficult marriage, "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people."
	== Effects ==		== Effects ==
	=== On society today ===		=== On society today ===
Line 62:		Line 62:
	A study was conducted at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to understand this phenomenon. They studied 40 top box-office films released between 1995 and 2005 to establish common themes. Then they asked hundreds of people to complete a questionnaire to describe their beliefs and expectations in romantic relationships. Researchers found that people who enjoyed movies such as ''[[You've Got Mail\|You’ve Got Mail]]'', ''[[The Wedding Planner]]'', and ''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)\|While You Were Sleeping]]'' often failed to communicate with their partners effectively. They also believe that if someone is meant to be with you, then they should know your needs without you telling them. Although this study is just one of a handful, it shows a correlation of how people's expectations are distorted through watching romantic comedies.<ref name="Harrell"/>		A study was conducted at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to understand this phenomenon. They studied 40 top box-office films released between 1995 and 2005 to establish common themes. Then they asked hundreds of people to complete a questionnaire to describe their beliefs and expectations in romantic relationships. Researchers found that people who enjoyed movies such as ''[[You've Got Mail\|You’ve Got Mail]]'', ''[[The Wedding Planner]]'', and ''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)\|While You Were Sleeping]]'' often failed to communicate with their partners effectively. They also believe that if someone is meant to be with you, then they should know your needs without you telling them. Although this study is just one of a handful, it shows a correlation of how people's expectations are distorted through watching romantic comedies.<ref name="Harrell"/>
	==See also==		==See also==
	* Bromantic comedy		* [[Bromantic comedy]]
	* Situational comedy or "sitcom"		* [[Situational comedy]] or "sitcom"
	* Chick flick		* [[Chick flick]]
	* List of romantic comedy films		* [[List of romantic comedy films]]
	* List of romantic comedy television series		* [[List of romantic comedy television series]]
	==References==		==References==
	{{Reflist\|30em}}		{{Reflist\|30em}}
Line 74:		Line 74:
	*[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=romanticcomedy.htm Romantic Comedy Movies] – Top 290 (1978–present) by [[Box Office Mojo]]		*[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=romanticcomedy.htm Romantic Comedy Movies] – Top 290 (1978–present) by [[Box Office Mojo]]
	*[https://www.imdb.com/chart/romance Top Rated Romance Titles] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221160701/http://www.imdb.com/chart/romance/ \|date=2016-12-21 }} by IMDB		*[https://www.imdb.com/chart/romance Top Rated Romance Titles] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221160701/http://www.imdb.com/chart/romance/ \|date=2016-12-21 }} by IMDB
	*[https://qzlyrics.com/romantic-song-lyrics/ Romantic Song Lyrics]
	{{Film genres}}		{{Film genres}}
	{{Comedy footer}}		{{Comedy footer}}

CentDog at 11:58, 24 November 2021

2021-11-24T11:58:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:28, 24 November 2021
Line 50:		Line 50:
	It was not until the creation of [[Courtly love\|romantic love]] in the western European [[Middle Ages\|medieval]] period, though, that "romance" came to refer to "romantic love" situations, rather than the heroic adventures of medieval [[Romance (heroic literature)\|Romance]]. These adventures, however, often revolved about a knight's feats on behalf of a lady, and so the modern themes of love were quickly woven into them, as in [[Chrétien de Troyes]]'s ''[[Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart]]''.<ref>C.S Lewis, ''The Allegory of Love'', p 19 {{ISBN\|0-19-281220-3}}</ref>		It was not until the creation of [[Courtly love\|romantic love]] in the western European [[Middle Ages\|medieval]] period, though, that "romance" came to refer to "romantic love" situations, rather than the heroic adventures of medieval [[Romance (heroic literature)\|Romance]]. These adventures, however, often revolved about a knight's feats on behalf of a lady, and so the modern themes of love were quickly woven into them, as in [[Chrétien de Troyes]]'s ''[[Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart]]''.<ref>C.S Lewis, ''The Allegory of Love'', p 19 {{ISBN\|0-19-281220-3}}</ref>

	[[Shakespearean comedy]] and [[Restoration comedy]] remain influential. The creation of huge economic social strata in the [[Gilded Age]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}}, combined with the heightened openness about sex after the [[Victorian era]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} and the celebration of [[Sigmund Freud]]'s theories, and the birth of the film industry in the early twentieth century, gave birth to the [[screwball comedy films\|screwball comedy]].{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} As class consciousness declined and [[World War II]] unified various social orders, the savage screwball comedies of the twenties and thirties, proceeding through [[Rock Hudson]]~~–[[Doris~~ Day]]-style comedies, gave way to more innocuous comedies.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} In 1972 ''[[What's Up, Doc? (1972 film)\|What's Up, Doc?]]'' was a success, although the film follows the conventions of the screwball comedy, as its tagline confirms: "A Screwball Comedy. Remember them?".		[[Shakespearean comedy]] and [[Restoration comedy]] remain influential. The creation of huge economic social strata in the [[Gilded Age]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}}, combined with the heightened openness about sex after the [[Victorian era]]{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} and the celebration of [[Sigmund Freud]]'s theories, and the birth of the film industry in the early twentieth century, gave birth to the [[screwball comedy films\|screwball comedy]].{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} As class consciousness declined and [[World War II]] unified various social orders, the savage screwball comedies of the twenties and thirties, proceeding through [[Rock Hudson]]–Doris Day-style comedies, gave way to more innocuous comedies.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} In 1972 ''[[What's Up, Doc? (1972 film)\|What's Up, Doc?]]'' was a success, although the film follows the conventions of the screwball comedy, as its tagline confirms: "A Screwball Comedy. Remember them?".
	The more sexually charged ''[[When Harry Met Sally]]'' had a successful box office run in 1989, paving the way for a rebirth for the Hollywood romantic comedy in the mid-1990s.		The more sexually charged ''[[When Harry Met Sally]]'' had a successful box office run in 1989, paving the way for a rebirth for the Hollywood romantic comedy in the mid-1990s.

	The ~~[[Cinema of France\|~~French film industry]] went in a completely different direction, with less inhibitions about sex.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} [[Virginia Woolf]], tired of stories that ended in '[[Happy ending\|happily ever after]]' at the beginning of a serious relationship, called ''[[Middlemarch]]'' by [[George Eliot]], with its portrayal of a difficult marriage, "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people."		The French film industry went in a completely different direction, with less inhibitions about sex.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2007}} [[Virginia Woolf]], tired of stories that ended in '[[Happy ending\|happily ever after]]' at the beginning of a serious relationship, called ''[[Middlemarch]]'' by [[George Eliot]], with its portrayal of a difficult marriage, "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people."
	== Effects ==		== Effects ==
	=== On society today ===		=== On society today ===
Line 62:		Line 62:
	A study was conducted at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to understand this phenomenon. They studied 40 top box-office films released between 1995 and 2005 to establish common themes. Then they asked hundreds of people to complete a questionnaire to describe their beliefs and expectations in romantic relationships. Researchers found that people who enjoyed movies such as ''[[You've Got Mail\|You’ve Got Mail]]'', ''[[The Wedding Planner]]'', and ''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)\|While You Were Sleeping]]'' often failed to communicate with their partners effectively. They also believe that if someone is meant to be with you, then they should know your needs without you telling them. Although this study is just one of a handful, it shows a correlation of how people's expectations are distorted through watching romantic comedies.<ref name="Harrell"/>		A study was conducted at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to understand this phenomenon. They studied 40 top box-office films released between 1995 and 2005 to establish common themes. Then they asked hundreds of people to complete a questionnaire to describe their beliefs and expectations in romantic relationships. Researchers found that people who enjoyed movies such as ''[[You've Got Mail\|You’ve Got Mail]]'', ''[[The Wedding Planner]]'', and ''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)\|While You Were Sleeping]]'' often failed to communicate with their partners effectively. They also believe that if someone is meant to be with you, then they should know your needs without you telling them. Although this study is just one of a handful, it shows a correlation of how people's expectations are distorted through watching romantic comedies.<ref name="Harrell"/>
	==See also==		==See also==
	* [[Bromantic comedy]]		* Bromantic comedy
	* [[Situational comedy]] or "sitcom"		* Situational comedy or "sitcom"
	* [[Chick flick]]		* Chick flick
	* [[List of romantic comedy films]]		* List of romantic comedy films
	* [[List of romantic comedy television series]]		* List of romantic comedy television series
	==References==		==References==
	{{Reflist\|30em}}		{{Reflist\|30em}}
Line 74:		Line 74:
	*[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=romanticcomedy.htm Romantic Comedy Movies] – Top 290 (1978–present) by [[Box Office Mojo]]		*[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=romanticcomedy.htm Romantic Comedy Movies] – Top 290 (1978–present) by [[Box Office Mojo]]
	*[https://www.imdb.com/chart/romance Top Rated Romance Titles] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221160701/http://www.imdb.com/chart/romance/ \|date=2016-12-21 }} by IMDB		*[https://www.imdb.com/chart/romance Top Rated Romance Titles] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221160701/http://www.imdb.com/chart/romance/ \|date=2016-12-21 }} by IMDB
	*R[https://qzlyrics.com/romantic-song-lyrics/ ~~omantic~~ Song Lyrics]		*[https://qzlyrics.com/romantic-song-lyrics/ Romantic Song Lyrics]
	{{Film genres}}		{{Film genres}}
	{{Comedy footer}}		{{Comedy footer}}

CentDog at 11:57, 24 November 2021

2021-11-24T11:57:13Z

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[[File:Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell in The Seven Year Itch trailer 2.JPG|thumb|right|upright=1.4|[[Marilyn Monroe]] and [[Tom Ewell]] in the ''[[The Seven Year Itch|Seven Year Itch]]'' (1955) trailer.]]
'''Romantic comedy''' (also known as '''romcom''' or '''rom-com''') is a subgenre of comedy and slice-of-life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how [[Romance (love)|true love]] is able to surmount most obstacles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.storyispromise.com/wromance.htm|title=The Art of the Romantic Comedy|last=Johnson|first=Bill|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910202127/http://www.storyispromise.com/wromance.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-10}}</ref> One dictionary definition is "a funny movie, play, or television program about a love story that ends happily".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/romantic-comedy|title=romantic comedy (noun) American English definition and synonyms - Macmillan Dictionary|website=www.macmillandictionary.com}}</ref> Another definition suggests that its "primary distinguishing feature is a love plot in which two sympathetic and well-matched lovers are united or reconciled".<ref name="depaul.edu">{{cite web|url=http://condor.depaul.edu/dsimpson/tlove/comic-tragic.html|title=Comedy and Tragedy}}</ref>

Romantic comedy films are a certain genre of [[comedy film]]s as well as of [[romance film]]s, and may also have elements of [[screwball comedy film|screwball comedies]]. However, a romantic comedy is classified as a film with two genres, not a single new genre.<ref>Romantic comedy: boy meets girl meets genre. Tamar Jeffers McDonald. Wallflower Press, 2007. p.3</ref> Some television series can also be classified as romantic comedies.

In a typical romantic comedy the two lovers tend to be young, likeable, and seemingly meant for each other, yet they are kept apart by some complicating circumstance (e.g., class differences, parental interference, a previous girlfriend or boyfriend) until, surmounting all obstacles, they are finally united. A fairy-tale-style happy ending is a typical feature.<ref name="depaul.edu" />

==Description==
{{essay | section | date=February 2011}}
[[File:Kathryn Grayson in Seven Sweethearts.jpg|thumb|[[Kathryn Grayson]] in ''[[Seven Sweethearts]]'' (1942), a musical romantic comedy film]]
The basic plot of a [[Romance film|romantic]] [[comedy]] is that two characters [[meet cute|meet]], part ways due to an argument or other obstacle, then ultimately realize their love for one another and reunite. Sometimes the two leads meet and become involved initially, then must confront challenges to their union. Sometimes they are hesitant to become romantically involved because they believe that they do not like each other, because one of them already has a partner, or because of social pressures. However, the screenwriters leave clues that suggest that the characters are, in fact, attracted to each other and that they would be a good love match. The protagonists often separate or seek time apart to sort out their feelings or deal with the external obstacles to their being together, only to later come back together.

While the two protagonists are separated, one or both of them usually realizes that they love the other person. Then, one party makes some extravagant effort (sometimes called a ''grand gesture'') to find the other person and declare their love. This is not always the case as sometimes there is an astonishing coincidental encounter where the two meet again. Or one plans a sweet romantic gesture to show that they still care. Then, perhaps with some comic friction or awkwardness, they declare their love for each other and the [[happy ending|film ends on a happy note]]. Even though it is implied that they live a happily ever after, it does not always state what that happy ending will be. The couple does not necessarily get married, or even live together for it to be a "happily ever after". The ending of a romantic comedy is meant to affirm the primary importance of the love relationship in its protagonists' lives, even if they physically separate in the end (e.g. ''[[Shakespeare in Love]]'', ''[[Roman Holiday]]'').<ref>Mernit, Billy. ''Writing the Romantic Comedy'' ([[Harper Collins]], 2000) </ref> Most of the time the ending gives the audience a sense that if it is true love, it will always prevail no matter what is thrown in the way.

There are many variations on this basic plot line. Sometimes, instead of the two lead characters ending up in each other's arms, another love match will be made between one of the principal characters and a secondary character (e.g., ''[[My Best Friend's Wedding]]'' and ''[[My Super Ex-Girlfriend]]''). Alternatively, the film may be a rumination on the impossibility of love, as in [[Woody Allen]]'s film ''[[Annie Hall]].'' The basic format of a romantic comedy film can be found in much earlier sources, such as [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] plays like ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'' and ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''.

The convention underlying a romance book or film is that there are two people, normally male and a female, who fall in love with each other. They have a good situation going on for a while, but then the couple finds a major obstacle in their way, which usually starts to pull them apart or makes one of them leave. Before they can overcome this obstacle, one (or both) realizes that they are perfect for each other and proclaims their love for the other. The films usually end with the couple either getting married, engaged, or giving some indication that they live "happily ever after".

==Evolution and subgenres==

Over the years, romantic comedies have slowly been becoming more popular to both males and females. They have begun to spread out of their conventional and traditional structure into other territory. This territory explores more [[subgenre]]s and more complex topics. These films still follow the typical plot of "a light and humorous movie, play, etc., whose central plot is a happy love story"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/romantic+comedy|title=Romantic comedy – Define Romantic comedy at Dictionary.com|work=Dictionary.com}}</ref> but with more complexity. These are a few ways romantic comedies are adding more subtlety and complexity into the genre. Two ways they are adding to the complexity are through the general obstacles that come between the couple and the general morals that the characters feel throughout the entire film.

===Extreme circumstances===
Some romantic comedies have adopted extreme or strange circumstances for the main characters, as in ''[[Warm Bodies (film)|Warm Bodies]]'' where the protagonist is a zombie who falls in love with a human girl after eating her boyfriend. The effect of their love towards each other is that it starts spreading to the other zombies and even starts to cure them. With the zombie cure, the two main characters can now be together since they don't have that barrier between them anymore.<ref>{{cite book |first=Bill |last=Johnson |title=The Art of the Romantic Comedy |url=http://www.storyispromise.com/wromance.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306101425/http://www.storyispromise.com/wromance.htm |archive-date=6 March 2012 |access-date=13 February 2019 |work=A Story is a Promise}}</ref> Another strange set of circumstances is in ''[[Zack and Miri Make a Porno]]'' where the two protagonists are building a relationship while trying to make a [[Pornographic film|porno]] together. Both these films take the typical story arc and then add strange circumstances to add [[originality]].

===Flipping conventions===
Other romantic comedies flip the standard conventions of the romantic comedy genre. In films like ''[[500 Days of Summer]]'', the two main interests do not end up together, leaving the protagonist somewhat distraught. Other films like ''[[Adam (2009 film)|Adam]]'' have the two main interests end up separated but still content and pursuing other goals and love interests.

===Reversing gender roles===
Some romantic comedies use reversal of gender roles to add comedic effect.<ref>The Big romance of Something Wild?: romantic comedy today</ref> These films contain characters who possess qualities that diverge from the gender role that society has imposed upon them, as seen in ''[[Forgetting Sarah Marshall]]'' in which the male protagonist is especially in touch with his emotions, and ''[[Made of Honor]]'' in which the female bridesmaids are shown in a negative and somewhat masculine light in order to advance the likability of the male lead.<ref>Guys Are the New Girls</ref>

===Serious elements===
Other remakes of romantic comedies involve similar elements, but explore more adult themes such as marriage, responsibility, or even disability. Two films by [[Judd Apatow]], ''[[This Is 40]]'' and ''[[Knocked Up]]'', deal with these issues. ''This Is 40'' chronicles the mid-life crisis of a couple entering their 40s, and ''Knocked Up'' addresses unintended pregnancy and the ensuing assuming of responsibility. ''[[Silver Linings Playbook]]'' deals with [[mental illness]] and the courage to start a new relationship.

All of these go against the [[stereotype]] of what romantic comedy has become as a genre. Yet the genre of romantic comedy is simply a [[structure]], and all of these elements do not negate the fact that these films are still romantic comedies.

==Contrived romantic encounters: the "meet cute"==

One of the conventions of romantic comedy films is the entertainment factor in a contrived encounter of two potential romantic partners in unusual or comic circumstances, which film critics such as [[Roger Ebert]]<ref>{{cite web |quote=She has a Meet-Cute (three, actually) with Prince Charmont (Hugh Dancy) |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=Ella Enchanted |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040409/REVIEWS/404090304/1023 |date=18 April 2004 |access-date=13 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040907034225/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20040409%2FREVIEWS%2F404090304%2F1023 |archive-date=7 September 2004 |work=[[RogerEbert.com]] |url-status=live }}</ref> or the Associated Press' [[Christy Lemire]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Review: McGregor, Plummer delight in 'Beginners' |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110601/ap_en_mo/us_film_review_beginners |access-date=June 20, 2011 |work=[[Yahoo! News]] |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] }}{{dead link|date=August 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> have called a "meet-cute" situation. During a "meet-cute", scriptwriters often create a humorous sense of awkwardness between the two potential partners by depicting an initial [[clash of personalities]] or beliefs, an embarrassing situation, or by introducing a comical misunderstanding or mistaken identity situation. Sometimes the term is used without a hyphen (a "meet cute"), or as a verb ("to meet cute").

Roger Ebert describes the "concept of a Meet Cute" as "when boy meets girl in a cute way." As an example, he cites "The Meet Cute in ''[[Lost and Found (1979 film)|Lost and Found]]'' [which] has [[Glenda Jackson|Jackson]] and [[George Segal|Segal]] running their cars into each other in Switzerland. Once recovered, they Meet Cute again when they run into each other while on skis. Eventually,... they fall in love."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19790628/REVIEWS/906280301/1023 |title=Lost and Found |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=28 June 1979 |work=[[RogerEbert.com]] |access-date=13 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060803055827/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19790628%2FREVIEWS%2F906280301%2F1023 |archive-date=3 August 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In many romantic comedies, the potential couple comprises polar opposites, two people of different temperaments, situations, social statuses, or all three (''[[It Happened One Night]]''), who would not meet or talk under normal circumstances, and the meet cute's contrived situation provides the opportunity for these two people to meet.

===Use of "meet cute" situations===

Certain movies are entirely driven by the meet-cute situation, and contrived circumstances throw the couple together for much of the screenplay. However, movies in which the contrived situation is the main feature, such as ''[[Some Like It Hot]]'', rather than the romance being the main feature, are not considered "meet-cutes".

The use of the meet-cute is less marked in television series and novels, because these formats have more time to establish and develop romantic relationships. In situation comedies, relationships are static and meet-cute is not necessary, though flashbacks may recall one (''[[The Dick Van Dyke Show]]'', ''[[Mad About You]]'') and lighter fare may require contrived romantic meetings.

The heyday of "meet cute" in films was during the [[Great Depression]] in the 1930s; [[screwball comedy]] films made a heavy use of contrived romantic "meet cutes", perhaps because the more rigid [[class consciousness]] and class divisions of this period made cross-social class romances into tantalizing fantasies.

==History==
{{More citations needed|date=June 2007}}

The ''Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms'' defines romantic comedy as "a general term for comedies that deal mainly with the follies and misunderstandings of young lovers, in a light‐hearted and happily concluded manner which usually avoids serious satire". This reference states that the "best‐known examples are Shakespeare's comedies of the late 1590s, ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'', ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', and ''[[As You Like It]]'' being the most purely romantic, while ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'' approaches the [[comedy of manners]] and ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'' is closer to [[tragicomedy]]."<ref>Cited in Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/romantic-comedy-1 Accessed June 20, 2011</ref>

Comedies since [[Ancient Greek comedy|ancient Greece]] have often incorporated sexual or social elements.

It was not until the creation of [[Courtly love|romantic love]] in the western European [[Middle Ages|medieval]] period, though, that "romance" came to refer to "romantic love" situations, rather than the heroic adventures of medieval [[Romance (heroic literature)|Romance]]. These adventures, however, often revolved about a knight's feats on behalf of a lady, and so the modern themes of love were quickly woven into them, as in [[Chrétien de Troyes]]'s ''[[Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart]]''.<ref>C.S Lewis, ''The Allegory of Love'', p 19 {{ISBN|0-19-281220-3}}</ref>

[[Shakespearean comedy]] and [[Restoration comedy]] remain influential. The creation of huge economic social strata in the [[Gilded Age]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}}, combined with the heightened openness about sex after the [[Victorian era]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} and the celebration of [[Sigmund Freud]]'s theories, and the birth of the film industry in the early twentieth century, gave birth to the [[screwball comedy films|screwball comedy]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} As class consciousness declined and [[World War II]] unified various social orders, the savage screwball comedies of the twenties and thirties, proceeding through [[Rock Hudson]]–[[Doris Day]]-style comedies, gave way to more innocuous comedies.{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} In 1972 ''[[What's Up, Doc? (1972 film)|What's Up, Doc?]]'' was a success, although the film follows the conventions of the screwball comedy, as its tagline confirms: "A Screwball Comedy. Remember them?".
The more sexually charged ''[[When Harry Met Sally]]'' had a successful box office run in 1989, paving the way for a rebirth for the Hollywood romantic comedy in the mid-1990s.

The [[Cinema of France|French film industry]] went in a completely different direction, with less inhibitions about sex.{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} [[Virginia Woolf]], tired of stories that ended in '[[Happy ending|happily ever after]]' at the beginning of a serious relationship, called ''[[Middlemarch]]'' by [[George Eliot]], with its portrayal of a difficult marriage, "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people."

== Effects ==

=== On society today ===
With the increase of romantic comedy movies, there has been an apparent change in the way society views romance. Researchers<ref name="Harrell">{{Cite news |title=Are Romantic Movies Bad For You? |url=http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1868389,00.html |magazine=[[TIME]] |date=23 December 2008 |access-date=13 October 2015 |issn=0040-781X |first=Eben |last=Harrell |publisher=[[Time Inc.]]}}</ref> are asking whether the romances projected in romantic comedies are preventing true love in real life. The increase in use of technology has also led the society to spend a great amount of time engaging in mediated reality and less time with each other. Even though researchers have only started to explore the impact of romantic comedy films on human romance, the few studies conducted have already shown correlation between romantic comedies and the love delusion. Romantic comedies are very popular. They depict relationships that some scholars think affect how people view relationships outside of this virtual world.

=== The illusion of love ===

In the past, love has not always been the real reason for people coming together. In some cultures,<ref name="Does Media Distort Love">{{cite journal |title=Does Media Distort Love? |url=http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationship/features/25275-distorting-love |journal=[[Relevant Magazine]] |access-date=13 October 2015 |date=13 April 2011 |archive-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003145840/http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationship/features/25275-distorting-love |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[arranged marriage]]s were common to adhere to and propagate caste systems or to join kingdoms. Today, love is the root of all romance, and it is over-emphasized through these films. It tells viewers that love conquers all and will ultimately bring a never-ending happiness that is rarely affected by any conflict. When people do not experience the romance portrayed in these movies, they often wonder what they are doing wrong. Although people should be able to tell between an overly romanticized love and realistic love, they are often caught up in constantly trying to echo the stories they see on screen.<ref name="Does Media Distort Love"/> While most know that the idea of a perfect relationship is unrealistic, some perceptions of love are heavily influenced by media portrayals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Romantic comedies make us 'unrealistic about relationships', claim scientists |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3776923/Romantic-comedies-make-us-unrealistic-about-relationships-claim-scientists.html |newspaper=[[Telegraph.co.uk]] |access-date=13 October 2015 |first=Richard |last=Alleyne |date=15 December 2018 |publisher=[[Telegraph Media Group Limited]]}}</ref>

=== Conducted research ===
A study was conducted at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to understand this phenomenon. They studied 40 top box-office films released between 1995 and 2005 to establish common themes. Then they asked hundreds of people to complete a questionnaire to describe their beliefs and expectations in romantic relationships. Researchers found that people who enjoyed movies such as ''[[You've Got Mail|You’ve Got Mail]]'', ''[[The Wedding Planner]]'', and ''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)|While You Were Sleeping]]'' often failed to communicate with their partners effectively. They also believe that if someone is meant to be with you, then they should know your needs without you telling them. Although this study is just one of a handful, it shows a correlation of how people's expectations are distorted through watching romantic comedies.<ref name="Harrell"/>

==See also==
* [[Bromantic comedy]]
* [[Situational comedy]] or "sitcom"
* [[Chick flick]]
* [[List of romantic comedy films]]
* [[List of romantic comedy television series]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/series/RomanticComedy.php Romantic Comedy Movies] – from the 1940s to future releases, with box office performance The Numbers
*[http://www.the-numbers.com/market/Genres/RomanticComedy.php Market Performance of Romantic Comedies in United States] – year-by-year analysis of box office performance of romantic comedies The Numbers
*[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=romanticcomedy.htm Romantic Comedy Movies] – Top 290 (1978–present) by [[Box Office Mojo]]
*[https://www.imdb.com/chart/romance Top Rated Romance Titles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221160701/http://www.imdb.com/chart/romance/ |date=2016-12-21 }} by IMDB

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[[Category:Romantic comedy| ]]
[[Category:Romantic comedy films| ]]
[[Category:Film genres]]
[[Category:Interpersonal relationships]]