Poll: Guys and Romantic Comedies

[bobmus]

I'm a guy, and a fan of romantic comedies in general. However, I've often found that this is a genre many men will scoff at, overlooking the fact that moves such as Love Actually are some of the funniest movies any person can watch.
It might be that this is just something they don't like to admit in person though, and are fine to talk about online, so I thought I'd put to to a poll!
Discuss away Escapists.

[Disclaimer: It is my understanding that the Escapist does in fact feature some female members. Feel free to share your thoughts on the subject as well!]

 

[Amberella]

As a woman myself, I rarely enjoy romantic comedies. I'd rather watch an adventure/action/horror flick any day. But on occasion I will watch one.

 

[Agent Larkin]

I'm not sure if this counts 100% but I thought Mean Girls was a hilarious movie.

If that doesn't count as a Rom-Com then I also very much enjoyed 27 Dresses.

Really like any film genre bar horror (I really don't enjoy horror) if it's done well I'll enjoy it.

Captcha: Death Key, WTF?

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

They can be good, but often they are not.

I think that a lot of men see rom-coms the way women see porn. As basically a grosely unrealistic and idealised representation of the opposite sex...it's clear these things are aimed at women.

 

[DoPo]

Too often these movies fail on the "comedy" part. Which is an issue, as I really like comedy. Other than that, I don't really mind them. I wouldn't go out of my way to watch one, so if I catch one on the TV or something and if it's OK-ish, I'll go ahead and watch it, otherwise I pretty much ignore them. One of my ex-flatmates was a huge fan of the romantic comedies, though, and he was a man.

 

[bobmus]

I'm not sure if this counts 100% but I thought Mean Girls was a hilarious movie.

Mean Girls - seemingly the one movie that's fair game for everyone to enjoy.
http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyfkx77Hfg1r9orhdo1_500.gif

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

Guy here, I hate romantic comedies. The only exception for me would 500 days of summer which I did enjoy alot.

 

[krazykidd]

I'm a man and i hate them. The reason?

They can be good, but often they are not.

I think that a lot of men see rom-coms the way women see porn. As basically a grosely unrealistic and idealised representation of the opposite sex...it's clear these things are aimed at women.

This basically sum it up. Plus it's cheeseY and predictable.

 

[bernardblack]

Rom coms are just like any other movie genre. Some are really good, some are absolute crap, and some are just unremarkable.

I'll watch one every once in a while but I prefer action movies and thrillers.

 

[5-0]

I generally don't like them, but I'm not gonna dismiss a whole genre cause I'm sure there are some I enjoyed...can't actually remember any right now...um...I think I enjoyed Love Actually and About A Boy. So I guess Richard Curtis is alright. A few others: Hitch and High Fidelity.
The problem, as someone else said, is they often fail at the comedy part, and when all you're left with is an often formulaic romance story, I turn off. Actually I generally dislike most Hollywood comedies really. It's difficult to find any good ones. But as long as it makes me laugh a lot, I can forgive clumsy plotting or whatever.

 

[Dags90]

I prefer musicals. Rom coms are pretty much musicals without music...boring.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I'm not sure if this counts 100% but I thought Mean Girls was a hilarious movie.

Mean Girls - seemingly the one movie that's fair game for everyone to enjoy.
http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyfkx77Hfg1r9orhdo1_500.gif

It was based on a non-fiction pop psychology book, which may explain the fairness. Which reminds me; I've been wanting to read it for ages.

Edit: As for romcoms, I can enjoy them, but they're hardly my favorite genre. I also blame them entirely for the friendzone. Not for the way When Harry Met Sally talked about men and women being incapable of being friends, but for showing a fantasy version of dating that is exactly what the guys who complain about getting friendzoned are trying to do. Think about it; you know it's true.

 

[bobmus]

I prefer musicals. Rom coms are pretty much musicals without music...boring.

-.- Musicals tend to be romantic dramas with music to be honest. The comedy musical is a rare breed.
(Raised on a healthy diet of theatre and musical trips to London)

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I prefer musicals. Rom coms are pretty much musicals without music...boring.

-.- Musicals tend to be romantic dramas with music to be honest. The comedy musical is a rare breed.
(Raised on a healthy diet of theatre and musical trips to London)

Reminds me, actually: Legally Blonde: The Musical managed to be better than Legally Blonde proper. With very few exceptions, I absolutely can't stand the big movie musicals of the 50's and 60s, but oddly enough, I tend to like real broadway musicals. I haven't seen anything that originated in the West End, except for Phantom of the Opera, which from what I understand was completely changed for its broadway premiere.

 

[bobmus]

I haven't seen anything that originated in the West End, except for Phantom of the Opera, which from what I understand was completely changed for its broadway premiere.

:O
Does that mean the entire catalogue of Andrew Lloyd Webber? Because that's quite an achievement really...

Shit, wait, this means, Les Miserables too!! You should fix that.

 

[Vault101]

depends on your definetion of "romantic comedy"

99% the "comedy part" is horribly weak and soon gives way to an awful waful AWFUL cliche's woman hating romance

other times its sweet and funny

my favorite rom com?

Punch drunk Love

[i/] And I have a lot of puddings, and in six to eight weeks it can be redeemed. So if you could just give me that much time, I think I can get enough mileage to go with you wherever you go if you have to travel for your work. Because I don't ever want to be anywhere without you. So could you just let me redeem the mileage?" [/i]

doesnt get much sweeter than that

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I haven't seen anything that originated in the West End, except for Phantom of the Opera, which from what I understand was completely changed for its broadway premiere.

:O
Does that mean the entire catalogue of Andrew Lloyd Webber? Because that's quite an achievement really...

Shit, wait, this means, Les Miserables too!! You should fix that.

Ah, you're right. I've seen Cats, which I doubt was significantly changed from its West End form. And I couldn't stand it, but I'm not going to hold that against the West End. You're right about Les Miserables too, but while I'm not opposed to seeing it if I get the chance, I don't really go out of my way to watch musicals; my sister is the huge broadway fan, and every now and then she'll find some cheap tickets and the whole family will go.

Edit: Funny thing about Cats; the book of poems that the lyrics came from, Uncle Possum's Practical Book of Cats, is actually kind of entertaining. I didn't like the musical because even Andrew Lloyd Weber can't squeeze a coherent, let alone gripping, narrative out of a book of unrelated poems about various cats and their doings.

 

[Dags90]

-.- Musicals tend to be romantic dramas with music to be honest. The comedy musical is a rare breed.
(Raised on a healthy diet of theatre and musical trips to London)

Modern stage plays have their roots in the Edwardian musical comedies that replaced operas...

If they've fallen out of favor on your side of the pond that's most unfortunate, I love Me and My Girl.

 

[Matthew Kjonaas]

Do you know that moment when you try to watch a movie that both people want to watch but it ends up being unpleasant for both people? Well that is basically what happened... so let just say not usually.

 

[bobmus]

Ah, you're right. I've seen Cats, which I doubt was significantly changed from its West End form. And I couldn't stand it, but I'm not going to hold that against the West End. You're right about Les Miserables too, but while I'm not opposed to seeing it if I get the chance, I don't really go out of my way to watch musicals; my sister is the huge broadway fan, and every now and then she'll find some cheap tickets and the whole family will go.

Cats is pretty much the low point of Webber's career, there's much better stuff out there.

If you've never seen Les Mis, I can't recommend it enough.