I think we can agree that 2016 was a wild year for romance. From the megastar break-up to the never-ending search for the ‘perfect’ date, it seems like romance was always on our minds.
But while some of us were obsessing over who will play our perfect match in the movies, others were wondering if the romance movie genre is even worth making. After all, romance has been around for centuries, and it’s never really gone out of style. So why make a movie about something that’s so much a part of life?
Despite the ever-changing landscape of pop culture, one thing remains the same: people will always want to see their favorite actors and actresses together on the big screen. Especially in today’s world where social media has given fans the power to create their own little universes, it’s no surprise that people want to see their favorite movies through to the end.
The desire to see iconic couples on the big screen isn’t new. Remember back in the 1960s when fans couldn’t get enough of their favorite TV show and wanted to see every episode on the big screen? Or how about the success of Twilight back in 2007?
These days, fans can binge-watch shows online or find movies through their favorite streaming platforms. The barrier to entry is significantly lower. So much so that it would be hard to find a reason why anyone would want to make a separate romance movie anymore. Especially when you could just as easily fill a theater with potential fans.
The truth is, in today’s world, fans have so much access to their favorite movies that watching them on the big screen is no longer necessary. Thanks to the wonders of technology, fans can now experience blockbuster hits on small screens. From tablets and smartphones to game consoles and streaming devices, we’re constantly connected to the internet. Which means we have never been more accessible to our favorite pop culture.
This is why it would be foolish to exclude any and all options of the big-screen experience. While it would be great to embrace the change and make our favorite shows and movies available for streaming, it’s also important to remember why we love going to the movies in the first place: the lights, the sounds, the smells, and the feeling of being completely absorbed by something else for a couple hours.
Yes, fans have options when it comes to watching their favorite movies. But there is still something magical about seeing a film on the big screen. It’s an experience that can’t be replicated on small screens.
Which is why, as much as we might want to see all our favorite shows and movies available for binge-watching, we still have to make room for the romance genre. Sure, people might accuse us of being obsolete and out of touch. But, really, who cares what others think? We’re more than capable of having romantic fantasies about anything we want (even if it’s a TV show or movie character).
Who Will Play Our Perfect Match?
Of course, with all the different platforms available to us, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to who we want to see play our perfect match. But, in all honesty, it’s not like there’s a shortage of attractive people out there. We just need to stop looking for Mr. or Ms. Perfect and start looking for people who we think are perfect for each other.
One of my favorite films of all time is Titanic. While I love the movie and it’s stunning imagery, I still feel a pang of regret when I think about how many times I wished Tom Hanks was playing my perfect match. For me, it would’ve been perfect if he had played the role of Jack, my perfect summer fling. (Not that I wish any ill will towards Mr. Hanks. I think he’s an absolutely magnetic person and a brilliant actor.)
The point is that we may never get our wish. No matter how perfect we think our perfect match might be, reality can and will intrude. We can’t control how others will react or what circumstances they might find themselves in. Some of us might have to settle for second best. Or even third.
Which I think is what makes the romance genre so special. We want to believe that our beloved will be transported away to a beautiful foreign country and that we will be able to meet again some day. Even after all these years, I still hold out hope that one day, I will meet the man of my dreams. (Maybe he’s out there somewhere. I just haven’t found him yet.)
These stories are what make us human. We wish for something better, for someone to come along and save the day. What’s more, we often wish for this person to be just a little bit more like God. A little more powerful. A lot more handsome.
These stories help us deal with the shitty parts of being human. The desire to be beautiful, smart, or powerful. The desire to be able to save the day. Even if the hero doesn’t exactly fit the mold we’re used to, we can find something to love about him or her.
Romance can be fun. But it’s also incredibly serious. We want to believe that our dreams can and will come true. That we will find the person we’re supposed to be with and that they will satisfy us in ways we have never been satisfied by anyone or anything else. (Well, maybe except for my dildo. I’m sure it would feel like God’s hand reaching down between my legs…)
When Will We See Our Favorite Actors On Screen Together?
As much as I might like to believe that my perfect match will appear in my life thanks to a divine intervention, the truth is I will probably have to work my whole goddamned life to make that happen. (Well, I guess I won’t have to work that hard. All I need is some help from my friends…)
Yes, the world is changing. Thanks to technology and social media, fans have never had more access to their favorite actors and actresses. But that doesn’t mean that we’re any less dependent on the media to make our dreams come true. (Well, maybe not entirely. Thanks to the miracle of serendipity and some good old-fashioned elbow grease, I might just be able to make my own luck.)
We still want to see our favorite actors together. It doesn’t matter if it’s been years or decades since we’ve seen them onscreen together. We still want to believe that somehow, somewhere, they will cross paths and the villain will be defeated. One of the reasons why these stories continue to have such a prominent place in popular culture is because we still want to believe that good will triumph over evil. And that, despite our differences, we are truly compatible.
When it comes to our favorite actors and actresses, we find ourselves in the uncanny position of wanting more than anything to see them together onscreen. Even if it’s been a while and even if the circumstances of their story don’t exactly match what we’re looking for, we still want to believe that they are two halves of a whole. Two people who should’ve been together all along. Two people who are meant to be together.
Like I said, we don’t want to settle for second best. We want to believe that there is someone out there who will make us whole again. Not just for today, but for all eternity.