The Rise And Fall And Rise Again Of The Romantic Comedy

The Golden Age: When Rom-Coms Ruled the Screens

Once upon a time, romantic comedies were the darlings of the movie industry. From the 1930s to the early 2000s, these feel-good films dominated the box office and captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. With their whimsical plots, endearing characters, and heartfelt emotions, romantic comedies provided the perfect escape from reality and left viewers with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Films like "Pretty Woman," "The Wedding Singer," and "When Harry Met Sally" became iconic, and the genre seemingly reached its peak.

The Decline: A Shift in Audience Preferences

However, as time went on, audience preferences began to shift. The once-beloved romantic comedies started to lose their charm and popularity. This decline can be attributed to various factors.

Firstly, the rise of the superhero genre in the early 2000s captured the attention of moviegoers. Action-packed blockbusters featuring superheroes with extraordinary powers took precedence over the more down-to-earth tales of love and romance.

From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy

by Scott Meslow(Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	9515 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	422 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

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Secondly, the evolving societal norms and changing cultural landscape created a demand for more diversity and inclusivity in storytelling. Audiences were no longer satisfied with the predictable boy-meets-girl narratives. They craved fresh perspectives, realistic portrayals, and stories that resonated with their own lives.

Lastly, the shift towards streaming platforms and the rise of binge-watching culture also played a role in the decline of romantic comedies. People had access to a vast library of content, and they preferred exploring different genres and binge-watching entire seasons of TV shows rather than investing their time in a two-hour romantic comedy.

The Comeback: Reinventing the Rom-Com

Just when it seemed like the romantic comedy genre would fade into obscurity, it experienced a resurgence. This revival can be attributed to several factors.

Firstly, filmmakers began experimenting with the genre, injecting fresh elements and subverting traditional tropes. Romantic comedies like "Crazy Rich Asians," "The Big Sick," and "La La Land" broke the mold by featuring diverse casts, tackling social issues, and blending different genres.

Secondly, streaming platforms played a crucial role in the comeback of romantic comedies. With platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu producing original content, the genre found a new home. Streaming services recognized the enduring appeal of romantic comedies and started creating fresh, innovative stories for the digital age.

Lastly, the nostalgia factor also contributed to the revitalization of romantic comedies. Audiences who grew up in the golden age of rom-coms felt a sense of longing for the heartwarming stories they cherished. As a result, filmmakers started incorporating nods to the classics and using nostalgia as a tool to attract viewers.

The Future: Modern Rom-Coms and Their Impact

As we enter a new era, romantic comedies continue to evolve to meet the demands of contemporary audiences. Modern romantic comedies tackle a wide array of topics, including LGBTQ+ narratives, mental health, and unconventional relationships.

These films not only entertain but also have the power to challenge societal norms, ignite important conversations, and promote inclusivity. They serve as a reminder that love and laughter are timeless and that the romantic comedy genre can still captivate hearts in this ever-changing world.

So, the rise and fall and rise again of the romantic comedy have woven a captivating tale. From its golden age to its decline and eventual resurgence, this genre has stood the test of time. With fresh ideas, diverse storytelling, and the ability to adapt to the modern era, romantic comedies continue to enchant audiences and bring joy to their lives.

From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy

by Scott Meslow(Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	9515 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	422 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

An in-depth celebration of the romantic comedy’s modern golden era and its role in our culture, tracking the genre from its heyday in the ’80s and the ’90s, its unfortunate decline in the 2000s, and its explosive reemergence in the age of streaming, featuring exclusive interviews with the directors, writers, and stars of the iconic films that defined the genre.

No Hollywood genre has been more misunderstood—or more unfairly under-appreciated—than the romantic comedy. Funny, charming, and reliably crowd-pleasing, rom-coms were the essential backbone of the Hollywood landscape, launching the careers of many of Hollywood’s most talented actors and filmmakers, such as Julia Roberts and Matthew McConaughey, and providing many of the yet limited creative opportunities women had in Hollywood. But despite—or perhaps because of—all that, the rom-com has routinely been overlooked by the Academy Awards or snobbishly dismissed by critics. In From Hollywood with Love, culture writer and GQ contributor Scott Meslow seeks to right this wrong, celebrating and analyzing rom-coms with the appreciative, insightful critical lens they’ve always deserved.

Beginning with the golden era of the romantic comedy—spanning from the late ’80s to the mid-’00s with the breakthrough of films such as When Harry Met Sally—to the rise of streaming and the long-overdue push for diversity setting the course for films such as the groundbreaking, franchise-spawning Crazy Rich Asians, Meslow examines the evolution of the genre through its many iterations, from its establishment of new tropes, the Austen and Shakespeare rewrites, the many love triangles, and even the occasional brave decision to do away with the happily ever after.

Featuring original black-and-white sketches of iconic movie scenes and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers behind our most beloved rom-coms, From Hollywood with Love constructs oral histories of our most celebrated romantic comedies, for an informed and entertaining look at Hollywood’s beloved yet most under-appreciated genre.