Harris Takes on Hollywood: “NO”

The romance genre falls into many of the same pitfalls as the horror or action genres, which is to say that the films often say nothing at all of significance. Not every movie has to have a deeper meaning or be filled to the brim with subtextual brilliance, but it is more often than not that the romance genre fails to say anything at all. Many of these movies have been designed for the mindless viewer to turn on without really paying attention or to receive anything by the end of it. Similar to the horror genre, they follow a typical story that becomes predictable within the first 30 minutes, and by the end, you’re satisfied, but only because you’re not looking for something that will pique your interest.

Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule, but many romance staples don’t venture far from this point. Even movies I adore, such as “When Harry Met Sally…” (1989), are only upheld by dialogue and cast chemistry. It’s not to say that these are bad movies, but the romance genre as a whole churns out slop faster than a pig-feeding factory.

Due to this, romance usually has to get paired with other genres. There’s an argument to be made that romance is at the base of all stories, but that doesn’t mean that it works as a standalone feature. Having to be paired with a similarly weak genre like comedy is the signifier of this fault. The rom-com is popular because of the pairing, but separating the two from each other is like eating pancakes with no syrup. You could do it, but it won’t be as enjoyable as the two put together — if you eat syrup alone, you’re a freak.

Champagne and a Movie: “YES”

As a defender of the romance genre, I encourage viewers to lean into the corniness of a good rom-com and allow themselves to be entertained. While romance may not be the genre you look to for perfect cinematography, I believe that the genre of romance ranges widely between topics and has something for everyone.

The personal draw to the romance genre for me is that it can apply to many stages of life: if you’re in a new relationship or just got out of one, if you’re on a date, if you’re with your friends or if you’re alone and heartbroken. A romance movie is comforting. In various stages of my life, I’ve turned to romance movies to be comforted or to just give me a good cry. Romance in real life can be lame! Romance movies are fun whether or not the main characters end up together. In fact, some of my favorites end in a way that is so gut-wrenching you need to chase it with a happier movie.

I think the romance genre gets a bad rep because people focus mainly on the bad ones, specifically Hallmark movies. Newsflash! Every genre has bad movies. There could be no “Sharknado” (2013) without “The Shining” (1980), the same way there could be no mass-produced Hallmark slop without “Call Me By Your Name” (2017) or “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999). At the end of the day, films are supposed to be entertaining and make you feel things, and a good romance movie does both!