Romantic comedies are meant to make us laugh, cry a little, and believe in love. But when you rewatch some of the so-called “romantic comedies,” a lot of the classic rom coms don’t hold up. Jokes that once seemed funny feel offensive, and relationships that were seen as cute now come across as manipulative or creepy. Here are the classic rom-coms that feel weirdly wrong.
She’s All That
This late-90s teen rom-com was a huge hit and made the “makeover” trope iconic. Zack bets his friends he can turn Laney, an artsy outsider, into the prom queen. The big transformation was taking off her glasses and adding some light makeup. It’s meant to be a magical moment, but it now feels shallow and insulting.
The bigger issue is how Zack handles the bet. He hides the truth from Laney, and she only finds out when someone else reveals it. Instead of real consequences, he still gets the happy ending. On top of that, Dean, who tries to take advantage of Laney, faces no real punishment. What was once framed as fun and romantic now feels manipulative and uncomfortable.
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Never Been Kissed
Drew Barrymore’s ‘Never Been Kissed‘ had a creative idea: an insecure journalist goes undercover in high school and relives her teenage struggles. The problem is the romance. Josie starts falling for her English teacher, Sam, and the twist is that Sam also starts to fall for her.
The issue is that Sam believes Josie is a teenager. Even though the audience knows she’s an adult, he doesn’t, and he openly flirts with her. Very inappropriate!
Love Actually
This Christmas staple comes packed with charming moments and has been beloved for years. But one of its most famous scenes has soured over time. Mark, played by Andrew Lincoln, silently confesses his love to Juliet, his best friend’s wife, by holding up cue cards outside her door.
At the time, viewers swooned at the grand gesture. But now, it feels selfish and disrespectful not only to Juliet, but also to his friendship with her husband. Rather than a romantic moment, it now reads as crossing boundaries.
50 First Dates
Henry meets Lucy, who has a form of amnesia that prevents her from forming new memories. Every day, he has to win her over again. But the ending flips that on its head. Lucy wakes up on a boat with a video explaining she’s married, has a daughter, and is living a life she doesn’t remember.
Instead of being heartwarming, it feels disturbing. Lucy has no real choice in the matter, and every morning she’s forced to face a shocking reality she never consented to.
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Miss Congeniality
Sandra Bullock’s undercover beauty pageant romp remains a fan favourite. But one of its jokes makes it hard to watch today. The film casually cracks a joke about eating disorders and just moves on.
Even with a female writer on the team, it shows how serious issues were dismissed for quick laughs. While the movie still has charm, moments like this haven’t aged well at all.
Grease
‘Grease’ made John Travolta a household name. It was a fun musical with a splash of romance that still makes fans nostalgic. Yet it’s undeniable that the movie had misogynistic elements like casual references to sexual assault. Remember when Danny pressurised Sandy in the car? Yeah, that wouldn’t fly today.
Also, the drastic makeover trope feels jarring. The girl had to change herself to win Danny’s approval, while his efforts were minimal at best. In retrospect, things are problematic, but at the time, the love story was lighthearted perfection.
John Tucker Must Die
Although it’s marketed as a girl-power comedy, this movie focuses on three girls teaming up to exact revenge on a serial cheater. But many of its jokes haven’t aged well.
For instance, a same-sex kiss between two characters is played entirely for the male gaze, not for the story. In another scene, John is given estrogen and starts acting like a cartoonish version of an emotional girl. Cringe!
Wedding Crashers
This box-office hit was quite popular for its comedic angle about two men crashing weddings for hookups. But one scene now gives us the cringe. Mrs. Cleary, played by Jane Seymour, forces John to touch her chest, and apparently, it’s a joke.
At the time, audiences shrugged it off. But if you look at the scene now, it feels weirdly wrong. And now, the whole scene feels like sexual harassment.
The Breakfast Club
Widely praised as one of the greatest teen movies ever, ‘The Breakfast Club‘ gave surprising depth to high school stereotypes. But not everything about it has aged gracefully, especially the relationship between Bender and Claire.
One scene in particular is hard to watch now. Bender hides under Claire’s desk and puts his face between her legs while she’s wearing a skirt. The film brushes past this violation, and later rewards him with Claire’s affection.
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Bride Wars
Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson star as lifelong best friends who turn into enemies when their weddings are accidentally scheduled for the same day. Instead of compromising, they try to ruin each other’s big moments.
The movie sends the wrong message. It suggests female friendships are fragile, full of jealousy and petty drama. Though the two make up in the end, the damage is done, and the movie reduces women to stereotypes instead of celebrating friendship.
