Romantic Comedy: a movie that deals with love in a light, humorous way.
Rom-Coms, oh how we love them. Some (us) might even say they are the best movies. In the sea of Amazing ones, a few don’t stack up. We at TeenAged have compiled some rules that every enjoyable rom-com should follow
Rule 1: Swoon-Worthy Love Interest(s)
For a good rom-com, you need a love interest so you can understand why the main character wants to be with them. You don’t have to find the actor attractive, but the character needs to be written in an attractive/dreamy way. You need to see yourself crushing on them and imagining being in a relationship with them so you can understand why the main character is going through all these steps to be with them. If the character seems weird or just plain mean (and not in an “enemies to lovers” way), then why would the main character want to get together with them? And why would you be interested in the movie?
Rule 2: A Likable and Relatable Main Character
A funny, relatable main character is a perfect ingredient for your rom-com delight. If you have a pick-me, mean, annoying, or just plain bad person as the main character, why would anyone root for them or want to sit through a movie where they win? Writers, make sure your character is witty, charming, and fun. If your character is mean, it has to be done in the right way. You need to somewhat understand why they are mean, such as Kat Stratford from 10 Things I Hate About You, who is mean at times but is still a beloved rom-com character.
Rule 3: A Good Trope/Plot
A good rom-com needs a good plot. Most rom-coms follow a trope such as fake dating, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, etc. But even with a good trope, it needs to be done well. If you have an enemies-to-lovers story, the characters need to actually be enemies, not just mildly annoyed acquaintances. It also needs to have good pacing. Most rom-coms follow a similar structure, where there’s a big downfall toward the end of the movie, and the characters break up for some reason, depending on the trope. So, you need to pace it well. If, at the beginning of the movie, they hate each other, they need to like each other by the third act so there can be a separation, and following that, a satisfying resolution.
Rule 4: Good Chemistry
An extremely important rule that’s often overlooked is good chemistry. You can’t make any type of romance media without good chemistry. It can be a bad plot, but amazing chemistry can help you forget it. Or, if the plot is really interesting but you don’t see the characters being in love, it can significantly reduce the quality.
Extra Credit: A Good Soundtrack
Not 100% necessary, but it always makes the movie better. If the movie is mediocre, a bomb soundtrack can really up its grade. The perfect soundtrack will make you associate the song with whatever scene plays alongside it, so definitely keep this in mind.
Extra Credit: Interesting Side Plot
Most rom-coms have a side plot that impacts the downfall, making the third act more “tragic.” Whether it’s losing your best friend or getting fired, not all rom-coms need a side plot, but if you are going to include one, it needs to be interesting, not just filler to make the movie longer.
In conclusion, follow these rules, and you’ll have an A+ rom-com that’s guaranteed to make everyone laugh, cry, and fall in love.