No, this isn’t a movie review. Today was just one of those days when I was reminded ‘why’ I write romantic comedies. Personally, when I’m going through a rough time in my life, the only thing that gets me out of it, shakes me, changes my state, is a good romantic comedy that reminds me what’s most important… true love. Now granted, many of these rough times in my life have been caused by love or the lack of it, and at the worst times, the knowing exactly where it is but I can’t have it.
My favorite script I’ve written examines soulmates, and like in any great romantic comedy, the couple who is meant to be has their happily ever after.
Letters to Juliet had both elements of what I want most and what I fear most. Sophie, a young writer finds a letter written to “Juliet” that had been written 50 years before. As is customary for the letters written to Juliet, someone writes back to each and every one. Sophie, wrote back to Claire, 50 years later saying that she didn’t know how her life turned out but What If…
What I want most, is Sophie’s ending, she seized the day, she spoke up and declared her love to the young man she had fallen for, and didn’t have to wait 50 years. What I fear most, is what if I don’t find my young man, because like Claire, I found mine so many years ago and our destinies have taken us in different directions?
I like to write romantic comedies because you get a happy ending. Yes, Claire and her true love found each other 50 years later, and in good movie form, though their destinies had taken their lives in different directions, by the time they’d found each other, they were available to love each other again.
It can weigh heavily on your mind if you’re a movie junkie like me, which I know so many of you are. We watch the movies and wish our lives were like them. That the ups and downs are all worth it because in the end we find ourselves with the right guy, the love of our lives. But in the mean time, with so many movie themes, it can get confusing. Two great love stories in Letters To Juliet. One has true love right now, one waited 50 years. I suppose I could wait 27 years to find out if my destiny lines up with the one who got away, but what to do in the mean time. I don’t want to settle for good not great, and how do you find great when you’re holding out hope for 27 years from now. And how do you let go of 27 years from now, when there’s that possibility?
I suppose I could write a romantic comedy about that, though at the moment it doesn’t feel very comedic. At least I’d be guaranteed a happy ending 🙂
What do you think? Should I write it?
©2012
romanticcomedygirl 
Write it.
It’s the best artist therapy.
But let me tell you, waiting 27 years on a memory/feeling/hope isn’t romantic destiny. It’s the movies. THAT’S why we like them. Sorry, love them and need them. Escape into them. Realize we aren’t the only schmoes feeling this way. That’s why we got into the movie’s to begin with!
And as an old, broken hearted hopeless romantic, still believing in his “soul mate,” I can only plead with you to move on.
We’re just wasting time dreaming and hoping when we could be out there causing all manner of havoc and making memories. THAT’S romantic in the end. Suffering silently like some noble Celt goddess is bullshit and gets the world nowhere.
You’re way better than that.
Have you ever seen STILL BREATHING? Brendan Fraser movie, late ’90s.
I have not. I take it I should put it on my list? I’ve always liked Brendan Fraser.
I first caught a portion of STILL BREATHING on TV late one night. Searched the guide and watched it entirely a few nights later and dug it. It’s sort of the male dream of a romantic comedy. Or maybe just mine!
I searched for awhile and finally found a DVD but I recall it was expensive, must have been a short run. If you can’t find it or stream it,er me know and I’ll loan you my copy.
Supposed to read, ” let me know” not “er me know!”
I know exactly how you feel. Sydney Pollak wrote and made all his movies because he had questions in his life about those very same issues. In his movies he never gave answers because he never really knew the answers, but he loved to explore them with his audiences. I went through the same thing writing my last project, Los Feliz. It’s tough, but writing always seems to help.