Yes, I said it. Romantic comedies are bad for you! Now, does this mean that you should never watch a romantic comedy ever again? No. However, what happens in a romantic comedy should stay within the film. Don’t try to replicate it in real life.
What’s the worst type of romantic comedies? The ones that have a Disney-type of narrative to them. Why? Because they teach you nothing and fill your head with unrealistic expectations.
Having said that, there are still some good romantic comedies out there. Let me explain. The best romantic comedies are the ones that aren’t trying to be romantic or look “pretty”. In addition, I find love stories with a touch of dark humour way more interesting. You see, it’s very hard to replicate dark humour. When you make light of a difficult subject, you’re creating an unintentional comedic situation. Does that make sense? For instance, have you ever watched Phantom Thread? That’s an unintentional romantic comedy for me. Why? Because it’s a twisted love story with a dash of humour.
5 Good Reasons Why Romantic Comedies Are Bad For You!
Everything that you’ve read so far is just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty more reasons why traditional romantic comedies are bad for you!
#1 – Unrealistic Relationship Standards
This one really kills the genre for me. What you see in a romantic comedy should never be considered the norm. These stories should be viewed as exceptions. This goes from the grand romantic gestures to how the characters meet for the first time. In addition, everything is so over the top. Having said that, if you measure yourself against these impossible standards, you’ll go crazy.
#2 – Unrealistic Characters
Not only they’re not that interesting, they are also unrealistic. People in real life are not that lovely, silly or oblivious. However, I’m going to give this one a pass. Why? Because we’re talking about romantic comedies. In this parallel universe, everything is supposed to be pretty. Besides, if the characters are too complex, they become harder to “digest”.
#3 – Gender Stereotypes
Let’s talk about gender stereotypes. So who’s watching romantic comedies? In other words, who’s this genre’s main target audience? Women. However, most of these stories are being told from a male point of view. Well, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out how wrong this can go. That might explain a lot. No wonder the female characters in this genre are so “flat”.
#4 – Terrible Advice
Romantic comedies tend to give horrible love advice. If you’re planning to apply some of the “tricks” to get the guy or girl that you want, forget about it. Stop it right now! Let me explain. For instance, if you’re following your romantic interest to see where they live, you’re technically a stalker.
5# – Happy Endings
Happy endings per se are not bad. Of course it’s good when things end well. However, what does that mean? Whether you like it or not, what you see on media has always some sort of impact on what you expect from life. So, if things are not running smoothly with your current partner, does that mean you have to leave? Not necessarily. Happy endings are not given, they are created. You have to work for them.
As you can see, there are many good reasons why romantic comedies are bad for you! Nonetheless, it’s safe to watch them if you’re doing it for entertainment purposes. Note here, the keyword here is entertainment. Romantic comedies should never be a guide for your current love life. Never.
