Old wine in new bottle: These 5 rom-coms felt oddly similar

Romantic comedies have been a comfort genre for years, providing love, laughter, and predictability in the form of endearing stories. Yet over the past few years, most romcoms have begun to feel like déjà vu. Although the locations, looks, and platforms change, the fundamental formulas tend not to be touched. From fake romances to mismatched pairs who inevitably fall in love, the tropes are reused with superficial innovations sometimes. This has created a new generation of romcoms that clothe traditional plots in hip packaging, such as vintage wine poured into a chic new bottle.

Streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime have been deeply invested in this nostalgic storytelling, bringing the genre's heyday to a new generation. Even with modernized dialogue, contemporary dating struggles, and diverse casts, many of these movies replicate the form and emotional journeys of their forebears. Whether it's a high school makeover, an impromptu wedding, or a pretend relationship turned real, it's difficult to deny the patterns.

In this column, we go in-depth into five romantic comedies that were fun and often even endearing but decidedly similar in intent. Each attempt to update the genre, though, ended up looping back onto familiar ground.

Disclaimer: The article contains the author's opinion.

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Old wine in a new bottle: These 5 rom-coms felt strangely similar

1) The Perfect Date (2019)

Netflix's The Perfect Date resembles a fashionable remix of She's All That full of a makeover plot, a pretend relationship trope, and cliché love lessons. Headlined by Noah Centineo, the film attempts to rework an old teen romance formula with a contemporary spin: a bespoke dating app. Even if Centineo's charm and offbeat supporting characters provide occasional freshness, the movie is hardly ever off the path of the genre's template. The movie resonated with Gen Z audiences but did not have lasting effects. Interestingly, its popularity generated speculation regarding a shared "Centineo Cinematic Universe" on Netflix, fueled by his repeated casting in romcoms during that period.

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2) Anyone But You (2023)

Anyone But You, starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, reimagines Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing for sun-kissed Australian shores and a hot fake-dating setup. For all its slick production and hot chemistry, the movie follows tired beats of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Although the film was hailed for bringing back theatrical romcoms, its plot turns seemed taken from a 2000s playbook. Fresh, however, is the Gen Z marketing storm it went viral on TikTok, garnering millions of views even before the film came out. Social media chatter perhaps overshadowed the film's narrative.

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3) Set It Up (2018)

Set It Up is a charming entry in the modern romcom renaissance, but it follows the classic ‘matchmaker gets matched’ trope reminiscent of You’ve Got Mail and The Parent Trap. Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell shine as frazzled assistants scheming to set up their demanding bosses, only to find love themselves. While the dialogue and performances sparkle, the predictability is undeniable. What is remarkable, however, is the way that this movie reignited Netflix's rom-com spending. It even generated buzz around a potential sequel and spin-offs centered on the offbeat supporting characters. While nothing came to fruition, it indicated the lasting impact of this clichéd but loved storyline.

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4) Love Again (2023)

Love Again teams Priyanka Chopra Jonas with Sam Heughan in an amorous story about loss, redemption, and coincidental attraction that eerily replicates P.S. I Love You and You've Got Mail. Messages exchanged with a late fiancé are sent to their phone but actually end up getting to a random stranger instead. The film also has clichéd execution, courtesy of a cameos-only spot by Celine Dion and some sentimental score. What sets it apart, however, is Chopra Jonas's foray into romantic leads since Quantico and her real-life relationship with Nick Jonas quietly contributing to fan interest.

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5) Marry Me (2022)

Jennifer Lopez's Marry Me is essentially Notting Hill with Instagram filters. As a global pop star who marries a math teacher (Owen Wilson) on a whim, Lopez blurs reality and fiction, even singing songs from her real album. Although the story holds on to romcom clichés like opposites attract and public-private life conflict, it cleverly employs contemporary fame culture and social media hysteria to stage the scene. Exclusive to this movie is the fact that it acted as a double multimedia release, with a concert tour and album release timed around the opening. It's old-fashioned romance covered in influencer-age glamour, both nostalgic and new.