G321 - Two Romantic comedy film openings analysis

The story line of a romantic comedy is usually very predictable (Boy and girl meet. They begin a relationship. A problem occurs. They overcome this problem. end up together "Happily Ever After"). Some example divert from these usual plot points, for example 500 Days Of Summer (2009) sees the two lead characters ending up in different relationships hat aren't with each other, after a difficult relationship.

Usually the target audience are females as it is believe that men don't like the romance involved in the films - although this is not necessarily true and it is often seen that many men enjoy Romantic Comedies. Some Rom-Coms are aimed towards the male audience instead of female. For example Shallow Hal (2001). This is aimed more towards the male audience as not only does it follow a male through the story, but the story line is all about the stereotype of males only showing interest in a woman because of her physical appearance. A film such as Friends With Benefits (2011) is aimed towards both male and female audiences as it focuses on two lead characters (a male and a female) and the unconventional relationship they form that many people can relate to.

Shalow Hal (2001) - Trailer

The film is clearly a romantic comedy as the narrative demonstrates that the film is about a romance involving ridiculous situations that don't happen in real life. The lead character Hal (Jack Black) is incredibly shallow and only bases his choice of woman on looks. He meets a hypnotist who hypnotises him to see the beauty inside of a person but on the outside, changing their physical appearance only to him. He doesn't know this and meets a woman (Gwyneth Paltrow) who he sees to be beautiful and others see to be ugly. It all ends happily after Hal discovers he's been hypnotised, but realises he's fallen in love with her no matter what she looks like.

The emphasis on the stereotype of men only taking a woman's appearance into account when finding a girlfriend aims the film towards men as in the end the male stays with the female because of her personality. The opening line within the narration of this trailer says

"Every man has a dream. Every man has a fantasy. Every man has an image, of the perfect woman."

The repetition of the word man shows clearly that this film is aimed towards men as it follows the story of a man.

Friend With Benefits (2011) - trailer

The narrative of this film follows two lead characters (a male and a female) who have both just come out of relationships. They are both fed up of going through the same situations in every relationships. The two characters agree to become "Friends with benefits" meaning they would stay friends and have no emotional attachment to each other, but they would only have a physical relationship. This doesn't end well - as expected by the audience - and the two characters then avoid eachother. They eventually end up together as a Rom-Com always will.

This film is aimed at both male and female audiences as we follow both a male and female through a story. Males will be able to relate to the male character and females will be able to relate to the female character. In reality some people do have friends with benefits so they may be able to relate to the characters within the film. Those audience members who do not have a friends with benefits situation will most probably be interested in this new/alien idea of no emotions in a relationships.

Katie Pridige