Who can forget Hugh Grant in the movie “Four weddings and one funeral‘like the charming but sworn bachelor Charles who ends up falling in love with the Carrie he met at the wedding? Who didn’t smile on stageWake up in Seattle» Where does Eli meet the voice she heard on the radio keeping her company? And who hasn’t stepped in the shoes of Julianne from the movie?my best friend’s weddingwhen she found out that her ex-partner was getting ready to marry someone he didn’t like and was planning to end the union?

Good stories that “speak directly” to the viewer, eliciting familiarity. The simple scenarios on the big screen were presented intelligently and in a compelling way, encouraging viewers to watch them over and over again. Sayings that are timeless and are part of pop culture. A genre that stood out, developed, “blew away” and is now slowly reviving.

Rise and bubble burst

From the late 1980s to the early 2000s, a number of filmmakers ushered in the modern era of romantic comedies, as it has been called. American journalist, writer and director Nora Ephron for example, he created three iconic films of the genre: When Harry Met Sally (1989), Wake Up in Seattle (1993), and You’ve Got a Message on Your Computer (1998). Accordingly in the UK screenwriter, producer and director Richard Curtis he singled out British-made sentimental comedies with films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), An Evening in Notting Hill (1999) and Love Actually (2003).

But what ingredients made the rom-com recipe a success? In the case of When Harry Met Sally, the setting is idyllic: from the New York shots reminiscent of Annie Hall and other Woody Allen projects to the soundtrack, the film never ceases to radiate “warmth” even in its most intense moments. Of course, main characters Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal are especially convincing in their performances. The characters they play seem close to us.

The filmmakers focused on romance and friendship. Nothing else matters in the world of characters. The structure is not saturated with secondary stories, which allows for more detailed exploration of topics such as friendship and love. And this is the element that keeps the film fresh even decades after its release.

In Four Weddings and a Funeral, themes such as the pursuit of commitment, friendship and love are treated with humor, and the script is not without “salty” touches, which, however, are an unpleasant pleasure for many. At the heart of Pretty Woman, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, is the importance of true love, which brings happiness and overshadows work, money or social status.

But aside from the plot and dialogue, one of the most beloved romantic comedy genres of the 1990s was the actors. The names of Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, Hugh Grant, Tom Hanks and others. they are inextricably linked to rom-coms. In fact, according to the ScreenRant website, the cast was a major factor in the box office success of comedies released in 1998 and 1999.

However, the success did not last long as the film category that once dominated Hollywood began to fade. The early 2000s were replaced by franchises, superheroes, and other titles dominated by technology and spectacular effects. Gradually, romantic comedies no longer fit on the map. Of course, there have also been pleasant surprises from time to time, such as the films The Easy Way A (2010) and Crazy Stupid Love (2011).

Come back

Today, major studios and mostly streaming platforms like Netflix are trying to bring back the comedy we’ve been missing out on. And while films such as Always Be Mine, Maybe, Marry Me, and Your Place or Mine are loved by the audience, they are not at all like a model of the past. Usually the story is predictable, but there is no script. A unique and welcome change is a performance we didn’t see in the 90s. Now in the cast there are people of different nationalities.

To the question “why don’t they make rom-coms anymore”, a possible answer is the evolution of cinema, the lack of screenwriters, or simply the different needs of society and the fast pace of everyday life. But nostalgia and the need for something authentic and “welcoming” will always make us return to the beautiful 90s. Another reason is that actors – the “kings” of the genre have moved up the career ladder, participating in films of different styles.

But the most important factor, according to the Business Insider website, is that after seeing the rise in the box office with comic book adaptations, the studios are focusing on them. Since 2014, production companies have released superhero films almost every year. By the end of 2017, five of them were shown in multiplexes. But Iron Man and Wonder Woman aren’t the only ones to blame for the demise of the romantic comedy. The studios have lost touch with how today’s young people approach and develop relationships, and can’t accurately capture this in fiction. Consequently, elements of romantic comedies can now be seen in more independent films.

However, over the years, films such as The Obvious Kid (2014) and Sleeping With Other People (2015) have proven that an element of drama can coexist with the lighter romantic comedy focusing on modern-day dating.

And the golden age of comedy may be over, but Hollywood is hoping for a resurgence. The audience will always be interested in something more truthful, which will cause them joy and tenderness.