Fantasy Meets Reality
By EILENA DING ’28 and GRACE YANG ‘27
Romantic comedies have a unique way of gripping our hearts, weaving laughter with longing, and leaving us questioning the nature of love itself. These films are more than just stories — they are emotional journeys that sweep us into whirlwind romances and bittersweet goodbyes.
Rom-com enthusiasts are often split into two categories: hopeless ROMANTICS and HOPELESS romantics. These films reveal love in an ambiguous light, inviting viewers to experience and interpret emotions in often contradictory ways. While some audience members yearn for the classic “happily ever after” ending, others are left disillusioned by the intense chemistry portrayed between the protagonists.
For example, “La La Land” is publicly known as “the greatest rom-com of all time.” Yet, there are still many viewers hitting the dislike button after watching. This is mainly due to the shift in the ending as Sebastien and Mia depart to chase after their careers. HOPELESS romantics seem to be the target audience as they understand grief and unexpressed love, appreciate the beauty of heartbreak, and support more rational decisions. As is often said, the ultimate stage of love is to let go, as this theme tends to be reflected in several other rom-coms. Hopeless ROMANTICS, on the other hand, would fall into the category of audience writing negative reviews while wiping off the tears on their faces. This segment of the audience aligns with the original intentions of rom-com filmmakers, who aim to deliver light-hearted, fantastical portrayals of love. They seek relationships that inspire laughter, joy, and the occasional giddy sigh.
Within the broader spectrum of rom-com watchers, strong opinions about the genre are commonplace. Some viewers revel in the whimsical, fairy-tale relationships depicted on screen, while others criticize them for being unrealistic and unattainable. Both have valid justifications for their opinions, but we are somewhere in between the two sides. Rom-coms show the pure bliss a relationship can have and can encourage people to search for the kind of true love protagonists in rom-coms have. Seeing the aspect of fate bringing two people together in a rom-com, can give people hope towards finding true love in their lives, but can also raise unrealistic expectations in their relationships. Believing the idea of fate bringing a couple together and creating the ‘perfect’ relationship can raise completely unreasonable expectations, causing an unrealistic representation of love in real life. For example, the protagonists in rom-coms are often completely infatuated with each other, a trait that everyone wants in their relationship. Unfortunately, this trait is often unattainable due to the disappointing reality of how humans behave. Countless relationships fall apart due to the imbalance of affection most relationships have, often due to unfaithful partners. Viewers can develop starry-eyed expectations for their partner based on these deeply affectionate rom-com relationships, which are typically unachievable and are an impractical representation of how relationships are in real life.
Romantic film enthusiasts often converge under a singular, vivid emotion: loneliness. Immersing ourselves in the light-hearted escapades of endearing characters offers a reprieve from our own solitude. But as the credits roll and the black screen reveals the cast, we are jolted back to the reality of midnight, alone in our rooms. This phenomenon applies universally across genres, yet it manifests poignantly in romantic comedies. The genuine, profound connections depicted on screen leave many wondering why such relationships seem elusive in real life. Are people truly incapable of experiencing intense affection?
At their core, rom-coms are created by humans and for humans. The raw feelings of affection — essentially obsession — are realistic, but the chance of finding a compatible duo reciprocating the love is like the chances of winning a lottery. As loneliness and insecurity engulfs our senses, we tend to push away people who display their devotion. As Stephen Crobosky aptly wrote, “We accept the love we think we deserve.” Perhaps it is this belief — our own perceived worthiness or unworthiness — that ultimately shapes the relationships we build.
Romantic comedies offer a dual gift: hope and introspection. Whether we find ourselves rooting for fairy-tale endings or savoring the poignancy of love’s imperfections, these films connect us to something universal: the yearning to love and be loved. As the credits roll, we’re left with a choice — will we seek the fleeting magic of cinematic romance or embrace the raw, unpolished love that exists in our own lives?