Last autumn, anyone online was aware of writer Chante Joseph’s Vogue story that argued that having a boyfriend was the height of embarrassment. Fast forward six months, and it seems, to quote Charli XCX, “everything is romantic.” From celebrity couples to couples’ outfits to steamy love stories in movies and TV, we are in the age of “rom-comification.”
There’s that rom-com guy at the center of it all. Dear. Kind Dedicated. funny. Looking good in a jumper…Properties can This is one of the qualities that any person can look for in their ideal life partner. And if that’s you, you may well find them this year – at least on screen, anyway.
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Sure, our romantic relationships have always been influenced by storybook partnerships. Watch classic films written by women like 1989 when harry met sallyin which the protagonists originally began as friends, and the original 2001 bridget jonesIn which Colin Firth plays a sleeping diamond of a man who is finally discovered after Bridget comes to her senses after entertaining a charming Hugh Grant. And recently, bridgerton Viewers have found themselves jealous of the sexy, electric chemistry between Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey’s respective characters, In part because it’s based on deep, soul-level affection that signals something real.
This is a character we are familiar with, who has returned to film and TV after some hiatus. Chris Evans as a second-chance hero celine song materialist For Adam Brody’s sensitive rabbi no one wants this and Will Sharp’s emotionally intelligent goth in Lena Dunham Too much. latest? Robert Pattinson As a museum director, with glasses and a messy haircut, in contrast Zendaya In DramaThe new A24 film will be released this month.
Meanwhile, it seems that art is imitating life in the celebrity-couples sphere, with this so-called “rom-comification” happening in A-list couples. Gracie Abrams And Paul Mescal resembles the beloved heroine and hero of any movie, whether it’s at a baseball game or oscar; Callum Turner and dua lipa They are regularly seen hugging and sharing jokes in holiday photos and on the red carpet, and then this is what happens Harry Styles And zoe kravitzStrolling around Manhattan (peak rom-com territory) wearing matching fits. Whether real or fictional, this rom-com—and rom-com guy—feels like it so Back. Previously the pecking order was narrowed down to those who were a little more mysterious and enigmatic (see Adam Driver or Bradley Cooper), we’ve all realized that someone obviously sweet and loving — what the Internet often calls the “Golden Retriever boyfriend” — isn’t actually half bad.
emma firthAn author, brand consultant and founder of the literary salon Rejection is Romantic, “grew up on a cultural diet of mostly late ’80s and ’90s rom-coms.” She says a key quality of a rom-com guy is intelligence, and this has shaped what she wants in a relationship. She says, “A guy who has a sense of humor, a healthy level of self-awareness, and an attractive knit sweater collection is more attractive than some random hot guy.”
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holly bedingfieldThe woman behind the pop culture newsletter capsulerecently wrote about how boyfriends can be cool again. She points to films she watched as a teenager. “(He) pretty much shaped what I thought a first boyfriend should look like, and then obviously, you start going out with a guy who just loves his Xbox and it’s like ‘Okay, I didn’t think it would be like this.'”
Whereas Firth’s Obviously it is better not to focus on finding that film ideal, some qualities will always be big ticks. “The rom-com guys I’ve crushed on over the years have shown kindness, emotional maturity, a lack of vanity, a deep curiosity about you, what makes you laugh, what makes you feel good,” she tells me. “These are forever lovable qualities – and not crazy things to want in a life partner.”
I asked my friends – in true teen-girl fashion – who their celebrity crushes are at the moment, and the men they’ve decided are their internet boyfriends fit the rom-com-guy brief. Along with Mescal and Styles, favorites include Henry Golding (“He’s so charming”) and Regé-Jean Page (“Honestly, the man of my dreams”). This “Golden Retriever Boyfriend” title became much discussed; This is an ideal that is defined by boundless enthusiasm, adoration of one’s partner, and a “very nice guy” type of handsomeness.
If the rom-com persona has long influenced our view of relationships, so too have celebrity unions. beddingfield The argument is that love is a commonality we all share. “As[celebrities’]careers develop, and their lifestyles become very different from those of their fans, intimate relationships become the main thing we can connect to,” she says. whether david and Victoria Beckhama$ap rocky and Rihanna Or actually JFK Jr. and caroline bassettWe love to immerse ourselves in a glamorous, real-life love story. Social media only increases our drive, where we can see ongoing stories with every scroll, and new and returning characters regularly populate our feeds.
Perhaps what was previously “angry” is now worth embracing. After months of being engrossed in on-screen romance Wuthering Heights, heated rivalry And love storyWe want happy endings, we want proper romance. Firth of Forth Definitely in favor of all these new celebrity PDAs. She says, “Personally, I think the most embarrassing thing you can do in a relationship is not show up for your partner, not cheer them on loudly, not celebrate their wins and their endless support.” “And if these IRL rom-com moments — whether people consider them ‘performative’ or not — encourage a little more hand-holding and cheering, then I say a job well done.” Let rom-comification flourish.
