Why The Campy Holiday Rom-Com Could Be Your Secret To Finding Romantic Success
Hear me out. It’s peak cuffing season. You’re snuggled up on your couch watching the new Brooke Shields Christmas movie. She plays a romance writer who travels to the Scottish castle where her father grew up doing maintenance to find his initials carved into a doorframe.
You could be her! And an aged but well-preserved Wesley from The Princess Bride could startle you from behind. He’s Scottish now and would reveal himself as the castle’s current owner. He tries to run you off the property. Hijinx ensues. Love quickly follows.
Okay, so we’re not all obsessing over our relatives’ unfinished lives and vicariously living out our family destinies. Plus, who has castle money these days?
However, at any time, a grumpy groundskeeper could come into our lives and inevitably fall in love with us. Therefore, we must be prepared to use our rom-com expertise to live in the moment, to take the chance of romanticizing our mundane lives.
That being said, don’t flush away your 401K or date a walking red flag. Just live a little, and get with the holiday spirit. Who knows what could happen? As Taylor Swift once said, “Tis the damn season.”
So, here are some tropes that work for every romantic lead in any film, ever (holiday edition).
Enemies to Lovers:
Take a page out of pretty much every Katherine Heigl movie, “Pride and Prejudice,” or even “The Princess Diaries 2.” Go into every new situation with a plan to antagonize anyone you find attractive. You don’t have to be harsh—just challenge them, and keep them on their toes.
For a Christmas rendering of a modern online dating romance, check out “Love Hard.” Nina Dobrev takes a chance on her long-distance fling, flying to his hometown to surprise him for the holidays.
deagreez – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
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As it turns out, he wasn’t exactly who he said he was—cue major enemy vibes, a bit of pity, and eventual endearment. Then, of course, a happy, snowy ending.
Friends to Lovers:
Arguably the most confusing yet somehow predictable rom-com trope we were blessed beyond belief with this year was the very spirited, very gay “Single All the Way.”
After a marketing guru suffers his most recent heartbreak, he brings his best friend/roommate to his quaint New Hampshire hometown for the holidays. His family?
Shipping them hard. But both guys are oblivious. The lesson here? Your family knows you and probably wants you to be happy and taken care of.
So maybe give them a chance this year if they ask to set you up. It might help you see what you’ve been missing all along.
Destined to be Together (Or Just in the Right Place at the Right Time):
Did you have a department store meet-cute? Think he’s the one? There’s only one way to know for sure: pull a “Serendipity”—don’t get his name or number.
It would be best if you only exchanged pure vibes with your could-be soulmate. I mean, you hung out for a whole 30 minutes.
If you meet up 10 years later by pure coincidence—i.e., you’ve both developed an unhealthy obsession with the alternate timeline where you end up together—then it’s meant to be.
Or, maybe you heard a sweet widow’s story on the radio. Then, pull a “Sleepless in Seattle ” and fly to his hometown to observe him from a distance!
What are you waiting for? If he flies to your state a few months later to meet you and/or to find his runaway child, then you’ll know it’s meant to be.
Someone from your Past:
Get yourself a classic Christmas love story like the one in “Bridget Jone’s Diary.” Go to your family’s silly (COVID-safe) Christmas party wearing the literal ugliest sweater ever knitted.
Bump into your childhood crush, all grown and suited up. Let him make fun of you—but in a cute way.
Next, quickly introduce a romantic competitor with whom your crush has a checkered past. (Again, think “Pride and Prejudice”). Then, let them prove themselves worthy of your love. And, of course, follow your heart.
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