In a recent New York Times article, writer A.O. Scott opines about the fall of the romantic comedy – or well, any type of romance movie. Why are they so predictable? so formulaic? such one-note songs?

One theory included in this NY Times piece:

"With a few exceptions, though — “Juno” being the current and somewhat controversial example — the rituals of heterosexual courtship no longer provide as flexible or adaptable a framework as they once did." – A.O. Scott

Really? What am I missing here? It feels like, in real life, the rituals of heterosexual courtship (e.g., "dating") have never been so flexible or adaptable. We tend not to "date" in traditional ways. People meet, they hang out, they may or may not hook up, they may or may not see each other, and it’s unclear how long one dates (or to what extent one dates others at the same time or dates exclusively) before one marries or moves in together or has a civil ceremony or a beach-front commitment ceremony, regardless of their sexual orientation.

So I’m missing something about that point… but still I recommend reading the article. I would love for a good romance movie to come along though I’d agree that they are few and far between.

What do you think? Why are romantic movies so predictable? If you made a movie about love, what would it look like? Who would it star? What would it say about love in the time of, if not cholera, then at least chlamydia?

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