Romantic comedies, or rom-coms, are supposed to be light, heartwarming, and full of laughs. They might seem like easy films to get right because many of them follow the same stereotypical plots, but the truth is that this is a tricky genre to crack. At the same time, there are many brilliant rom-coms, just as many have fallen short and disappointed. It doesn’t matter how big the budget is or how many A-list actors are brought in; some rom-coms wind up being complete disasters.
Shallow Hal
Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow teamed up for this rom-com that aimed to deliver laughs and a message about inner beauty. It might’ve had the stars and a good idea, but the execution fell flat. Rather than focusing on inner beauty, this movie ends up being insensitive about body image and features tons of outdated jokes that many people find offensive.
Gigli
Often cited as one of the worst movies ever made, Gigli starred Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez at the height of their off-screen romance. It should’ve led to instant chemistry on-screen, but the weak plot and awkward dialogue made this a complete flop. The fact that the stars themselves have admitted this was a failure says it all.
Material Girls
A modern take on the “riches to rags” story, Material Girls had all the prospects of being entertaining. Unfortunately, the film’s predictable plot and lackluster performances made it more of a chore to watch than a delightful comedy. Critics were unimpressed with its attempt to cater to a younger audience without delivering genuine humor or romance.
Down to You
Freddie Prinze Jr. and Julia Stiles come together for this one, with Down to You being intended to be a sweet college romance. Instead, it turned out to be a mess with zero chemistry between the lead characters.
Good Luck Chuck
Dane Cook’s turn as the cursed bachelor who can’t find love despite women flocking to him was a major misfire. Good Luck Chuck relied heavily on crude humor and failed to balance it with genuine romantic moments. Jessica Alba’s charm couldn’t save this movie from being more offensive than funny.
The Bachelor
The Bachelor is a film about a man who must marry to secure an inheritance, which is a thin plot to begin with. Despite the star power involved, the movie was criticized for being uninspired, which is one of the reasons it flopped at the box office.
Playing for Keeps
With a cast that includes Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, and Uma Thurman, Playing for Keeps seemed promising on paper. But the tired plot about a washed-up soccer star trying to reconnect with his son and ex-wife was filled with sexist stereotypes and outdated humor. It ended up being widely offensive, so few people enjoyed it.
Because I Said So
Diane Keaton is usually a rom-com favorite, but she couldn’t save Because I Said So. Playing an overbearing mother trying to set up her daughter, played by Mandy Moore, Keaton’s performance was panned as one of her worst.
‘Til There Was You
Despite featuring Jennifer Aniston and Sarah Jessica Parker, ‘Til There Was You focuses on less compelling characters played by Jeanne Tripplehorn and Dylan McDermott. There was a distinct lack of chemistry amongst the cast in this one, which massively hurt the film.
First Daughter
Starring Katie Holmes as the President’s daughter in this tale of a young woman falling in love with her undercover Secret Service agent. It was a poor storyline that people weren’t necessarily interested in, and the poor performances didn’t help matters.
The Perfect Man
Hilary Duff took on the lead in The Perfect Man, where she plays a teenager who creates a fictional suitor to boost her mother’s spirits. The dialogue throughout this one was very cheesy, and it’s something that people didn’t enjoy watching after a while.
Zoolander 2
The original Zoolander is a fantastic movie that people still quote to this day. The sequel attempted to mix in more romantic elements but fell short of the mark. It lacked the same level of charm as the original and relied too much on recycled jokes and a plot that made no sense. Many celebrities made cameos in this one, but that didn’t help either, as things became messier.
Blithe Spirit
This adaptation of the classic Noel Coward play had potential with its star-studded cast, including Dan Stevens and Judi Dench. But it failed to capture the spirit of the original, resulting in a lackluster romantic comedy that left audiences underwhelmed.
Chasing Papi
Focusing on three women learning that they’re dating the same man, Chasing Papi had an interesting premise that could’ve worked well for this genre. The problem was that it focused too much on physical comedy to try and get laughs rather than bringing in any real romantic feelings, which is ultimately crucial for a good rom-com.
A Little Bit of Heaven
Kate Hudson is a talented actress who has been involved in some fantastic projects. But this wasn’t one of them. A Little Bit of Heaven tries to blend a terminal illness with romance and comedy, and the three things don’t go together properly. As a drama, this idea could’ve potentially worked, but as a rom-com, it felt out of place.
He’s All That
This modern reboot of the classic teen rom-com She’s All That flipped the script but failed to capture the original’s magic. Critics panned the movie for its lack of chemistry between the leads and uninspired storyline, proving that simply rehashing previous successes isn’t a guaranteed way to get a hit.
This Means War
Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, and Tom Hardy are in a love triangle involving CIA agents, and it should have been a hit. Instead, This Means War was a jumbled mess that couldn’t decide if it was a rom-com or an action flick. The uneven tone and lack of humor ensured this was one to forget.
Made of Honor
Patrick Dempsey’s attempt at rom-com stardom with Made of Honor didn’t go as planned. Playing a man who realizes he loves his best friend as she’s about to get married, the film’s mean-spirited plot and unlikable protagonist failed to charm audiences. A crucial element of any good rom-com is a character people can relate to and love, and this was missing here.
