One of you murdered rom-coms, and I demand a resurrection
Attention, Attention. Hear ye, Hear ye. There has been a death in the family and y’all simply haven’t mourned properly. The rom-com has been dead and buried for what feels like lifetimes ago. Gen Z-ers have become the wise elders sharing the tale of what life was like before the war. And that just shouldn’t be. We should all be shaking in our boots to see the next 20s to 30s Hollywood starlets falling in love in New York City. But what happened? Who is to blame for the most tragic loss of the century?
The Golden Years
Just so we’re all up to speed, the thing that makes this all the most gruesome is that rom coms were very much so at their prime. With no hesitation, the 90s was just turning out classic after classic. “Ever After,” “Chasing Amy,” “Never Been Kissed,” “10 Things I Hate About You,” “She’s All That,” “Pretty Woman,” “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and “You’ve Got Mail” to name a few. Admittedly, some of those 90s options can feel formulaic at times. But they make up for it with the otherworldly warmth that fosters in the lives of these characters. You don’t just watch “Shooting Fish,” you want to be in “Shooting Fish.”
You want to be in a world that makes you feel like love is possible and just a few short coincidences away. And this escapism was turned to eleven in the 2000s. “Hitched,” “Enchanted,” “Just like Heaven,” “Love Actually,” “13 going on 30,” “The Sweetest Thing” and “Mamma Mia!” All of these are the officiated classics of the genre. They are equal parts fluff and heartwarming. This brings us back to our question. If these movies were flying off the reels every 2 months, then where did they go?
Let’s blame “District 9”
The word murder was used earlier, and although it is 100% true and a trial should have happened, it’s a little misleading. It wasn’t a person necessarily…it was “District 9.” At first glance, it may seem odd that a film from the science-fiction genre can affect rom-coms so much. But “District 9” was one of the first films of the decade, and it set the tone for the early 2010s. Audiences were seeking more grounded films. They wanted action, grit. The films of the future were going to care more about realism in their storytelling. Rom-coms are a lot of things, but realistic is not one of them. That’s why movies like “Fault in our Stars,” “The Specular Now,” “Carol” and “Call Me By Your Name” had a huge audience. Whereas something like “Always Be My Maybe” wasn’t particularly set up for success.
The Future Is Bright
Luckily though, that isn’t the end. As time goes on, people are growing more and more nostalgic for the golden years. And we’re even starting to see a resurgence of these movies being made. In particular, the career of Lana Condor, a young actress famous for her starring role in “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” has attracted a strong fanbase. Her latest release, “Moonshot” is also in the genre of romantic comedy.
Lana Condor, gives us hope. With the ever-growing cult following for rom-coms and the public demand for diversity in Hollywood, her work feels like the natural successor to the 90s rom-com. These movies are textbook escapism, but we love them nonetheless. We’re craving feel-good stories. We want to experience a resurrection of love in the cinemas. And here’s hoping we get it. May Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan bless our souls.
