Is the ‘Romantic Comedy’ dead? The heyday of the Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant and (even) Reese Witherspoon rom-com has seemingly come and gone. What’s the modern-day equivalent ofPretty WomanorNotting HillorSweet Home Alabama? Yes, sure, the indie rom-com seems to be alive and well; but these films still seem more like deconstructions of the sub-genre than the genuine real deal. EvenThe Big Sickwas way more about the relationship between a man and his girlfriend’s parents than the romantic relationship advertised.
Home Againfeels like a throwback to the ‘classic’ romantic comedies of yesteryear. It starsReese Witherspoon, is produced byNancy Meyers(Something’s Gotta Give,The Intern), and is even directed by Meyer’s own daughter –Hallie Meyers-Shyer. There’s your typical, high-concept romantic set-up – Witherspoon, recently separated and lonely, invites three struggling young artists (a filmmaker, a writer and an actor) to stay in her guest house. It’s not long before each of these young men fall in love with Reese Witherspoon because, well, she’s Reese Witherspoon. And, of course, you know her separated husband (Michael Sheen) isn’t going to be too keen on three twenty-something guys living with his wife.
Yet still – in talking with Nancy Meyers & Hallie Meyers-Shyer – they revealed the road to find studio funding forHome Againwas near impossible. As Nancy Meyers herself says in the above interview – “[The studios] like these films… but they don’t make them.” For more on the state of the romantic comedy and the development process behindHome Again, watch the interview above, and below is a list of what was discussed.
