Romantic Comedy - Intended Effect

The intended effect of the romantic comedy genre usually includes wanting the audience to feel happy and uplifted, occasionally (and only briefly) tearful, they should experience laughter and the occasional heartbreak, but, overall leave the cinema feeling good about the world.

As suggested in the book "Romantic Comedy - Boy Meets Girl Genre" by Tamar Jeffers McDonald, rom-coms are viewed as 'guilty pleasures', which satisfy audiences because they provide easy, uncomplicated joy.

However, the effects of rom-coms on society have arguably changed the way society views romance. There is something called the 'love delusion', which is a study where some researchers think rom-coms affect how people view relationships outside of the movie world, such as the other partner always knowing what to say and what to do.