Analysing Romantic Comedy Trailers - 'Blended'

The first romantic comedy I am going to be looking at is 'Blended'. I will be analysing the trailer and how genre is presented.

Here is the trailer:

The official trailer for 'Blended' shows that it is a romantic comedy by incorporating key conventions of the genre. Heres how:

1. Lighthearted and Humorous Tone

• The trailer opens with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore’s characters on an awkward blind date that quickly goes wrong, establishing the comedic tone from the start.
• Many of the jokes revolve around family chaos, cultural misunderstandings, and unexpected bonding moments, all of which are typical in rom-coms.

2. Romantic Storyline with a Classic Setup/Narrative structure

• The plot follows two single parents forced into an unexpected situation together, leading to romantic tension and eventual love (a classic rom-com trope)
• Initially, they dislike each other, but over time they develop feelings, following the enemies to lovers arc often seen in rom-coms.
• Moments of vulnerability and deeper emotional connection are shown in the trailer, indicating a balance of romance and comedy.

3. Feel-Good, Upbeat Music

• The background music starts off fun and playful, reinforcing the comedic aspect of the film.
• As their relationship develops, the music becomes more sentimental, underscoring the romantic progression of their story.

4. Family and Relationship Dynamics

• The rom-com aspect is expanded beyond the couple, focusing on family relationships and bonding.
• Both characters’ children play a role in bringing them together, adding an extra emotional depth to the romance.
• Scenes of blended family chaos and parenting struggles contribute to the humour.

5. Bright, Warm Cinematography and Exotic Location

• The sunny South African setting is full of vibrant colours, amazing landscapes, and adventurous moments.
• Bright, warm lighting is a common visual hallmark of rom-coms, making the film feel uplifting and heartwarming.

6. Star Power and Rom-Com Legacy

• The trailer emphasises Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, two actors well known for their romantic comedies ('The Wedding Singer', '50 First Dates').
• This instantly creates expectations that the film will follow the same romantic and comedic formula.
• Tag-lines and marketing materials often reference their past successful rom-coms.

 

7. Editing and Transitions

• The trailer uses quick cuts and playful transitions to match the film’s upbeat and lighthearted tone.
• There are moments of slow-motion and dramatic zoom-ins on emotional or romantic moments, reinforcing the romance aspect.
• Flashy, energetic cuts help maintain excitement and pace, keeping the audience engaged.

8. Romantic and Comedic Dialogue

• The dialogue in the trailer is full of witty banter and flirtatious teasing
• Many of the lines play into romantic tension, such as moments where they are forced into romantic situations despite initially disliking each other.

9. Classic Rom-Com Ending 

• We assume that they are going to end up together as thats the classic rom com ending.