Romantic Comedies or rom-coms, if you will, have lost some of their sparkle. Back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, these movies were topping the Box Office. Some of the biggest stars to date made their name through these sheepish movies. Many rom coms are released; however, the most famous ones are still from nearly 20 years ago.
What is it about early 2000s rom-coms? Is it the nostalgic factor? Are we all just romanticizing a different era, one that we were too young to really partake in?
I, like many of you, favor the earlier rom coms. All of my favorites were released before I was even in elementary school (a very long way from thinking of love). Still, these movies shaped my love for the genre and my affinity for all things romance.
I believe the appeal is a mixture of several things, with the main component being nostalgia. These movies are also more lighthearted and almost kiddish. Many of our beloved 2000s rom coms have a silly plot line and a cutesy love story to go with it. Nowadays, it seems one or the other is lacking.
I’ve highlighted a few to dissect. The following three films are some I’ve watched many (many) times. Here’s my take on why these movies “hit” different than the rest.
How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days
This 2003 film stars Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are two rom-com connoisseurs. Kate Hudson plays Andie Anderson, a journalist seeking a more serious assignment. Andie, an advice columnist for women, pitches a topic a bit out of her comfort zone — one that she will have to experience for herself in order to write. Her idea surrounds the idea of losing a guy in just 10 days, and so she sets off to find a guy to date and lose, all within that time frame.
On the other hand, advertising executive Ben Berry (Matthew McConaughey) is overly confident in his ability to “get” girls. He bets his friends that he can get a girl to fall in love with him in just 10 days, despite their extreme doubt. This leads him on a similar journey as Andie, both hoping to find someone to be their fake-love. Unfortunately (but also fortunately), finding each other doesn’t work out quite as planned.
This may seem like your typical “fake dating from a bet” movie, but something about it puts it above all the rest. It’s a cliche turned creative — a bet on both sides. It’s also heavy with character development, and it stresses the power of falling in love not only with another person but with yourself.
All of these films have a similar formula:
- Already-famous, beloved actors with great chemistry
- Characters who seek personal development through falling in love
- Cheesy, overdone plotline (but done in a more creative way)
- Big problem that erupts at the very end and is quickly resolved with happily-ever-after
This rom com checks off every box. Andie finds her confidence through her writing; Ben is humbled and ditches his previous approach to dating. They both change as they open up to one another, falling in love in a very vulnerable way. When both find out about the other’s bet, their entire relationship erupts, only to be strengthened when they’re honest with one another. The two main characters are hilarious and perfectly deliver both romance and comedy.
13 Going on 30
This modern fairytale is a feel-good film with a hint of magic. Released in 2004, this movie stars Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. It begins with a teenage version of the two, both somewhat nerdy and beneath the so-called “social status” of junior high. On Jenna’s (Jennifer Garner, when she’s older) 13th birthday, she does everything she can to be considered popular. Her best friend, Matty (Mark Ruffalo when he’s older), doesn’t quite fit into her popularity daydream. Despite her best efforts, the popular crew turns on Jenna just as she turns on Matt. She wishes, over and over, to be “30 and flirty” — just like she read in her magazine. With some magic fairy dust and the dream house Matt made her for her birthday, she gets exactly what she wished for.
In this rom com, you follow a suddenly 30-year-old Jenna, who is just as clueless about her adult life as the audience is. It’s hilarious watching her young mind try to navigate her developed body, athlete boyfriend and catty coworkers. She learns some disturbing things about her older self, realizing along the way that she made mistakes back when they were kids. Even Matt is no longer in her life. When the two reconnect, Jenna begins to realize where she made her biggest, most devastating mistake.
I love this one, and for so many reasons. Just as I mentioned before, it has that perfect early 2000s formula. With its somewhat magical plotline, major character development and near-end dilemma, it’s a perfect watch. Jenna figures out that she likes the version of herself best with Matt by her side. Her love for him brings her back to her real self as she finally abandons her obsession with popularity. This story emphasizes the true love between best friends. It also teaches lessons of being your true self and surrounding yourself with those that encourage you to do just that.
She’s the Man
This one is everyone’s favorite. In this cheeky film, Viola Johnson (Amanda Bynes) is an extremely talented soccer player. When she and her brother start at a new boarding school, she’s devastated when there’s no girls’ soccer team. Viola hatches a plan: her brother — twin brother, by the way — is MIA. They look alike, minus the hair, and no one knows them yet. So, Viola becomes her brother and plays for the boys’ soccer team.
As she (hilariously) navigates the challenges of pretending to be a boy, Viola finds herself falling for handsome soccer player, Duke (Channing Tatum). He’s in love with someone else, though, and sees her only as a friend… and as a boy. Eventually, her perfectly-plotted plan falls apart when her brother returns early. In the end, though, Viola stands up for herself and proves she’s just as good as any boy on that team.
And, she gets Channing Tatum.
This film never fails to make me smile. It’s got that ridiculous but also perfect storyline. Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum have amazing chemistry, and it’s interesting to see Duke interact with Viola as both a girl and a guy. It’s a wholesome story, as Duke’s eventual love for her comes from a place of true friendship. It’s also a story of standing up for yourself and proving your worth.
These rom-coms are in the big leagues. They’re the movies you think of when you hear “romantic comedy.” They fit the formula all the way through.
Early 2000s rom coms maybe aren’t better or worse than other time periods. But, they’re all similar in structure and have that certain vibe to them. This (paired with some nostalgia for the actors, the music and even the y2k clothes) is why they “hit different.” These movies are their own category, beyond just being romantic comedies. They’re early 2000s romantic comedies, and they’re everything.
To all the iconic rom coms of the early 2000s, I hope you never stop hitting different.