Elements of Romantic Comedies

Romantic comedies are movies with light-hearted, humorous dramatic stories centered on romantic ideals such as "true love" able to surmount most obstacles or the "perfect couple." Romantic comedy films are a sub-genre of comedy films as well as of romance films.

The basic plot of a romantic comedy is that two people, usually a man and a woman, meet and then part ways due to an argument or other contrived obstacles. Initially, these two people do not become romantically involved, because they believe that they do not like each other, because one of them already has a partner, or social pressures. However, the screenwriters leave obvious clues that suggest that the characters are in fact attracted to each other, or that they would be a good love match.

While the two people are separated, one or both individuals then realize that they are "perfect" for each other, or that they are in love with the other person. Then, after one of the two makes some spectacular effort to find the other person and declare their love, (this is sometimes called the grand gesture), or due to an astonishing coincidental encounter, the two meet again. Then, perhaps with some comic friction or awkwardness, they declare their love for each other and the film ends happily.

There are many variations on this basic plotline. Sometimes, instead of the two lead characters ending up in each other's arms, another love match will be made between one of the principal characters and a secondary character (e.g., My Best Friend's Wedding). Alternatively, the film may be rumination on the impossibility of love. The basic format of a romantic comedy film can be found in much earlier sources, such as Shakespeare plays like “Much Ado About Nothing” and “A Midsummer Night's Dream”. A movie in which a romantic intercourse could happen, but does not, is referred to as Platonic Comedy.

The basic elements of romantic comedies fall along the same lines as any movie. There is always an introduction, conflict and resolution. However, in a romantic comedy, the basic elements detail a romantic tale in a humorous manner. Though the movie does not have to have a happy ending, it does have to have a positive one. Romantic comedy films must contain at least one heroic person and at least one romantic interest for the hero or heroine. The lovers must be star-crossed in some way that creates conflict in their ability to come together. The couple does not have to fall in love and live happily ever after, but they do have to find a resolution to the humorous conflict that ends things with an uplifted spirit.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-31