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Romantic comedies belong among the most popular movie genres. They not only have the power to make the audience laugh but can also make them believe in the perfect love again, at least during the run of the movie. However, some viewers aren't that inclined to watch romantic comedies, for example, because they find them unrealistic.
If that's the case, they might appreciate taking a look at movies that parody rom-coms, or at least certain aspects of them. Usually, such parodies are clever, funny, and well-thought-out because they have to know exactly what is it they're making a parody of in the first place.
7 Enchanted (2007)
Amy Adams has had a versatile acting career, ranging from drama to more light-hearted romantic comedies. Yet Enchanted stands out among the rest. Adams plays a princess Giselle who gets from her world to New York, meets the lawyer Robert (Patrick Dempsey), and gradually falls for him even though she's engaged to a handsome prince (James Marsden).
Enchanted is a gentle parody of both romantic comedies and Disney fairytales in which the princess finds her right prince, with which their story ends. Well, Enchanted only starts at this point, and it offers a lot of unexpected and humorous situations. That's to be expected when fairytale princesses and witches are roaming the street of New York.
6 Easy A (2010)
While not a parody, Easy A also pokes fun at some storytelling conventions of romantic comedies, especially those with students in the leading role. Emma Stone gives another excellent performance as Olive, a girl who becomes more visible in her school when she lies about losing her virginity.
From there on, the events cascade in a way that Olive never could have predicted. The movie references some classical student rom-coms, and since Emma Stone's Olive is intelligent and witty, Easy A is ultimately a delight to watch.
5 Friends With Benefits (2011)
Friends with Benefits does a good job of surpassing the expectations but only in the first part of the movie. In the second half, it becomes a more traditional rom-com. However, the first part of the movie is wonderfully ironic as many parodies, as it points out that sometimes people don't fall in love at first sight and instead decide to be just friends, albeit one with benefits.
Neither Mila Kunis's Jamie nor Justin Timberlake's Dylan are interested in falling in love because of their previous failed relationship which makes for a refreshing outlook on the topic. It helps that the banter between Jamie and Dylan feels natural and the setting in New York and Los Angeles is equally charming.
4 They Came Together (2014)
Even though They Came Together doesn't have such a high rating online (it only got 5.6 on IMDb), it's still worth watching. It makes fun of romantic comedies but in an intelligent and fun way that comes across well, especially if the viewers enjoy this type of movie.
Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd are an excellent duo, and that's despite the fact that their respective heroes, Molly and Joel, originally dislike each other strongly. They Came Together is the type of movie that's aware of the typical clichés of romantic comedies, and manages to turn them upside down more than once.
3 Playing It Cool (2014)
Some of the best romantic comedies' slash parodies are those that clearly realize what are the typical conventions of romantic comedies. Chris Evans has starred in multiple rom-coms but Playing It Cool is his best. Evans plays an unnamed screenwriter who has to write a rom-com screenplay. The only problem is he was never in love before. That starts to change when he meets the perfect woman.
Playing It Cool uses storytelling motives and themes that often appear in romantic comedies, but the difference is that the main hero, thanks to his line of work, is quick to recognize that what's happening isn't something out of real life. What's more, Evans gives a solid performance, and the movie has a good cast overall, including Michelle Monaghan or Anthony Mackie as the main hero's agent and friend.
2 Deadpool (2016)
This might come across as a surprise to some people but the antihero Deadpool's first solo movie is also a parody of rom-coms to a certain degree. At least when it comes to how Wade Wilson reflects on his relationship with the beautiful Vanessa played by Morena Baccarin.
The movie has the typical scheme in which boy meets girl, boy falls for girls, boy loses girl (eventually), but it's all more original and refreshing because heroes of romantic comedies aren't usually mouthy mercenaries who can regenerate their bodies. Deadpool was promoted as a romantic comedy before its release, and even with its sarcastic, parody edge, it's still a proud member of this movie genre.
1 Isn't It Romantic (2019)
Living in a romantic comedy sounds like something perfect but as this movie shows, it might not be so great after all. Rebel Wilson stars as Natalie, an ambitious young woman who doesn't believe in love, she's rather cynical in this area. But after she suffers an injury, she suddenly realizes she's living in a romantic comedy.
Because the concept of the movie is so unusual, it allows creating some bizarre situations that, nevertheless, have the power to make the audience laugh. It helps that the movie has a solid cast, it works with actors such as Priyanka Chopra, Liam Hemsworth, and Adam Devine. And unlike with typical romantic comedies, it's sometimes difficult to guess which direction the story of Isn't It Romantic will take the next moment.