User:Noahmayer/sandbox

Evolution and Sub Genres
Romantic Comedies have begun to spread out of their conventional and traditional structure into other territory. This territory explores more Sub-genre and more complex topics. These films still follow the typical plot of “a light and humorous movie, play, etc., whose central plot is a happy love story” but with more complexity. These are a few ways Romantic Comedies are adding more subtlety and complexity into the genre.

Extreme Circumstances
Some Romantic Comedies have adopted extreme or strange circumstances for the main characters. As in Warm Bodies (film) where the protagonist is a zombie who falls in love with a human girl after eating her boyfriend. Another strange set of circumstances is in Zack and Miri Make a Porno where the two protagonists are building a relationship while trying to make a porno together. Both these films take the typical story-arch and then utilize circumstances to add originality.

Flipping Conventions
Other Romantic Comedies flip the standard conventions of the Romantic Comedy genre. In films like 500 Days of Summer the two main interests do not end up together, leaving the protagonist somewhat distraught. While other films like Adam (2009 film) have the two main interests end up separated but still content and pursuing other goals and love interests.

Serious Elements
Other remakes of Romantic Comedies involve similar elements but explore more adult themes such as marriage, responsibility or even disability. Two films by Judd Apatow such as This is 40 or Knocked Up deal with these before mentioned issues. This is 40 chronicles the mid life crisis of a couple entering their 40's and Knocked Up addresses unintended pregnancy and the ensuing assuming of responsibility. While Silver Linings Playbook deals with mental illness and unrequited love that is never resolved.

All of these go against the Stereotype of what Romantic Comedy has become as a genre. Yet the genre of Romantic Comedy is simply a structure and all of these elements do not negate the fact that these films are still Romantic Comedies.