Recipe for a Romcom
A step-by-step guide to the perfect romcom
It’s officially that time of year when we settle into layers of thick blankets, cup of hot chocolate (or can of Monster) in hand, ready to delve into the world of rom coms. From the cult classics, like Ten Things I Hate About You (1999), to newer releases such as People We Meet on Vacation (2026), rom coms have integrated themselves into the world of pop culture—for better or for worse, as these movies tend to follow predictable trends. Some find this endearing, while for others, it makes it much harder to take them seriously. Regardless of your view on the genre, if you have been planning to create, partake in, or mock, your very own romcom, this recipe will undoubtedly come in handy throughout the month of February.
INGREDIENTS:
- A cup of likeable, relatable main character. They must be admirable in most ways, and attractive to the general public except those in their own storyworld, yet deeply flawed (read: clumsy).
- 500 grams of a perfect love interest. Usually hidden in plain sight, or highly unattainable to the main character.
- A teaspoon of magic. This can be explained, or left to the audiences’ imagination. Christmas rom coms make this more explicit by having a covertly Santa-like figure appear and wink at the camera.
- Two servings of miscommunication. Actually, double that. The movie’s run time would not last long without this key ingredient.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Start off by showing the audience how helpless the situation is. Our hero has no job prospects, and a failing romantic life. Alternatively, you could start on a high by showing them starting at a new job/class, with great “fish-out-of-water” prospects.
- Mix in the future couple for the first time. For best results, have them hate each other initially, usually accomplished with a healthy dose of miscommunication.
- Raise the stakes. Most successful recipes use a bet (revealed at a dramatic moment), a conflict of interest (revealed at a dramatic moment), or, well you get the idea.
- Slowly stir the chemistry, letting the sparks fly at inconvenient times. Mix in some more miscommunication by having family members and meddling friends intervene.
- Now it’s time for the mandatory makeover scene. Traditionally, this is done with a removal of eyewear, but modern movies have done this magical transformation by having someone take off a beanie.
- This step isn’t necessary, but a love (tri)angle is commonly used as an obstacle to our star-crossed lovers.
- Fool the audience. Make them believe the happy ending is within reach, then drop the dramatic reveal. In film schools, they call this the Third Act Conflict, a tried and tested method.
- Time for the most crucial last ingredient: confession. Everyone knows this could have happened a lot sooner and saved everyone from a lot of pain, so it has to be aesthetically pleasing. Running is recommended. Airports are also highly recommended.
- Put the romcom in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Your happy ending is almost ready!
HOW TO SERVE:Romantic comedies may be a predictable, slightly worn-out topic, but not every movie has to have the production and storytelling traits of an A24 movie. After all, the “comedy” aspect usually goes unnoticed, but romcoms have been dubbed so for a reason. So sit back, cut a slice of your favourite comfort movie, and enjoy!
