The Rom Com Thread

Icky Mettle said:
When Harry Met Sally is a classic. Jerry Maguire is a great one. (500) Days of Summer is fantastic.
Click to expand...
Yes, those are all good. Harry Met Sally...che'fs kiss!

I actually just started watching Jerry Maguire for first time before I went home for Christmas. I made it about halfway through. Seems pretty good. Like LA Confidential (not a rom com, obviously, but basically same period). I may take it up again tonight, although got Notting Hill going here.
 
Bigs23 said:
High Fidelity is my all-time favorite.
Click to expand...
I see that people have Hugh Grant high on the list of romantic men. I personally think John Cusack KILLS in the role of an everyday guy figuring out romance and love. Serendipity, Must Love Dogs, Say Anything, and one of my all-time favorite movies Gross Pointe Blank, along with dozens of other quality films. And High Fidelity is also up there on my list. Both it and Gross Pointe Blank have terrific soundtracks.
 
MendotoManteo said:
I feel like the 90s was the high water mark. Been down hill ever since.
Click to expand...
For the sake of conversation, I'm going to disagree with this take on the history of romantic comedies. I think the high watermark are the so-called radical romcoms of the 1970s--not only Annie Hall, but also films like The Heartbreak Kid, Harold and Maude, An Unmarried Woman, and Minnie and Moskovitz. These films compete on ideas of sophistication--on the one hand, the Production Code has crashed, so sex can be taken seriously; on the other, competition from pornographic feature-films disables any easy turn to exploitation.

Granted, the Production Code was a restriction that could produce great results--see the screwball comedies of the 1930s. The wall of Jericho, my friend, are falling.

I think the worst era is the sex comedy of the 1950s and 1960s--think Doris Day and Rock Hudson.

As for the 1990s, I generally regard its films with cynicism, though there are exceptions. The era exploits the reflexivity of the 1970 romcoms--only recall the nonstop movie talk in Sleepless in Seattle or how its ending recapitulates An Affair to Remember. The real romance, it would seem, is between those films and Hollywood films of yore. And the era exploits greater openness about sex in general. But those prior innovations are embedded in a traditional narrative framework that gives us a happy ending against all odds. I find that combination to be off-putting and pandering.
 
Last edited:
MendotoManteo said:
You've Got Mail is the best. Honestly, I've watched it like 15 times or so, and every time something new is discovered. It's such a wonderful film. The thing that makes it so magnificent is that it's about friendship. True companionship. I think that's what makes a good rom com.

Anyhow, hit us with your best rom coms.

I feel like the 90s was the high water mark. Been down hill ever since.
Click to expand...
If it fits, my vote is for 40 year old virgin with second place going to wedding crashers.

I like rom coms but especially the ones more heavily on comedy.
 
My thoughts:

1. The best classic romantic comedy is L.A. Story. By "classic," I mean that both main characters are generally likeable and the obstacles to their relationship bliss are largely external. This one is Steve Martin's best movie, and bonus points for launching Sarah Jessica Parker. It's the perfect Steve Martin mix of high-brow and low-brow, except the high-brow is more prominent and that's good because I think Steve Martin is better at it (though it could just be my preference). Anyway, I've seen it a lot of times and I still laugh.

2. The best romantic comedy screenplay is As Good As It Gets. That's one of the best screenplays ever. It is so well-written from top to bottom. It's not a classic romantic comedy, in that the main obstacles to the characters getting together is that one of them is a complete ass, but it's still hilarious, crisp at all times, and has a wide emotional range.

3. Steve Martin's second best film is also a worthy romantic comedy: Roxanne. That one has some great gag scenes, and is also quite clever. It's telling that Roxanne is (very loosely) based on Cyrano de Bergerac, and LA story (very very loosely) on Shakespeare. The high-culture references anchor the films in something deeper, which is important for rom-coms because the genre gravitates to silly shallowness.

4. I've only seen Shakespeare in Love once, and it was a long time ago, and I was pretty tired and don't remember it well. But I do remember being impressed with it when I watched it.

5. I like the movie Big Fat Greek Wedding. I think it's very funny. Mileage on it might vary, though. Not sure I'd call it a great film or a great screenplay, but I always liked it.
 
superrific said:
My thoughts:

1. The best classic romantic comedy is L.A. Story. By "classic," I mean that both main characters are generally likeable and the obstacles to their relationship bliss are largely external. This one is Steve Martin's best movie, and bonus points for launching Sarah Jessica Parker. It's the perfect Steve Martin mix of high-brow and low-brow, except the high-brow is more prominent and that's good because I think Steve Martin is better at it (though it could just be my preference). Anyway, I've seen it a lot of times and I still laugh.

2. The best romantic comedy screenplay is As Good As It Gets. That's one of the best screenplays ever. It is so well-written from top to bottom. It's not a classic romantic comedy, in that the main obstacles to the characters getting together is that one of them is a complete ass, but it's still hilarious, crisp at all times, and has a wide emotional range.

3. Steve Martin's second best film is also a worthy romantic comedy: Roxanne. That one has some great gag scenes, and is also quite clever. It's telling that Roxanne is (very loosely) based on Cyrano de Bergerac, and LA story (very very loosely) on Shakespeare. The high-culture references anchor the films in something deeper, which is important for rom-coms because the genre gravitates to silly shallowness.

4. I've only seen Shakespeare in Love once, and it was a long time ago, and I was pretty tired and don't remember it well. But I do remember being impressed with it when I watched it.

5. I like the movie Big Fat Greek Wedding. I think it's very funny. Mileage on it might vary, though. Not sure I'd call it a great film or a great screenplay, but I always liked it.
Click to expand...
Those are some great ones. Except I don’t remember being too impressed with Shakespeare In Love (not that it was bad; just instantly forgettable). But those others were really good.
 
Frankie and Johnny, the 1991 film starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer was a really good one. It was one of Pacino’s last performances where he didn’t go over the top.
 
breepf said:
For the sake of conversation, I'm going to disagree with this take on the history of romantic comedies. I think the high watermark are the so-called radical romcoms of the 1970s--not only Annie Hall, but also films like The Heartbreak Kid, Harold and Maude, An Unmarried Woman, and Minnie and Moskovitz. These films compete on ideas of sophistication--on the one hand, the Production Code has crashed, so sex can be taken seriously; on the other, competition from pornographic feature-films disables any easy turn to exploitation.

Granted, the Production Code was a restriction that could produce great results--see the screwball comedies of the 1930s. The wall of Jericho, my friend, are falling.

I think the worst era is the sex comedy of the 1950s and 1960s--think Doris Day and Rock Hudson.

As for the 1990s, I generally regard its films with cynicism, though there are exceptions. The era exploits the reflexivity of the 1970 romcoms--only recall the nonstop movie talk in Sleepless in Seattle or how its ending recapitulates An Affair to Remember. The real romance, it would seem, is between those films and Hollywood films of yore. And the era exploits greater openness about sex in general. But those prior innovations are embedded in a traditional narrative framework that gives us a happy ending against all odds. I find that combination to be off-putting and pandering.
Click to expand...
You laying down some serious stuff here! Thank you!

I admit, as a kid born in the mid-80s, my notion of the genre is largely informed by the 90s and early to mid-00s. Frankly, I never even thought about rom com as a genre prior to those dates. But, of course, it's nothing new. Not like the 90s invented it, obviously. I thank you and others here for reminding me of this.

The fact you have such an informed understanding of the genre, combined with properly italicizing the movie titles, makes me think you may be an educated film person? Am I correct?

My favorite course in grad school, while I was getting my PhD in English at the University of Tennessee, was a seminar-level film course. My professor was this awesome dude from Minnesota. We talk about "Minnesota nice." Dude defined it. Just a ridiculously endearing man, and I learned a lot from that class.
 
hereiam39 said:
I see that people have Hugh Grant high on the list of romantic men. I personally think John Cusack KILLS in the role of an everyday guy figuring out romance and love. Serendipity, Must Love Dogs, Say Anything, and one of my all-time favorite movies Gross Pointe Blank, along with dozens of other quality films. And High Fidelity is also up there on my list. Both it and Gross Pointe Blank have terrific soundtracks.
Click to expand...
John Cusack is right up there with Tom and Hugh. You're absolutely correct. I'll also throw in America's Sweethearts.

I guess this is where I'd rank rom com leading men, at least of the past 3-4 decades:

1. Tom Hanks - he's "Everyman." Plain but fun, sensitive, and understanding. Emotionally mature and smart.
2. Hugh Grant - attractive but unassumingly so. Sensitive. Basically, a solid dude, other than in Bridget Jones.
3. John Cusack - again, attractive but unassumingly so. Caring and sensitive.

I think this is what makes a great leading man in the genre: has to be approachable, sensitive, and smart enough to know when and how to crack appropriate jokes at the right moment or to connect emotionally in moments of need or tension.

It's surprising, frankly, that no one seems thus far to have brought up any female leads. We've all been talking about the men. I haven't yet made it through everyone's comments, but nothing thus far.
 
Last edited:
Icky Mettle said:
Frankie and Johnny, the 1991 film starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer was a really good one. It was one of Pacino’s last performances where he didn’t go over the top.
Click to expand...
I've never seen that. I'll have to look it up. But, you're right. Dude's been a mess for the past 30 years.
 
ChapelHillSooner said:
If it fits, my vote is for 40 year old virgin with second place going to wedding crashers.

I like rom coms but especially the ones more heavily on comedy.
Click to expand...
Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are both underrated rom com leads. For that matter, Steve Carrell too.

It's tricky, because they start getting us into "bro film" territory, but they were good.

Paul Rudd similar. Clueless is a great rom com. And he was in Knocked Up and This is 40 (the spinoff). I didn't like This is 40, though. Too dark. I Love You Man is a great film, but it's a bro film. Not a rom com. As is Dinner for Schmucks with Carrell.
 
As a personal choice, because it was the first movie I took my wife to on our 2nd date, I gotta go with Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Sentimental choice obviously, but still a solid romantic comedy and one that makes other’s list… and checks that Hugh Grant box as well.
 
Ya'll help me out. I haven't followed the genre too closely for the past decade or two.

I would think Paul Rudd would have been this generation's Tom Hanks. But sense I get is that he lacks Tom's wit and intellect.

Please let me know if I'm wrong. Steer me to a Rudd rom com I may be missing.
 
Centerpiece said:
As a personal choice, because it was the first movie I took my wife to on our 2nd date, I gotta go with Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Sentimental choice obviously, but still a solid romantic comedy and one that makes other’s list… and checks that Hugh Grant box as well.
Click to expand...
Yes, great film. And hits deeply with the funeral aspect. That's another thing that makes a truly unforgettable rom com - there must be something deeply emotional.

That is a wonderful memory to share with your wife!
 
MendotoManteo said:
John Cusack is right up there with Tom and Hugh. You're absolutely correct. I'll also throw in America's Sweethearts.

I guess this is where I'd rank rom com leading men, at least of the past 3-4 decades:

1. Tom Hanks - he's "Everyman." Plain but fun, sensitive, and understanding.
2. Hugh Grant - attractive but unassumingly so. Sensitive. Basically, a solid dude, other than in Bridget Jones.
3. John Cusack - again, attractive but unassumingly so. Caring and sensitive.

I think this is what makes a great leading man in the genre: has to be approachable, sensitive, and smart enough to know when and how to crack appropriate jokes at the right moment or to connect emotionally in moments of need or tension.

It's surprising, frankly, that no one seems thus far to have brought up any female leads. We've all been talking about the men. I haven't yet made it through everyone's comments, but nothing thus far.
Click to expand...
As for female leads in rom coms, Meg Ryan is the champ. She started in When Harry Met Sally…, Joe Versus the Volcano, Prelude to a Kiss, I.Q., Sleepless In Seattle, French Kiss, and You’ve Got Mail, among others.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top