Isn’t it Romantic?



Recently two essays   on the dearth and death of romantic comedies produced since 2000 appeared, "Why are Romantic Comedies So Bad?" and "Are Romantic Comedies Dead?".  A romantic comedy doesn’t explore the hardcore reality of grief, prostitution, mental illness, cultural pressure, familial relationships, class warfare, and racial and economic inequality. Methinks the essays missed the point that the genre is all about heighten reality where true love sweeps aside obstacles  for the hero and heroine to live happily ever after. The 2012 Best Picture Oscar nominee “Silver Linings Playbook” was mentioned as a successful example of the genre in both pieces.  Personally I love the movie but Bradley Cooper and Best Actress Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence   must be the two hottest people in Philly. If Bradley and Chris Tucker are typical mental patients, ladies go over to the nearest psychiatric hospital and sign out a guy today. That’s why the film is so engaging and you root for the couple to come together despite their mental health challenges and relationship history. Why more romantic comedies aren’t green light by studios is a good question. All the films mentioned below performed at the box office and some picked up major film awards.  Contemporary films have been produced that can stand the test of time based on the same classic romantic comedy plot formulas (“How to Marry a Millionaire”, “The Lady Eve”, “Roman Holiday”, “It Happened One Night”, “That Touch of Mink”, “Some Like it Hot”, “The Duchess and The Dirtwater Fox”, ”Heaven Can Wait”, ”Marriage Italian Style”  “For Pete’s Sake”).  The best ROMCOM plots are the most ludicrous just like in life. As time goes by, it’s the same old (great) story of hooker/gold-digger transformed by true love (“Priceless”, "Pretty Woman"), career girl falls for unlikely guy  (“No Reservations”, “The Proposal”, “The Artist”, “Leap Year”), Con artist falls for mark  (“Intolerable Cruelty”), in love with a commoner (“Maid in Manhattan”, “The Princess Diaries”, “Notting Hill”), true love triumphs over family drama (“Caramel”, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, “Saving Face”), commitment phobic player meets match (“Something’s Got to Give”, “A Good Year”, “Think Like a Man”), bad girl gone good  (“I can do Bad all By Myself”, “Raising Helen”), never too late for love (“The Exotic Marigold Hotel”) and time travel for soul mates (“Family Man”, “Kate & Leopold”)   Could the essays have focused on films and actors on the right track instead of calling out creative lovely talented actors and actresses  that coulda, woulda , shoulda?   Heavy is the Cary Grant mantle for George Clooney. Actor and director, producer of 2012 Best Picture Oscar “Argo”, humanitarian (“A Journey to Darfur”, “Not on our Watch”, “Hope for Haiti Now”) George is profoundly busy. Sigh. Darling we will wait for you. Let’s not give the genre a post mortem yet.  As long as there is date night, chick flicks that cares what it’s called, audiences will go to the Cineplex to see romantic comedies. I’ll be there with my big gulp soda, popcorn and Snowcaps. See ya at the movies.

Popular posts from this blog

St. John Redux

Image
Brooke Shields in St. John Candace Bushnell in St. John St John Spring 23 St John  Spring 23 Elizabeth Moss Shonda Rhimes in St John Everybody is wearing  St. John again. I am seeing the most gorgeous new looks from St. John on stars. The company has been around but now a very  fresh take with colors and styles. The designs always had a classic Chanel and Norell vibe to me but this is very sexy and elegant at the same time. Andie MacDowell in St. John Katy Perry in St. John St John  Spring 23 Marcia Gay Harden in St John Rebel Wilson in St. John Julianne Hough in St John St John Spring 23 Regina Hall in St John St John Spring 23 Phillips Soo in St. John
Read more

Retrofête

Image
  Alessandra Ambrosia in Retrofete Welcome to the party! I was in SoHo this week and noticed the    Retrofête   pop-up   boutique and went in to check out the sexy collection.  Yes I have been  noticing the chic yet affordable fashion line poping up everywhere.     Retrofête    Vinci dress From Paula Abdul, Chloe Bailey, Heidi Klum, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, and Carrie Underwood, models, actresses, and singers are flocking to the line and looking very sensual and fun. Kelsea Ballerini  Perfect for extroverts  to show out in the evening and parties.  Selena Gomez wears Retrofête’s S & G Alphabet Earrings  There is casual stuff like midriff tops, splatter jeans, and curvy dresses too that are equally hot. Ohad Seroya and Aviad Klin co-founded Retrofête in 2018, passionate about carving out an underserved market for statement pieces. Mickey Guyton A throwback to the all-out glamour and exuberance of decades past, the New York-based label takes its name from a me
Read more

"MINISTER OF SELF DEFENSE"

Image
Last year I remembered a documentary I saw produced by Antoine Fuqua called, "Bastards of the Party" about the Bloods and the Crips.  The director, a former gang member felt the gang turf wars grew out of the restless generation that came after The  Black Panther Party who patrolled to monitor police brutality during the civil rights era. I thought it was fascinating it got me to thinking about Huey P. Newton co-founder and Minister of Self Defense of The Black Panther Party. I started reading everything on his life and work. Truly a labor of love one book on  Eldridge Cleaver  ( Eldridge Cleaver author of Soul on Ice and Minister of Information became a Republican ) would lead me to a book on Geronimo Pratt and on to a book about his lawyer Johnnie Cochran and so on. I read Alondra Nelson' book, “ Body and Soul  The Black Panther Party and the Fight against Medical Discrimination” for her extensive research on the Party's healthcare activism. Tumbler is a great
Read more