The early 2000s was undoubtedly the best era for romantic comedies.
Many 00s babies fondly watching classics such as The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, and the many variations of A Cinderella Story on their portable DVD players during long car rides.
As these kids became teens, they graduated to the more serious and moody romantic films like Twilight and The Fault in Our Stars, while timeless classics like Mean Girls and Clueless became a must-watch for every middle school sleepover.
Critics often argue these films set an unrealistic expectation for love, especially for young and impressionable girls, with critics saying that they’ll ask too much of significant others as they expect “princess treatment” because of a movie. While it’s true love may not be as simple as it’s made to seem in the movies, this shouldn’t stop people from seeking love that mirrors what’s found on the silver screen.
While it’s unlikely your school crush will turn out to be a 300-year-old vampire, there are aspects to every rom-com that influence our generation’s perception of and aspirations for love, usually in a positive way.
While many claim these movies taught us fairytale love is all we should aspire to, I would say they taught us to make great sacrifices for our partners and settle for nothing less than true love.
2000s children grew up seeing Chad Michael Murray kiss Hillary Duff in the rain in front of the whole school and sacrifice his win on the football field. If that doesn’t scream romance, I don’t know what does.
While the primary narrative may capture the journey of two people who fall in love, these films are equally about two people who overcome conflict to grow with and for each other, as character development is the backbone of any compelling plot.
We watched Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson risk their careers to be with each other in the classic movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger open their hearts to love each other in 10 Things I Hate About You.
These movies aren’t just filled with fluffy love stories; they’re filled with tales of compromise and growth—which is something everyone should work towards individually and in a relationship. When people are seeking to grow on an individual level, they’ll be better equipped when they enter a meaningful romantic relationship.
Characters in these films sacrifice negative aspects of their life and character to be better for another person, but they also teach us we shouldn’t be with anyone who isn’t willing to put in the effort to grow and become a better person.
Rom-coms teach us we shouldn’t settle for anything less than John Cusack standing outside our window with a boombox proclaiming his love, or inspiring us to overcome our faults and vanity like Cher did in Clueless.
Most importantly, rom-coms teach us not every romance will have a fairytale ending.
Movies such as 500 Days of Summer remind us relationships aren’t perfect and many will fail, just like Tom and Summer’s did. Regardless, these films also impart a crucial lesson: with each heartbreak, we can learn, grow, and become better versions of ourselves for the person who just might be around the corner.
While some might argue rom-coms lead to an unrealistic view of love, where people will always expect more than what’s reasonable, people should only settle for a magical love where another person makes you feel special. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a relationship out of a movie if you’re not looking for perfection.
Romantic comedies from the 2000s are more than a trip down memory lane. They’re a guidebook to navigating the unpredictable journey of love, complete with laughter, tears, and invaluable life lessons.
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