A Celebration of Romantic Comedies from the '90s and '00s
In the realm of popular entertainment, romantic comedies (rom-coms) have undergone a significant transformation over the years. The progression and evolution of these films, particularly in their portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and women's romantic roles, have been marked by a shift from reinforcing limiting stereotypes towards embracing diverse, complex identities and promoting self-love.
One of the most notable examples of this change can be seen in the movie "Love, Simon," which follows a closeted gay teenager as he grows to accept himself and challenges stereotypes. This shift mirrors broader cultural changes that have enabled LGBTQ+ characters to move from coded or stereotypical roles to leading roles with real emotional depth and romantic narratives.
Similarly, the portrayal of women in rom-coms has evolved from traditional tropes that centred women's worth on being loved or saved by a romantic partner. Films like "Legally Blonde" showcase women prioritizing personal growth, career ambitions, and self-acceptance before or alongside romantic relationships. This trend challenges earlier stereotypes where women’s romantic fulfillment was the ultimate goal, instead promoting narratives of autonomy and inner strength.
However, it's important to note that the lack of diversity and continuity of stereotypes in the cast of rom-coms is still noticeable. People of color, LGBTQ+ characters, and those from different cultural or socioeconomic backgrounds are often sidelined or reduced to stereotypes. For instance, in "Clueless," Cher's crush, Christian, is portrayed as a stereotype of what gay men are like.
In some rom-coms, the woman may feel obligated to forgive the man when he messes up, leading to toxic relationships. This is a common theme in many rom-coms, such as "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," where a woman dates a man to write an article about common mistakes women make.
As the writer had a conversation with Angeline Rivera '26 about romantic comedies, it became clear that there are common trends in these films. Rom-coms have traditionally been dominated by white, heterosexual couples from middle or upper-class backgrounds. They often depict love as a solution to all problems, but fail to show the inherent problems within a person that cannot be solved by love, as Irena Tutunari from The Michigan Daily writes.
Feeling complete comes from within, not from finding love. This is a message that is slowly being reflected in the progression of rom-coms, as they adapt and challenge stereotypes that were often seen in the media in the past. For instance, the movie "500 Days of Summer" tells the story of two people who work at a greeting card company, with one falling in love while the other does not want a relationship. The controversial ending of the movie has sparked debates among viewers about whether it's Tom's fault or Summer's fault.
Despite the progress, there are still few movies about self-love, women who focus on themselves and don't have a yearning for romance, or women who live without romantic pursuit in rom-coms. This is an area where the genre still has room for growth and evolution.
One of the writer's favorite romantic comedies is "Legally Blonde," which not only challenges stereotypes in the law world but also showcases a character who grows and evolves, proving her intelligence and winning a court case revolving around murder. However, it's worth noting that the LGBTQ+ character Enrique Salvatore in the movie reinforces stereotypes about gay men.
In conclusion, romantic comedies have evolved from reinforcing limiting stereotypes about LGBTQ+ characters and women's romantic roles to embracing diverse, complex queer identities and promoting self-love for women as an essential and valid storyline alongside romantic love. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of diversity and representation, particularly in portraying self-love and non-stereotypical roles for women and LGBTQ+ characters.
- In the realm of editorial commentary, the evolution of romantic comedies is often a topic of discussion, with critics commenting on the shift from reinforcing limiting stereotypes towards embracing diverse, complex identities and promoting self-love.
- The portrayal of self-love in romantic comedies is an area that still needs growth and development, as there are few movies featuring women who focus on themselves and don't have a yearning for romance or women who live without romantic pursuit, reflecting an ongoing need for diversity and representation in the genre.
