Like many, I was raised on a steady diet of rom-coms. The works of Richard Curtis were heavily rewatched in my house, with the love declarations of Hugh Grant and Colin Firth inflating my expectations about romance from a young age. And whilst I will always have a soft spot for American rom-coms, the likes of When Harry Met Sally, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and 13 Going on 30, there is something about a British rom-com that simply cannot be beat.
A central appeal of any rom-com is the setting; from big bustling cities to picturesque small towns, you want a setting you can escape into, one which simmers with potential for fun escapades and falling in love. For so many British rom-coms - Notting Hill, Rye Lane, Love Actually and About Time, to name a few - the location of choice to best encapsulate this atmosphere is London.
British rom-coms take a city often defined by its dreary weather and anti-social commuters and breath a new life into it...
England’s capital is to British rom-coms what New York is to American ones. Sun-dappled or snow-covered, London almost serves as its own character in so many of these films, from the colourful storefronts of Notting Hill to the cobbled streets of Soho. British rom-coms take a city often defined by its dreary weather and anti-social commuters and breath a new life into it, one full of romance and magic. Whilst it may at times be at odds with the lived experience of the city, escaping into the alternate reality it presents is undeniably appealing.
The charm and relatability effused by the main characters in British rom-coms also amplifies this appeal. Whilst many leads in American rom-coms radiate class, confidence and effortless beauty, their British equivalents oftentimes feel a lot more down to earth and familiar. Take Bridget Jones as a key example - still beautiful and successful, but rounded out with an unfiltered realness that makes her character easy to resonate with.
On the flip side, you then have Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy. Not the stereotypical rom-com love interest by any means, but his quiet intelligence mixed with endearing awkwardness has made him an iconic character within the genre. His declaration of “I like you, very much. Just as you are” is swoon worthy for all of its simplicity and whilst Bridget and Mark’s relationship is often imperfect and not all that glamorous, its those imperfections that make it all the more compelling.
So, how do all these factors come together to highlight the appeal of the British rom-com? Perhaps because their continuous popularity sheds light on what we want from relationships as viewers - not necessarily the flawless romance lead caricature but someone human. Someone to laugh with about the state of the world, who doesn’t take everything too seriously. Someone who brings joy and humour to the most mundane parts of life.
Perhaps because, whilst the grand gestures are no less grand and the declarations are no less romantic, there is an added element of tongue-in-cheek comedy that brings the fantasy element of British rom-coms back down to earth. There is an acute awareness about the ridiculousness of chasing someone through an airport to kiss them before they board or interrupting a press conference to declare your love to a famous actress, but there is an exploration of its irresistibility too. And that’s where the real appeal lies.