Chick Flick vs. Bromantic Comedies

-
How can you tell the difference between a chick flick and a bromantic comedy?  Both have romantic themes, but one girls babble about for hours afterwards. The other, the girl comes out feeling cheated like she'd spent two hours trying on clothes and coming home empty handed. 

So what is the difference between the two types of movies?  First clue is see who picked the movie for date night.  If it's the guy, uh-oh, it's probably a bromantic comedy.  Certain actors send up red flags as to what kind of movie it is (Adam Sandler doesn't do Jane Austen).  Usually, you can identify them by the tropes that run through each of these movies.

If you see this popular trope: Average Girl does something absolutely embarrassing right in front of Hot Guy, in my fantasy it's Chris Evans.  He finds it endearing, attractive even.  There is "funky chemistry."  There may be some fighting where the Average Girl treats Hot Guy like dirt.  They are separated. It seems not "meant to be" and yet he still comes back for more.  There is much happiness and much kissing in the end.  You are watching a chick flick. (Think Nanny Diaries, Shopaholic, You've Got Mail, etc.)

If on the other hand, it's a movie about an Average Guy with a crazy dream, Hot Girl finds crazy dream exciting, joins him on his adventures, (Hot Girl also likes hot cars, action flicks and rocky road ice cream--his favorite). The Average Guy has smooth dialogue like, "I want you," and Hot Girl immediately swoons into bed with him.  Red flag, it's a bromantic comedy. (Think Bewitched--or pretty much anything in your Will Ferrel collection.)

Are there movies that bridge the gap?  That excite both men and women? What would they look like?  Well, the Hero must be dashing and good looking.  The fair Heroine must be his equal.  They must have funky chemistry.  They must have adventures.  THERE MUST BE SOME KISSING!  And maybe some things blowing up.  (Examples are Pirates of the Caribbean, maybe Hunger Games--I still haven't seen it! Our favorite: Scarlet Pimpernel with Jayne Seymore.)




Comments

  1. ChristineMay 8, 2012 at 10:28 PM

    Hate to say it but based on your definition above, Mr. and Mrs. Smith fits the bill. Plus it is HILARIOUS!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AZMay 8, 2012 at 10:36 PM

    Yes! You're right! Ahahhah! Good times!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alysa StewartMay 9, 2012 at 8:15 PM

    I am having a Scarlet Pimpernel party this Friday!! How fun that you blogged about it. And does that mean I should check out Mr. and Mrs. Smith?

    ReplyDelete
  4. AZMay 9, 2012 at 9:22 PM

    Oh, how funny!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alysa StewartMay 9, 2012 at 10:09 PM

    Jacob comments that Knight and Day bridges the gap as well! And it's funny. We both liked it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AZMay 10, 2012 at 1:49 PM

    I'll look it up! Sounds like fun! I love movies that bridge the gap!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top Ten Tips for Fighting Discouragement

-
I asked my most ardent fans (my daughter and my husband) what I should write about on my blog and my daughter said I should write about encouraging others to keep writing. I feel like I've learned a lot in writing for the past ten years, and I'd love to share. Writing, and almost any other creative endeavor is a long process. From the spiritual creation or idea of it until its execution and finished product can take months if not years. Keeping going during that time can become a challenge. Here are my tips to stay motivated. 1. Remember why you started in the first place. I am a storyteller. I always have been. I'm horrid at asking questions but learning. But I think of funny scenarios. I'm the dreamer. Someone tells me a detail and I create a story. I don't write for the royalty check. I don't write to be famous-- although that would be nice. I write because I believe fiction can heal. I write because I believe we all need to safely escape. I write becaus...
Read more

Spring Break Bookaplaooza book feature

-
Image
Need a book to read this spring? Are you having a book slump? Need to find a new author to enjoy? Looking for sassy heroines, alpha males, tissue romances, or a feel-good, funny read? Well, I have just the thing for you! Enter the Spring Break Bookapalooza. Be sure to click on this link to check it out. My romantic suspense book Baker's Dozen is being featured today! I talk about my dream spring break (hint: it's in France) and what I love about spring. And while you are there, check out many of the other authors featured on the site. You may find something that catches your eye. Leave a comment to interact with the authors and let them know what you think about their cover, their except or their dream spring break. Many of these authors are also published under my publisher, The Wild Rose Press. PLUS you can enter to win one of many Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift cards with this link to the rafflecopter contest. You can earn bonus entries by following participating aut...
Read more

At what point do you call yourself a writer?

-
When I was nine years old, I took a piece of blue construction paper and stapled it around some blank computer paper. I titled the book, Young Author. I didn't know what I was going to write in there, but I knew it was going to be good! I wanted to write mysteries. I read a whole lot of Nancy Drew at the time, everything in the local library and bought a few dozen more with my own money. (My daughter has them on her bookshelf as I write this--no way was I getting rid of those.) I attended a few workshops, dreamed, scribbled in notebooks, started a dozen stories, wrote a play (in fourth grade) and a scene I took to drama competition, took some Creative Writing classes in college. But it wasn't until nine years ago that I decided I was going to do it. I had read a book that contradicted the thought that I had to be wildly talented to get published (a popular belief that I held or held me back), I only had to work hard, gain experience, and learn skills. In roughly ten years, ...
Read more