Rom-Com Research.

Pretty Woman (1990).

 

Pretty Woman is exactly like our idea, but with opposing features.
For example, our idea of a homeless man, meeting a successful business woman is contrasted by Pretty Woman's feature of the woman being poor (and resorting to prostitution) and the man holds a successful and highly respectable role in his business. So the character roles are switched, but are similar in circumstances.
Pretty Woman (1990) is a well-known blend of romance and comedy, captured by Julia Roberts (Vivian Ward) and Richard Gere (Edward Lewis) who play the two leading roles.

Plot

Successful businessman, Edward Lewis searches for an escort to accompany him throughout his business trip (as men of his class are not reguarly seen unaccompanied by a woman) - and in the midst of his search, he comes across a witty yet self reserved prostitute, Vivian Ward. Edward offers her a staggering amount of money for her company during the week, and Vivian accepts. As Vivian slowly learns the ways of being rich and resembling a 'respectable' woman, she still witholds her unique humour, and her objective to never fall in love. Despite this, as the week draws to an end, the two compress love for one and another and finally tell eachother. Edward offers Vivian an apartment in the city where he would visit reguarly - but Vivian refuses, because she wants 'the fairtale' she's always wanted, and at the end of the week - she leaves. Edward performs 'the fairytale' the day after, as he delays his plane and seeks to rescue Vivian from her regular life.

Simularities with our idea..
1. The two characters appose, therefore adding to the unlikelyhood that they'd ever be together.
2. (Like every plot; however maybe not in the same order) Long-term problem, small problem develop, small problem solved, long-term problem resolved.
3. Both resistant to their feelings (dont want to be vulnerable) - personal status may be in partnership with this.
4. Happy ending.
5. Light, funny kicks to release tension.
6. Realistic background (judgement of prostitution/expectations of successful men).
7. Appreciation of what they have, and acceptance of what they dont - long-term understanding.
8. Stereotypes portrayed excellently in that they all reflect the harshness of reality (prostitution frowned upon and often result in de-grading. All men care about is money and their image. Women should reflect/represent the men by being respectful.) And yet all of these stereotypes are broken by the end, to show that anyone can refuse stereotypical behaviour.
9. Beginning; looking for something/missing something. End; found/replaced by something.
10. Transformation in image, confidence, status, situation etc.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002).



 

My Big Fat Greek Wedding starrs Nia Vardalos (Toula Portokalos) and John Corbett (Ian Miller) who fall in love under unlikely circumstances.

Plot
30 year old Toula Portokalos lives at home with her large Greek family, who are loud, bold and strong on their religion and influence of others. All the while, un-married, un-desirable and shows no confidence in herself, Toula feels like she's aged before her time.
Ian Miller however, is confident, desirable and although constantly dating women with the potebtial for marriage, he feels unfulfilled.
The two meet unexpectedly in Toula's family resturant 'Dancing Zorbas' as Toula goes to serve the customers and take their order, she finds herself gawping Ian. It's a classic 'love at first sight' moment, as Ian spots her staring and is quite taken back by the stranger. Toula babbles on in her desperate attempt to make a good first impression, but only makes a fool of herself as she sinks back into herelf despair.
Toula decides to d something with her life, and after family debating and objection to such a thing, she attends a University nearby to learn about computers for their business. Throughout this, she builds confidence and grows comfortable with who she is, and finds herself happy. Taoula and Ian meet again, and not recognising who she is (because of the transformation) and asks her out to dinner, and it is there that she reveals her true identity of the nerdy waitress - however Ian doesnt care.
Their relationship develops, and the two find themselves falling in love - but with a price. Their contrasting families know nothing of their relationship, and eventually Toula's loud religious family welcome Ian's small, quiet athiest family into theirs. As Ian is baptised, the wedding plans are set in concrete and they are married. They live happily ever after and teach their children to do whatever they want with their future, instead of conforming to what they are told to believe in.

Simularities with our idea...
1. Transformation in both personal identity, image, confidence, status, situation etc.
2. Contrasting people beating the unlikelyhood that they'll never be together.
3. 'Love at first sight' represented.
4. Judgement on image, values, religion and status.
5. Happy Ending.
6. Overcoming problems, regaining what they lost/missed.
7. Conquering the odds and showing that when in love, situations do not matter.
8. Representing how people (in this case, religious families) are extremely influencial on their culture and insist on everything remaining traditional.
9. Showing progress and valuing what they have, instead of what they dont (appreciation).
10. Acceptance of who people are.
11. Encouraging equality and personal growth.

Maid In Manhattan (2002)

 

Maid In Manhattan starrs Jennifer Lopez (Marisa Ventura) and Ralph Fiennes (Christopher Marshall) in a fun-packed romantic comedy, tugs on heart strings, aswell as funny bones.

Plot.
Marisa Ventura is a single mother, working as a maid in a first-class hotel - a twist of fate, and mistaken identity bring her face to face with successful businessman and soon-to-be billionnaire Christopher Marshall, who automatically assumes she is a guest at the hotel. When her true identity is revealed, they discover that they are worlds apart, not only in the financial world - but in opinion and belief. However, these set-backs are no match for the undying love that they both feel for one and another. As they both jeapodise their jobs and their background, they conquer their differences in order to be together. And Marisa finds herself living the 'fairytale' lifestyle that she's seen many women come and go with, while still holding her bonds with her own background.

Similarities to our idea..
1. Happy ending.
2. Distance between two people, financially, ethically etc.
3. Visual metaphor's - hotel a metaphor for the foundation of life/love, different levels/rooms all costing different amounts.
4. Two contrasting characters battling the force seperating them.
5. Change/progress of someone's life/situation.
6. Seeing different perspectives of life, and understanding them.
7. Stereotypes portrayed.
8. Money, in competition with love, is nothing.

Feedback from research..
After researching these differenr Rom-Coms, I've identified the simularities between their idea and our's. I also noticed that many of the similarities are the same, which is perhaps the reason why these productions were so successful. Therefore, throughout the further stages of this project - I intend to refer back to these as a guideline/header to what we should achieve/include also.