The romance movie genre holds some of the most classic, award-winning films we know and love. Growing up as a little girl, I sat down and watched these magical love stories unfold with starry eyes as they finished with an ever-reliable happy ending. Whether it was Elizabeth and Darcy being incandescently happy in Pride and Prejudice or Sam and Annie in Sleepless in Seattle professing their love on the top of the Empire State Building, romance movies are stories that provide us with hope to find some semblance of that happy ending. However, I do question whether these fictional depictions of true love are harming our view of reality.
Some may argue that these storylines fabricated through the Hollywood conveyor belt warp society’s outlook on relationships with what to believe is authentic and healthy. Is the result of our consumption of the romance genre detrimental as our expectations rise to unattainable levels? Comparison is human nature, so it makes sense that we become disappointed with our reality when we use fairytale love stories as a baseline. Relationships demand hard work and patience. Sometimes, that hard work isn’t enough, and people break up due to incompatibility.
The production magic behind blockbuster movies brings cinematic soundtracks and lighting elements to distract you from the inconsistencies with these fictional couples. Their storylines are edited to keep viewers engaged with a consumable watch time. As a result, the in-between moments when the characters are quiet or awkward are rarely shown, even though it’s normal. Many common relationship hurdles aren’t portrayed, as it would ruin the glamorous entertainment factor of our favorite stories. People watch movies to escape the real world, so filmmakers won’t show every fight or dull moment as it ruins the ideal. But don’t be mistaken, every love story has flawed chapters.
Although I have spent paragraphs dissecting the faults of romance movies, this article isn’t meant to keep you from consuming them. I will continue to enjoy romance movie marathons, still rooting for the happy ending moment with a big smile. There is no issue with watching these movies as long as you view them for what they are: entertainment, not reality. That rule can apply to any genre of movie or media, as the whole objective of these storytellers is to put our dreams and nightmares on the screen in a believable manner. My advice here is to not fall for the fake ideals of Hollywood and don’t lose your optimism in the process. Real romance is not Hollywood romance, and just because your romantic life doesn’t equate to what you see on the big screen doesn’t mean you shouldn’t embrace every moment.