Modern Romantic Comedies – Updating A Classic Movie Genre

Modern Romantic Comedies – the Films of Hugh Grant

 Many people fondly think back to the 1930s and the 1950s as the heyday of romantic comedy in the movies. However, modern romantic comedies have quietly proven that the last 20 years have been a renaissance of this treasured art form.

Julia Roberts & Hugh Grant “Notting Hill”

Classic romantic comedies were all about the relationship between a seemingly mismatched, but truly right for each other couple. Modern romantic comedies followed the same pattern but have the added benefit of selecting societal issues that films of earlier generation couldn’t touch. “When Harry Met Sally,” as an example, deals with  the loneliness that comes after a man is widowed. “You’ve Got Mail”  is an updating of the classic “The Shop Around The Corner” turning penthouses into people who have “met” on the Internet and dealing with how communities change when big-box stores replace neighborhood shops.  

Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford In “Morning Glory”

 In this three-part series, we will look at conventions and unique joys of modern romantic comedies. among the films we will focus on will be “Notting Hill,”  ” Shall We Dance,” & “Morning Glory.” Each of these are modern romantic comedies designed for an adult audience and each stands up beautifully as an example of how a treasured cinema art form can be translated into contemporary times.

Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez in Shall We Dance