'I thought the rom-com was dead, but in the blink of an eye the resurgence has begun'

OPINION -- The romantic comedy genre has long been entangled in a toxic will-they, won't-they dynamic with Hollywood studio execs.

For many years, true rom-com devotees feared the genre moribund, barren, having succumbed to an untimely demise borne of so-called 'development hell.'

But the scene appears to be shifting, the mist clearing, gradually revealing the potential for a shiny new era of the long-limbic genre.

Like many Gen Z women and the pioneering Millennials that came before, I consider myself something of a rom-com connoisseur.

From You've Got Mail, to Pretty Woman; She's The Man, to 10 Things I Hate About You; my watch history consists of an expansive catalogue of all the usual suspects.

They were the films that defined culture, inspiring generations of women and girls to pursue higher standards in both their love lives – and careers.

Indeed, the running stereotype of the unlucky-in-love journalist tackling life in the big city was the rom-com blueprint that somehow became my current reality.

You can only imagine my heartbreak upon discovering that Confessions of a Shopaholic, How to Lose a Guy in 10 days and 13 Going on 30 did not boast entirely accurate depictions of careers within the media industry.

Around 2010, there began the official end of major studios' love affair with the romantic comedy.

Resources were redirected elsewhere, towards higher-budget, spectacle-driven tentpole films (I'm looking at you, superhero movies) that could guarantee global box office success.

Tragically, this squeezed out mid-budget films, which was the traditional range for romantic comedies.

But now, for the first time since the golden age of the rom com (namely spanning from the 1990's-2000's), there has been a tangible shift.

The genre is stirring beneath the surface, waiting patiently to burst forth with lashings of the 'friends-to-lovers,' 'fake dating' and 'forced proximity' tropes we've all been missing.

Bolstered by roaring box-office successes for heavy-hitters Anyone But You in 2023 and Crazy Rich Asians in 2018, the rom com, some would say, is officially back.

And along with the resurgence of the genre comes the hope for a bone-fide cultural reset; with a slew of newer releases now offering fresh takes on the previously-fizzling category.

So which shows and movies in particular are single-handedly sparking this long-overdue rom com resurgence?

It's the title generating buzz globally, cementing its place as a true powerhouse in the genre's revival.

The time has come to take a bow and accept your flowers, People We Meet on Vacation.

The newest Netflix offering has become an overnight sensation amongst rom com enthusiasts worldwide, largely capitalising on a certain When Harry Met Sally-esque whimsy.

The film follows reserved Alex (Tom Blyth) and extroverted, adventurous Poppy (Emily Bader) in the ultimate friends-to-lovers and opposites attract plot device mashup.

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Alex and Poppy are two best friends who commit to embarking on one summer trip together per year – until a fateful falling out serves to drive the once-inseparable pair apart.

Told non-linearly, the story unfolds to reveal building tensions, mutual attraction and repressed feelings against a comedic – and deliciously scenic – backdrop.

The unrealistic dream job is positioned front-and-centre throughout the film, with an uninspired, heartbroken Poppy having lost her love of travel writing and all-expenses-paid excursions in the aftermath of the friendship fallout.

All in all, the film takes advantage of a formula proven time and time again to generate a positive response, all the while injecting the pre-existing template with a uniquely endearing, charmingly awkward relatability.

We see Poppy and Alex, and believe a love like theirs is possible.

The film's reception has been gargantuan, with many hailing it as the story to have awakened a genre.

In reality, however, its success has been set up in recent years by a number of notable predecessors.

If you're seeking further proof of the rom-com's enduring mass appeal, look no further than Aussie-based box office hit Anyone But You.

The Sydney-side slow burn 'fake relationship' flick hit all the right notes with its promotional material, prompting fans of the genre to descend on local theatres en masse.

Its ensuing success is proof that a sunny, seaside locale paired with sizzling chemistry between leads is truly all a film needs to bring in the audiences.

And studio execs appear to have well and truly caught onto that fact, opting for continuations of big-name rom com franchises as a result.

Enter: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

The reprisal of the beloved Bridget Jones series effectively leveraged both a loyal fanbase and years of adoration for the genre, whilst also holding space for new fans; namely, me.

Having never seen any of the franchise's previous iterations, I entered my local cinema completely blind, driven largely by the attractiveness of the male love interest (Leo Woodall) and a considerable amount of peer pressure from my rom com-enthused friend.

Lo and behold, to absolutely no one's surprise, I left that theatre a fan.

And while I will never buy into the propaganda that Bridget was "overweight" There's no denying that Mad About the Boy had heart.

And ultimately, heart may very well be the key to audiences', well, hearts.

Long gone is the era of film where flashiness was the order of the day; authenticity is now the hot ticket to commercial success.

It's official: the long-awaited return of the rom com is upon us, and fans will be waiting with baited breath to see the next big love story on offer.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.

from Celebrity entertainment news, gossip and photos on 9Honey Celebrity https://ift.tt/2rwlKyg