Tips for Romantic Comedies

by Robin Rowe

Romantic comedies can be a challenging genre to write because they have a known formula that the audience expects will be delivered. The rom-com audience can be very unforgiving not because the expectations are so high, but because the expectations are so specific. Formula doesn't mean predictable. The writer is expected to deliver surprises within the formula.

The theatrical market for romantic comedies is dating couples. After watching the movie the audience should feel good about love.

Rom-Com Formula

1. It's funny on the page and romantic
2. Flawed yet charming leads
3. One dislikes the other or is firmly convinced they don't belong together
4. They banter in dialog
5. They are forced together by circumstances, mission, or purpose
6. There's a misunderstanding or deception
7. Family, friends, and food are involved
8. There are surprises and revelations
9. They fall in love and finally end up together
10. They help and complete each other
11. They live happily ever after

Common Rom-Com Mistakes

1. Break up at end or downer ending
2. Unlikable lead
3. Annoying sidekick
4. Bickering (fighting) instead of banter (teasing)
5. Lead or supporting characters lacking dimension (quirks, baggage, interests, hobbies, skills, passions)
6. Missing or unbelievable plot
7. Missing or unbelievable subplot
8. Not romantic enough
9. Not funny enough
10. Not visual enough
11. No surprises
12. Too slow
13. Too dark
14. Alienates male or female audience

Hitch is an example that's both rom-com and buddy picture. Still follows the formula. Stories about chasing the fantasy girl date are often buddy pictures, not really rom-coms.

Pillow Talk shows how the guy pretend to be someone else because he would be disliked as himself. Secret identies are a common rom-com plot device.

Knocked Up starts with couple who like each other, then don't, then do again. That they're initially in love and one of them blows it and has to win the other back is a common rom-com plot device.

If you can break the formula and make it work, great. A lot of writers have hit the rocks trying.

Some Movies to Study for Rom-Com Ideas

1. The American President
2. Barefoot in the Park
3. Bewitched
4. Bringing Up Baby
5. Bull Durham
6. Casablanca
7. Dirty Dancing
8. Fever Pitch
9. Fifty First Dates
10. Four Weddings and a Funeral
11. Galaxy Quest
12. Grease
13. High Society
14. Hitch
15. Holiday Inn
16. Laws of Attraction
17. Man's Favorite Sport
18. Miracle on 34th Street
19. Moonstruck
20. My Best Friend's Wedding
21. Philadelphia Story
22. Pillow Talk
23. Pretty Woman
24. Pride & Prejudice
25. Prime
26. Romancing the Stone
27. Shakespeare in Love
28. Shall We Dance (Japanese version and J.Lo version)
29. Shrek
30. Splash
31. Strictly Ballroom
32. That Touch of Mink
33. The Thin Man
34. Wedding Crashers
35. The Wedding Banquet
36. The Wedding Date
37. When Harry Met Sally
38. While You Were Sleeping
39. White Christmas
40. Working Girl
41. You've Got Mail