5 Rom-Com Cliches We Want To Break Up With (& 5 We Swipe Right On)
When a romantic comedy is great, it can be very heartwarming. It has characters who feel real and features a couple who just has to end up together. When it's bad, it's cliche-ridden and audiences can see the obstacles and the ending coming from a mile away. By now, movie fans have decades of films to choose from and it sometimes feels like there are no surprises left.
Whether talking about 90's romantic comedies or more recent releases, this genre is a popular one, which means that it's a mixed bag when it comes to quality. There are many tropes used in romantic comedies that make audiences swoon, just like there are some common characters and storylines that make people want to stay single forever.
10 Break Up With: The Final Rush To Declare Affection
At the end of The Wedding Singer, Robbie (Adam Sandler) runs to the airport to declare his love for Julia (Drew Barrymore). They end up on the same plane and in this movie, the ending is charming and adorable.
In most cases, though, the last part of a rom-com features one character rushing to the airport or another location to find the person they love. It's a tired cliche as it has been done so many times that it has lost all meaning and excitement. This scene is often accompanied by a long speech about all the weird, quirky things that the guy loves about the girl, and it's time for a fresh take.
9 Swipe Right On: The Meet Cute
You've Got Mail has heartwarming and funny quotes, and the 90's Nora Ephron movie is a favorite for romantic comedy fans.
This movie features a common trope of the "meet-cute," which is the moment when the two main characters meet each other for the first time. It always happens in a random but totally romantic way, as it feels like it was meant to be. In this movie, Kathleen (Meg Ryan) and Joe (Tom Hanks) start chatting online but have actually met in real life, as he's the one behind a new mega-bookstore that is putting her charming children's bookshop out of business. They slowly realize that they have already "met" each other and the ending couldn't be sweeter.
8 Break Up With: Misunderstandings And Easily Fixed Problems
Many romantic comedies feature the cliche of characters who share a big misunderstanding. They also come upon problems that can definitely be easily solved (and would be if this was real life, not a movie).
Sure, it makes sense that these movies need to have obstacles, as a story without conflict is incredibly dull. But this is a rom-com cliche that people want to break up with as it's hard not to scream at the screen when it seems like there could find an easy compromise or solution. A frustrating example is in Notting Hill when Anna (Julia Roberts) believes that Will (Hugh Grant) sold her out to the media.
7 Swipe Right On: The Quirky Best Friend
Jon Cryer's Pretty In Pink character, Duckie, is a perfect example of a quirky best friend in a romantic comedy. Duckie is completely his own person and he's also got his own sense of style. He's kind to Andie (Molly Ringwald) and while it's sad that he's hopelessly in love with her, they are able to move on from that tough spot in their friendship.
While most rom-coms have a best friend character who is a little unconventional, this never feels stale or tired as they are always a welcome spot in the movie. They help the protagonist through their feelings for their love interest, and they often provide some sweet words of encouragement.
6 Break Up With: Enemies Who Fall In Love
There are many cheesy rom coms that fans can't help but love, but The Ugly Truth is a perfect example of a cliche used in this genre.
It's not much fun watching two people who hate each other fall in love later on in the movie as they are often so mean to each other that it just doesn't seem romantic. In this instance, TV producer Abby (Katherine Heigl) meets Mike (Gerard Butler), a TV personality, and the two constantly fight (he doesn't believe in love and she doesn't like that about him). It's too obvious that she will change his mind by the time that the end credits roll.
5 Swipe Right On: The Best Friends To Lovers Trope
There are many movies where best friends become something more, from the 80's classic film When Harry Met Sally to more contemporary fare, such as The F Word and Plus One.
This may be a cliche used in too many romantic comedies to count, but it works so well because the characters have an honest and genuine connection. They have gotten to know each other on a deep, real level, and when they realize that their feelings are beyond friendship, it feels natural to take the next step. These are love stories that feel like they could actually happen IRL.
4 Break Up With: Keeping Things Casual (While Secretly Being In Love)
Both Friends With Benefits and No Strings Attached have similar plots: two characters decide to keep things casual and only have a physical relationship. They swear that they can keep real feelings out of the situation, but of course, they are secretly in love, so it's inevitable that they will end up together.
This rom-com cliche should be retired as there are zero surprises left. Audiences can tell from the opening credits that the couple will realize that their idea was silly and they should be in a serious relationship.
3 Swipe Right On: Visiting The Family
The wonderful 2020 movie Happiest Season features characters trying to live perfect lives. It also has a trope found in many rom-coms: bringing a partner home to visit (or meet) the family.
This often happens at holidays such as Thanksgiving or Christmas, and hijinks always ensue, as something is going to go wrong. Maybe the turkey burns, a parent drinks too much, or there's an awkward misunderstanding. While "visiting the family" cliche may be common, it's often charming and hilarious. These scenes also allow fans to see some talented actors. In the case of Happiest Season, the parents are played by Mary Steenburgen and Victor Garber.
2 Break Up With: The Down On Her Luck Single Woman/Forever Bridesmaid
From Runaway Bride to 27 Dresses, there are some romantic comedies that are about weddings, or more specifically, the main character who never gets married for one reason or another.
Many rom-coms feature a main character who is a down-on-her-luck single woman who is tired of feeling this way. She might be a bridesmaid in all her friends' big days, such as in 27 Dresses, or maybe she's come up with a plan to make family members stop mentioning her single status, like in Holidate. This has been done so many times and it's frustrating for these movies to act like being single is the worst thing in the world.
1 Swipe Right On: Girl From Small Town With Big City Aspirations
There are several adorable rom-coms featuring high school characters. When rom coms focus on characters in their 20's or 30's, they are often focused on one main goal: getting out of their small town and becoming a big success in a nearby (or faraway) city.
This is a rom-com cliche that audiences still love as it's nice to root for the protagonist going after their dreams. While sometimes they realize that their heart lies in the small town where they come from, in other cases, they learn to strike a balance between their new life and visiting their family on a regular basis.
from ScreenRant - Feed
Join Our Email Newsletter Now!
Join over 1,897 people who get free and fresh content delivered automatically each time we publish.
