So far in our mini series, Vanessa learns how to watch movies with a critical eye.

We've talked about how to approach a romcom,

but now we have to step back and ask ourselves,

what exactly is a romcom?

I know that the rom means that our two main characters are going to be romantically involved at the end of the movie.

I know that the calm means that I'm supposed to laugh along the way.

But surely there is more to it than that.

What needs to happen in order for a movie to count as a romantic comedy?

What are the beats of it?

In Ramcoms, we aren't measuring if a film is successful or not

by its plot twists or its ingenuity.

It is a genre, a formula that's baked in.

There are different feelings around genre and I get it.

Some people complain about how formulaic it is, how predictable it is.

But one of the things that I love about genre art is that the formulas actually allow for exploration.

When you aren't worried about what is going to happen,

you get to pay more attention to how it happens.

Something can be predictable and still deeply moving.

But how do I know if the formula is working?

If it's serving its message or getting in the way

of what it's trying to say?

I know that part of what matters is if I like the thing,

...