Hold on to your bouquets, rom-com fans! Bride Wars, a film many consider a cinematic misstep, has surprisingly resurfaced in Netflix's Top 10. This unexpected resurgence sparks a fascinating question: could this seemingly harmless movie have played a significant role in the decline of the romantic comedy genre?
While box office flops often signal a genre's demise, the situation is rarely that simple. The early 2010s saw a dramatic drop in the number of mainstream romantic comedies released. But how did we get here? Let's rewind to January 2009, when Bride Wars hit theaters.
Surprisingly, Bride Wars, starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway as feuding best friends, was a commercial success, earning over $100 million worldwide. Considering today's box office landscape, those numbers would make it a major hit. So, how could it have damaged an entire genre? It's a bit more nuanced than a simple flop.
Well, the reviews were scathing, and the film barely managed to score in the double digits on the Tomatometer. It received a "C+" CinemaScore, typically reserved for downbeat dramas or schlocky horror movies. However, the casting of Hathaway and Hudson, both well-known actresses at the time, should have guaranteed success.
But here's where it gets controversial... Bride Wars is only partially a romantic comedy. The film focuses on the escalating rivalry between the two leads, with the male characters taking a backseat. This shift towards female competition, rather than the search for a romantic partner, could have been a refreshing take. The potential for satire, exploring the absurdities of the bridal industry and societal expectations, was certainly there.
However, the movie opted for a heavy-handed approach, lacking the satirical edge it needed. The film's attempts at humor fall flat, and the plot feels rushed and disjointed. The movie is only 84 minutes long, making it feel as if the director and everyone else involved were trying to get away from the result as soon as possible. It attempts to make fun of wedding obsession, but it makes watching a movie about wedding obsession seem incredibly tedious and pointless.
Bride Wars wasn't alone in its failings. The year 2009 was a cinematic wasteland for romantic comedies, including films like Couples Retreat, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and He's Just Not That Into You. Even successful films like The Proposal were far from perfect.
So, while Bride Wars may not have been the sole culprit, it served as a warning sign. If two Oscar-nominated actresses could be involved in such a project, it seemed that no one was safe from a disastrous rom-com. The post-When Harry Met Sally era was over, and the golden age of the rom-com was long gone.
What do you think? Did Bride Wars deserve the criticism it received? Did it signal a turning point for the romantic comedy genre? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
