I have a love-hate relationship with romantic comedies. Some films in this genre take the fairy tale fascination the world has to a totally unrealistic place. Yet it’s also great to find a good Rom-Com with characters that make you feel and laugh!
My (newest) personal favorite is Friends With Benefits. This was the first time I saw Mila Kunis outside of her 70s show persona and she was spectacular! She impersonated the perfect Rom-Com heroine: gutsy, hilarious, and vulnerable all in the span of 90 plus minutes. Her character paired with Justin Timberlake’s, who had relatable human faults, was perfect.
One of the many reasons I am a fan of this and other romantic comedies is that in the midst of the typical love storyline there are many real human elements. For instance in Friends with Benefits the movie includes a father-son relationship whose issues stem from Alzheimer. The fact that Justin’s character has trouble connecting the person his father was with the person without memories he is now is heartbreaking and inspiring all in one. The connection is eventually made but not without its own trying journey.
Romantic comedies also provide an incredible amount of laughs and insight. For instance, anything Jennifer Aniston is usually a rom-com and is usually funny and endearing. He’s Just Not That Into You was a great film because it played on women’s expectations of dating and how out of touch those expectations can be. It also bridged the gap between what is a fairytale nurtured expectation and what you really want out of a relationship, i.e. Jen Aniston’s desire to get engaged in the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJS-wWqVAyk
images found on imdb