The Face of RomComs: Awkward and Imperfect New Romcoms To Watch

Romantic comedies, or romcoms as is popularly known, have long been a staple of the cinematic landscape, offering audiences an escape into worlds filled with love, laughter, and happily-ever-afters. From the screwball antics of the 1930s to the glossy, picture-perfect romances of the 1990s and early 2000s, the genre has seen its fair share of evolution. Yet, in recent years, it seemed as though romcoms had lost their sparkle, caught in a cycle of tired tropes and predictable plotlines.

Who’s to blame? It’s hard to write a modern romance when it feels like every story has already been told. What is a convincing enough reason to keep a couple, obviously destined to end up together, apart for 70 to 90 minutes that is interesting enough to keep the audience engaged yet relatable so that they can aspire to it? A real conundrum.

However, amidst this complexity, a new wave of romantic comedies has emerged, offering a refreshing take on the genre. These films embrace the awkwardness and imperfections of love, presenting characters and relationships that are messy, flawed, and utterly relatable. In this new phase of rom-coms, it’s not about the grand gestures or fairy-tale endings, but rather the authenticity of human connection and the beauty found in the messiness of love. These are the love stories that we can believe could come true.

From endearing quirks to laugh-out-loud mishaps, these films capture the essence of real-life romance in all its awkward glory. Join us as we explore the irresistible appeal of this refreshing new face of romantic comedies.

Characteristics of Awkward and Imperfect New Romcoms

Let’s delve into the characteristics that define these awkward and imperfect romcoms. What makes them stand out and why are they so satisfying? Well, that is due to a couple of common features that these movies seem to have. 

1. Non-Conformity to Beauty Standards
2. Cringey Moments
3. Relatable Dialogue
4. Lack of Saint Characters

1. Non-Conformity to Beauty Standards

We should all be aware of the damage that romcoms have done to the female body image. Especially with the prevalence of makeover tropes in the 90s and early 2000s, seen in films like “The Princess Diaries”, “Never Been Kissed” and “Mean Girls,” perpetuated damaging societal standards of female perfection, suggesting that love and acceptance are contingent upon conforming to narrow-minded beauty ideals. 

But the makeover trope is not the only criminal,  there was always just a general lack of diversity. I mean, I liked “Anyone but You” as much as the next guy but watching two basically perfect-looking actors fall in love thanks to overly-theatrical moments and Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfeild (his serenity song) on my screen doesn’t scream “authentic” to me. These narratives not only reinforce harmful stereotypes but also contribute to a culture of body shaming and insecurity.

In contrast to these traditional romcoms where characters often fit into conventional beauty norms, awkward and imperfect romcoms feature protagonists who defy these standards. They come in all shapes, sizes, and appearances, making them more relatable and reflective of real-life diversity.

2. Cringey Moments

Romantic comedies and cringe moments are kind of synonymous but awkward and imperfect rom-coms take it to a whole new level. They thrive on these moments that elicit both laughter and empathy from viewers. Whether it’s a clumsy encounter or a painfully awkward confession of love, these moments might make you grit your teeth quite a bit — so if you have a low cringe tolerance, they might not be for you. 

However, it’s important to bear in mind that these moments only add an endearing charm to the storyline, making it all the more worth it in the end.

3. Relatable Dialogue

“Love is patient, love is kind, love means slowly losing your mind.”

– 27 Dresses

“But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.” 

– 10 Things I Hate About You

“May you never steal, lie, or cheat, but if you must steal, then steal away my sorrows, and if you must lie, lie with me all the nights of my life, and if you must cheat, then please cheat death because I couldn’t live a day without you. Cheers!”

– Leap Year

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”

– Fault in Our Stars

Rom-coms are often celebrated for their iconic one-liners, yet they frequently rely solely on those memorable dialogue moments, leaving the rest of the film to meander through random conversations like about what kind of animal you would be if you were reincarnated and eventually abrupt professions of love. 

Especially when they bring together the two most unlikely characters, who you never actually see have a constructive conversation throughout the story but still manage to fall in love somehow.

As we’re seeing a shift from that into awkward and imperfect romcoms there is also an evident change in the dialogue. Because these narratives are often dialogue centric the dialogue in these romcoms is refreshingly authentic and relatable. Characters speak in a manner that mirrors everyday conversations, filled with humour, awkward pauses, and heartfelt sincerity. This genuine dialogue resonates with audiences on a personal level, drawing them deeper into the story.

4. Lack of Saint Characters

Unlike traditional romcoms where characters are often depicted as either wholly virtuous or irredeemably flawed, awkward and imperfect romcoms blur the lines between good and bad. Every character possesses a mix of strengths and weaknesses, making them more nuanced and human. This moral ambiguity adds depth to the narrative, allowing viewers to empathise with the characters’ struggles and imperfections.

Awkward and Imperfect New Romcoms To Watch Recommendations

Okay, if you’ve made it to this point in the article, I’ve hopefully convinced you that this new wave of romance is worth your time. So, what’s next? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a curated list of recommendations of new romcoms to watch, guaranteed to capture your heart and tickle your funny bone.

These films embody the essence of awkward and imperfect romcoms, offering an irresistible blend of charm, humour, and relatable romance. Here are some must-watch picks to add to your list:

1. Rye Lane
2. Plus One
3. The Lovers
4. Bridget Jones Diary 
5. About Fate

1. Rye Lane

Synopsis: Two youngsters reeling from bad breakups connect over an eventful day in South London.

This 2023 film centres around Dom (played by David Jonsson) and Yas (played by Vivian Oparah), whose paths cross in a gender-neutral restroom at an art exhibit. What starts as an awkward initial encounter evolves into the longest unofficial first date. This movie offers a deep exploration of the challenges of letting go of old relationships and the exhilaration of instant connection. “Rye Lane” emerges as a vibrant, playful and very modern rom-com. This movie is highly rated with amazing well-deserved reviews.

“Rye Lane” is a pure delight to watch. Its main focus is the two main character’s developing connection as they spend an almost psychedelic-looking day together. But what makes it stand out most is the way the story seems to lean into the awkwardness of these two. “Rye Lane” isn’t afraid to depict its leads as young, brash and still coming into their own in a way that makes you feel more connected to them. Even the editing seems to give you the most natural view of both characters.

This movie includes some true laugh-out-loud one-liners but that doesn’t take away anything from its outstanding dialogue that keeps a sense of momentum and carries itself throughout the film.

• Yas: If people on a boat wave at you, you have to wave back. It’s the law.
• Jules: Tourism funds sex trafficking.
• Yas: So apparently there are two types of people in this world. The ones who wave at boats, and the ones who hate joy.

So if you’re not already convinced to watch this movie because of the love story then just watch it because it is so hilarious.

2. Plus One

Synopsis: To survive a summer of wedding fever, longtime single friends, Ben and Alice, agree to be each other’s plus one at every wedding they’ve been invited to.

This undersung 2019 flick follows Ben (played by Jack Quaid) and Alice (played by Maya Erskine) friends since college, who are disheartened about love and decide to get through a string of weddings they’ve been invited to together. This predictably leads to a string of wedding party antics which in this are really funny. They undertake everything with a cynicism making mockery of nuptial tropes even though they ultimately want something like that for themselves, this is part of what makes the story so relatable. Naturally, they eventually find their cheesy trope in each other.

The two characters in this film often have contrasting personalities, with Alice being unapologetically juvenile and brash, making loud jokes that Ben squirm. On the other hand, Ben has seemingly high standards and an easily shattered poise. But the more you get into the film, watch the characters clash and eventually flirt the more you see how much chemistry they have. Together, Erskine and Quaid are an odd couple that’s easy to love.

There is nothing new about the “Plus One” storyline I can mention dozens of American movies with the very same premise from the last decade. But this movie is evidence that it’s never been about what story to tell but rather how that story is told. How the characters and the conflict are portrayed can be refreshed to achieve a new experience.

3. The Lovers

Synopsis: It tells the story of Janet, a supermarket worker who doesn’t care about anything, including her life, and Seamus, a self-centred, political broadcaster. They find themselves inextricably drawn to each other.

To put it as simply as I can, “The Lovers” is everything wrong and everything right in a love story all at once. This ridiculous English/Irish tale began with the most intense meet-cute I had ever seen, involving a foot chase, a loaded gun and a charming suicide note that read “boo f***king who” (you’ve got to watch to understand). This first meet sets the tone for the series’ dark-humoured, messy yet tender-hearted story.

The plot follows a burgeoning affair between B-list celebrity, Seamus (played by Johnny Flynn) and Janet (played by Roisin Gallagher) a shop attendant and an anonymous member of the public. Whereas most shows focus on what might push a couple like this apart, the show revels in that rare, inexplicable magnetism that draws these two very different people together.

There is an instant and effortless connection between them. Seamus finds Janet’s “unapologetic candour to be a welcome relief from the telegenic front he has developed as a celebrity. For Janet, Seamus’s awkward yet honest concern and affection allows her to rebuild her own self-worth. And all this wrapped up in some very interesting dialogue.

This 2024 romcom challenges your morals quite a bit, in the way it finds humour in despair and giddy innocence in cheating making you root for their infidelity. There is something very refreshing about how there is neither a good or a bad character in this narrative which is reflective of real life. But this all keeps you engaged up until the very last episode.

4. Bridget Jones Diary 

Synopsis: Bridget Jones is determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a personal diary.

This is an oldie but goodie but I believe for an early 2000s romcom, it was a bit ahead of its time. I like to call it a lovable cringe fest. “Bridget Jones’s Diary” offers a refreshing take on the classic romantic comedy genre, embracing the awkward and imperfect aspects of love with endearing charm. Renée Zellweger shines as the titular character, Bridget Jones, whose relatable mishaps and quirks make her instantly lovable. From her clumsy antics to her candid inner monologues, Bridget embodies the essence of imperfection, resonating with audiences on a deeply human level.

The film’s portrayal of romance is refreshingly authentic, eschewing idealised notions of love in favour of messy, real-life relationships. Bridget’s tumultuous journey, navigating the complexities of dating and self-discovery, is both humorous and heartfelt, capturing the ups and downs of modern romance with honesty and wit.

What sets “Bridget Jones’s Diary” apart is its willingness to embrace imperfection. Bridget is far from perfect, often stumbling through life with a mix of giddy innocence and endearing clumsiness. Yet, it’s precisely these flaws that make her journey so relatable and her eventual triumphs so satisfying.

In a sea of polished romances, “Bridget Jones’s Diary” stands out as a delightful celebration of imperfection. With its charming characters, witty dialogue, and heartfelt moments, it reminds us that love doesn’t always unfold according to plan—and that’s perfectly okay.

By deviating from traditional tropes and embracing the quirks and vulnerabilities of their characters, awkward and imperfect rom-coms resonate with audiences on a deeper personal level. They remind us that love is messy and most times downright awkward—but ultimately it’s also beautiful in its authenticity.

This morally ambiguous flick is a rollercoaster of crazy and fun. I haven’t enjoyed an American movie this much in a long time.

These stories are not just for everyone though, they are for the OG romantic comedy lovers who loved these stories for their wholesomeness and the general love of love.

All images are sourced from google