Movies

Romantic comedy films (sometimes shortened to "Rom-coms") are a sub-genre of comedy films as well as of romance films.

The basic plot of a romantic comedy is that two people meet, banter with each other, but despite an attraction obvious to the audience do not become romantically involved because of some internal factor (on the surface, they do not like each other) or an external barrier (one is romantically involved with another person, for instance). At some point, after various comic scenes, they are parted for some reason. One partner or the other then realizes that they are perfect for each other, and (often after some spectacular effort, sometimes termed the Grand Gesture, and/or incredible coincidence) they meet again, they declare undying love for each other, and disappear off into the sunset together.

Of course, there are innumerable variations on this basic plotline. It is not necessary that the two lead characters end up in each other's arms (e.g. My Best Friend's Wedding). The film may be a rumination on the impossibility of love, as in Annie Hall, considered by many the apogee of the genre.

The basic format of a romantic comedy predates the cinema by centuries. For instance, many of William Shakespeare's plays, such as Much Ado About Nothing, and A Midsummer Night's Dream fall squarely within the bounds of the romantic comedy.

Romantic comedy films are sometimes derogatorily described as "chick flicks."

External links

• "The Art of the Romantic Comedy, an Essay by Bill Johnson"