Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, which means it’s time to pop the popcorn, get the snacks and bring all your friends together to binge-watch some romance movies.
Romance is a staple in the movie industry. Almost every genre features some elements of romance even if it is never fleshed out or expanded on throughout the movie. No matter how unpredictable and complex a plot is, I always find myself looking for hints of romantic connections between characters and speculating about which ones might end up together.
One of the first movies centered on romance was The Kiss, a short film released in 1896. It was a simple depiction of everyday romance and featured, as you may have guessed, a kiss.
Following this classic portrayal of love on the big screen, the concept of romantic comedies, also known as romcoms, was born. These movies made love lighthearted. Filled with big laughs and a less intense plotline, films like It Happened One Night released in 1934, took over the scene. Romance movies then evolved to feature more risqué subject matters like sex and affairs.
More progressions were made to improve the genre. To this day certain romance movies continue to impress in the way they take these classic elements and produce truly original plots for us to enjoy on the big screen, while others fail to captivate an audience despite seemingly ticking all the boxes. So, what makes a good romance movie?
In my opinion, well-written characters are the most important part of the movie.
Not the plot or the setting but the characters. Characters are the pillars on which a good plot stands and without them, even the most incredibly well-written plot will fall flat. The people we see on our screens need to be believable. They need clear motivations and intentions and they need to feel real. I think some romance movies give the audience half-baked characters. Where some parts of their personalities seem genuine and other parts don’t. There is no consistency in how the characters act and some decisions they make are not aligned with the persona that has been exposed to the audience.
Believable characters are essential, but a good plot is also very important. Viewers need the emotional rollercoaster. Watching a small miscommunication derail a good relationship or having to sit helplessly through the main character making horrible mistakes can be just as stressful as watching a high-speed chase or death-defying stunt.
In my opinion, a good romance plot usually involves a slow burn. I find that watching love develop slowly on the screen rather than an immediate attraction between the characters gives romance movies a more authentic feel.
Another element that I feel increases the drama is having more than one romantic interest. In my experience, western movies tend to feature the good guy and the bad guy. We hate one and really don’t want the protagonist to end up with them, and we love the other. He is the main guy, and we all feel huge satisfaction when the good guy is chosen in the end. On the other hand, K-dramas usually have two men with relatively equal likability. There is no bad guy and it is less clear who we want the protagonist to end up with.
While both can be effective in amplifying the intensity of the plot, I tend to gravitate toward the K-drama style of second leads. Being conflicted on who the protagonist should end up with or hopelessly rooting for the second lead even though you know he will not get the girl in the end adds extra inclines and sharp turns to the rollercoaster and altogether makes for an even more thrilling ride.
And finally, a laugh. I believe no romance movie is complete without a good dose of comedy to tie everything together.
If you are looking for a good romance movie to enjoy on Valentine’s Day, I would recommend Me Before You. I think it is the best romance movie ever made and I have never met anyone who watched it and did not enjoy it. If period dramas are more your style Pride and Prejudice should definitely be on your watch list. The Proposal is also a great watch. And if you lived under a rock and didn’t watch it already, or if you are a movie repeater, like myself, be sure to watch To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
