Romantic comedy

Romantic comedies are a film genre. Also known as "rom-coms", they are an offshoot of both romance films and comedy films. More than most other genres, romantic comedies tend to use a formulaic storytelling structure, which is common to most films that fall under this category. The driving focus of a romantic comedy is the introduction of two characters, male and female (usually), which is often referred to in movie terms as a "meet cute", the establishment of romantic chemistry or tension, the introduction of conflicting elements, and finally, the resolution in which the two characters establish themselves in a stable relationship.

Romantic comedies are also referred to as "chick flicks", which operates under the idea that they are specifically designed to cater towards a female demographic. Because females tend to be the target audience in rom coms, it is not uncommon for the female lead in a movie to take on the role of a sympathetic character, who is either a strong-willed individual that the audience can root for, or a victim that the audience engenders sympathy for. The guy however, usually comes off as a total tit, and is usually the cause behind all of the problems behind the relationship. This is a generalization of course and is not indicative of all romantic comedies, but it is the reason why most guys would prefer to watch Pulp Fiction over Moonstruck.

It should also be noted that while traditional comedies may also include romantic elements to them, this does not make them romantic comedies. In a romantic comedy, the romance subplot is the driving force of the movie.

Films

 * Moonstruck (1987)