As Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, the time for endless rom-com binging is fast approaching. Most people say they love or hate rom coms, but can you really dislike something so notoriously cheesy and easy to watch? I think there is something so comforting about an idealistic, happy ending which deserves more love than it tends to receive from both casual watchers and avid film critics.
I’ve seen many people say that rom-coms are cheesy, predictable or vapid in nature. However, as someone who cannot concentrate on a film for longer than 90 minutes and struggles to keep up with the most basic of plots, the ability to put a film on in the background and easily follow along is something I love. For me, the predictability of such films is what encourages me to repeatedly return to the classics like 10 Things I Hate About You and Bridget Jones’ Diary. The anticipation of a blossoming romance filled with mishaps, mistakes and miscommunications is a trope I just cannot stay away from. Maybe I’m just biased and like to relish in the sentimentality of being introduced to Notting Hill by my mum as a preteen. Despite this, I think it is very comforting to stick on a ‘crappy’ film and escape into a blissful, idyllic world of romance, and I’d challenge anyone who claims there isn’t a single rom-com that they like.
However, I can completely sympathise with the argument that rom-coms are very heteronormative and tend to ignore LGBTQ+ storylines. The immense success of franchises such as Heartstopper and Sex Education shows that people love queer storylines too, so there is definitely room in today’s market for more LGBTQ+ rom-coms – this is a genre I personally need to check out more too! Similarly, Bridget’s obsession with weight and body image throughout the Bridget Jones series definitely teeters closely towards the promotion of damaging body standards for young women. Whilst this is definitely a problem, I think it reflects the many pressures facing young women, and as an adult I can recognise the absurdity of Bridget referring to herself as fat whilst weighing 136 lbs. I think this encourages viewers to critique the ridiculous beauty standards imposed upon women, showing that rom-coms can provide more food for thought than many may initially think.
Whether you’re going through heartbreak and want to wallow in sadness, or are just entering a new relationship and want to feel excited about love, I think we can all benefit from the occasional watch of a cheesy rom-com. Despite their often dated attitudes, jokes and bias towards heterosexuality, I think rom-coms are the perfect watch if you take them with a pinch of salt. So perhaps as Valentine’s Day looms near, encourage your partner or your friends to sit down for a movie marathon, or simply chuck on a cheesy film as you unwind for the night and appreciate its simplicity and predictability.