The Radical Side Romantic Comedies

The decades in which films are made usually reflect society at that point in time. And the romantic comedy is no different. In the late 1960s huge changes were happening among American society. Revolutionary movements, radical thinking, civil protests were all apart of the 60s all the way through the 70s. Films were definitely changing with the times. The normal standards of the earlier films, like the nuclear family, were becoming less and less normal everyday. The idea of divorce and single parents became something that was very real among families. Women are starting to be known as an equal to men. In the film 10, the main character that is obsessed with a woman that he believes to at the top, above all other women, including his girlfriend. He has the this image of the perfect girl in his head. He's also going through a mid-life crisis. It seems as though the young girl is a way to hold on to his youth. Through another youthful being. The problem for him is that the youth of his time is way different than the youth of his present. For example in the scene where they are about to commit adultery, she exclaims that she does what makes her happy even if that is cheating on her husband. She wouldn't mind her husband cheating on her as long as it makes him happy. The idea of breaking moral standards is okay, if it makes you happy, is something the main character isn't used to. Going into the 80s and 90s the romantic comedies began to change a bit with times. The film Pretty in Pink is a perfect example. About a love triangle between two poor best friends and a rich boy. In the film Andy, a poor, unpopular girl and Blaine, rich, popular guy, fall for each other despite their differences. Duckie, also a poor, unpopular kid, is in love with Andy but plays it off as joke because they're best friends. When Duckie finds out that Andy is dating Blaine he becomes very angry with them both. He's afraid she'll get hurt. Of course, in the beginning Andy and Blaine go through obstacles because of their differences. The rich kids are seen as selfish, spoiled, and can get away with anything. While the poor kids work hard for what they got and are even discriminated against in the school. This film is reflective of the times where two types of people. Those that were rich and powerful and those that were poor and worked hard for what little they had.