Romcoms… a genre that men can’t figure out and women can’t get enough of. As young adults, we’ve been blessed with the generic early-generation romantic comedies that fit into the usual cis-hetero-and mostly white audience. However, lately I’ve noticed a shift in the genre and how romcoms have been forced to create fan service for their audiences but pick actors with that charismatic charm that translates on and off the screen. I want to showcase not only my favorite romcoms but how these movies have translated into the hearts of consumers everywhere.
Where have romcoms gone?
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Romcoms have been known amongst the general public as an “easy watch.” Something you decide to view when you’re feeling down or sentimental. But after the early 2000s, the genre fell off. This could be due to parasocial relationships and actual conversations surrounding non-diverse casting, but the integral issues of these movies not transitioning with the times have stunted the growth of the romcom and its longevity.
It took a while for this development, but we are here today where diversity and inclusion have become important topics for audiences to digest. I believe that people longed for the main roles of protagonists to be more than just longing for love and a white male and female. Jumping over the binary hurdle was a big step for big productions which forced these owners to recognize the damage they caused to the general public by showcasing these one-sided stereotypes and stories.
Now this does not mean that these movies are bad. Frankly, I enjoy quite a few of them and they were influential for their time. But with media consumption, you have to be very careful with whom and what you’re consuming because these ideas you’re taking into your life could be potentially harmful.
So without further adieu, I would like to present my favorite romcoms from the 2010s and beyond that have the je ne sais quoi that every new romcom lover raves about.
“To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before”
I can confidently say that “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” created a new generation of romcom lovers. Author and producer Jenny Han was very intentional with the movie being on Netflix and with the direction they took the FIRST (the other two films are to be discussed…) film. The film not only stars Lana Condor, an Asian American woman actress, but has heavy hitters within the industry and a great script to draw people in.
This movie also helped launch Noah Centineo into “IT BOY” status until that video (iykyk) was released online. His catchphrase “woah woah woah” and the charismatic charm he conveyed with Condor on and off screen had fans shaking with envy and support. This film spoke to a generation of teenagers looking for that old-school love with a new twist, and that’s exactly what it delivered.
“Candy Jar”
Netflix dropped another top-tier teen romcom with “Candy Jar.” This movie stars Christina Hendricks, Uzo Aduba and more. It not only deals with race and social class dynamics but the pressure that teenagers deal with while being in college. Stars Jacob Latimore and Sami Gayle portray their enemies-to-lovers trope in a different way… debating. Once a tragic situation brings them together, the connection they share is unmatched and the film truly showcases their interracial relationship perfectly.
“Love, Simon”
“Love, Simon” was an important story that touched on a boy being scared about his identity. While controversial due to the role Nick Robinson, a straight man who plays a gay teen, the story discussed issues of friendship, how sexuality can affect your life, and why it’s important to trust and believe in yourself. Since its inception, “Love, Simon” has been turned into a show and has a dedicated group of fans who feel represented by the movie and its strong suits.
“Rye Lane”
The new British film “Rye Lane” has two Black leads who both go through bad breakups and help each other deal with their exes. It stars Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson and the film has been praised across the U.K. for its portrayal of Black relationships. This film is important to the Black community as it showcases a positive representation of relationships.
The finale
These movies are just a small representation of films that have come out recently that truly represent what romcoms can be as a genre. Films like “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Prom Pact” and “Fire Island” deal with issues of feminism and becoming the best version of yourself while still falling in love. Romcoms are not dead everyone, they are back and stronger than ever.
What new romcom do you enjoy? Let us know by tweeting us @VALLEYmag on Twitter!
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