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The romantic comedy is an elusive genre by nature. It’s a hybrid category where titles like The Break-Up (Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn’s problems are too real and yes, they break up) and Easy A (Emma Stone is a charming teen who lies about having sex) arguably co-exist.
The American Film Institute defines “romantic comedy” as a genre in which the development of a romance leads to comic situations. They can be light and fluffy like a cozy marshmallow (The Holiday), or dark and twisty, without the classic happy ending (500 Days of Summer). They’re movies you watch after a breakup, there’s a whole seasonal sub-genre dedicated to rom-coms set around the holidays.
For a category that’s so flexible and expansive in reach, it’s surprising there’s such a dearth in diverse talent on-screen. Out of Rotten Tomatoes’ 200 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, only 12 feature people of color as both romantic leads. In the American Film Institute’s recent 10 Top 10 list, that number goes down to zero. Rom-coms are a bastion for wealthy, white characters. And they can be laughably corny, sexist, or formulaic — sometimes all of the above.
So where’s everyone else? The stories showing what complicated love looks like for people of color exist, but they’re not necessarily “mainstream” or given as much attention or marketing budget. Even with recent successes like Crazy Rich Asians, the overwhelming amount of press and attention just revealed how novel something like that is. So read on for our rom-com round-up and catch up on our favorite movies featuring people of color falling in (and out of) love with each other, exchanging razor-sharp quips, and getting into countless shenanigans.
‘Just Wright’
We tend to forget sometimes that Queen Latifah ruled the rom-com genre for years. We could select so many of her films to add here, but we definitely have a sweet spot for Just Wright, in which the Oscar nominee co-stars with Common. In this film, Queen Latifah plays a physical therapist who falls for a basketball player she’s treating after he sustains an injury. Naturally, sparks fly, and Queen Latifah’s effervescent charm keeps us glued to the screen.
Watch on Hulu.
‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’
1998 was a major year for Angela Bassett. The Oscar nominated actress captured everyone’s hearts in How Stella Got Her Groove Back. In the film, Bassett plays Stella — a successful forty-something who is driven and passionate. But when her friend Delilah convinces Stella to go on a much-needed vacation to Jamaica, Stella finds her world challenged by a young man named Winston (Taye Diggs), who Stella falls for over the course of her trip.
Watch on Hulu.
‘The Lovebirds’
Criminally underrated, this rom-com (heavy on the com) stars Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae as a couple on the verge of breaking up until they get involved in the absurdist journey of solving a murder. It’s a delight.
Watch on Netflix.
‘Always Be My Maybe’
Celebrity chef Sasha (Ali Wong) and musician Marcus (Randall Park) are childhood sweethearts who reconnect after 15 years. A classic setup made better by a stellar supporting cast and a dreamy cameo by Keanu Reeves.
Watch on Netflix.
‘The Best Man’ & ‘The Best Man Holiday’
An ensemble cast means the romantic entanglements are many and messy for both the original movie and holiday sequel. Centered around a group of college friends, the rivalries and romances are brought to life by a murderer’s row of actors like Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, and more.
Watch on Amazon.
‘Someone Great’
A representative of the rom-com varietal where much of the attention is on the power of female friendships, Someone Great stars Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), who breaks up with Lakeith Stanfield and goes on one last big adventure with her girlfriends before she moves across the country. Highlight: there are drugs from Rupaul and fun cameos galore.
Watch on Netflix.
‘What Men Want’
A gender-swapped remake of 2000’s What Women Want (starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt), this version is updated with Taraji P. Henson as the marketing executive who can magically hear men’s thoughts.
Watch on Amazon.
‘Crazy Rich Asians’
Based on the bestselling novel, this blockbuster follows New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) as she goes to Singapore with her longtime, secretly ultra rich boyfriend Nick Chu (Henry Golding) for his best friend’s wedding. (Weddings are always a great rom-com plot device.)
Watch on HBO Max.
‘Hitch’
The fact that Will Smith’s profession is a “date doctor” here seriously dates this as an early 2000s rom-com. But is it really any less ludicrous than Kate Hudson as a journalist in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? Or his love interest Eva Mendes as a gossip columnist? This is the rom-com that plays on cable 3-4 times a year and for good reason — it’s a pleasantly generic watch.
Watch on Amazon.
‘Top Five’
An unexpected movie from Chris Rock who directed, wrote, and starred in it opposite Rosario Dawson. Top Five follows washed up comedian Andre Allen (Rock) as he spends the day with journalist Chelsea (Dawson) for a profile. The “stuck together for a day” concept here is a classic way to throw two characters together and see their chemistry combust.
Watch on Amazon.
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