Research: Opening Analysis + Scripting

 As I am reaching the final steps of my research phase, I need to see a movie opening myself and analyze it. More specifically, my goal is to analyze 2 romcom openings and compare them. Through this comparison I can find out by which type of romcom opening I am inspired by and that and transition into the scripting for the our brief.

Opening Analysis:

Anyone but You(2023):

The opening of Anyone But You immediately establishes itself as a classic romantic comedy through humor, chemistry, and relational setup. The film begins with the two main characters, Bea and Ben, meeting in a café under awkward but funny circumstances. Bea wants to use the restroom without buying anything, and Ben pretends she’s his wife so she can go in.

This scene is a traditional meet-cute. The humorous and slightly awkward interaction immediately introduces the potential romantic couple. It sets up a relationship dynamic full of tension and curiosity, drawing the audience into wondering how these two personalities will interact further.

The comedy comes both from the situation and the characters’ personalities. Bea is bold and clever, while Ben is charming but mischievous. Their contrasting traits spark an interesting conversation between the 2, which is essential in a rom-com opening because it both entertains the audience and hints at future chemistry.

Although the main conflict isn’t fully introduced in the opening, the initial interaction hints at the romantic and relational journey to come. The playful interaction between the 2 love interests sets up a tension-filled, emotionally engaging story, growth, and eventually a romantic ending

The opening also uses a casual, everyday setting ,a café, which signals a relatable story. Bright lighting and naturalistic visuals create a cheerful and inviting atmosphere, reinforcing the lighthearted, romantic tone.

Ticket to Paradise(2022):

The opening of Ticket to Paradise immediately sets up the central romantic-comedy elements while also introducing a twist on traditional rom-com storytelling. The film begins with David and Georgia, a divorced couple, traveling to Bali after learning their daughter is about to get married. Unlike typical rom-coms that start with a meet-cute, this opening introduces characters with an established history and conflict.

Their interactions of the divorced couple are full of teasing and sarcasm, which immediately signals the film’s comedic tone. The conflict from their past marriage is present from the start, creating relational tension that will drive both humor and romance later in the film. The opening uses situational humor to establish tone. The ex-couple’s contrasting personalities clash as they plan to intervene in their daughter’s wedding. 

The emotional aspect of the opening is  the couple’s unresolved feelings, family dynamics, and romantic tension. The audience is engaged not by an instant romance but by curiosity about whether David and Georgia might reconnect.

The opening uses warm, tropical lighting and scenic locations to create a visually appealing, lighthearted atmosphere. The beach and wedding visuals enhance the romantic-comedy tone, signaling fun and romance, even as relational conflicts are introduced.

Comparison:

Ticket to Paradise focuses on mature romance. The central plot revolves around a divorced couple, David and Georgia, who try to prevent their daughter’s wedding. The story blends romantic tension with comedic conflict arising from their past, creating a “slow-burn” romantic arc for the love interests.  Anyone But You, by contrast, follows a classic rom-com formula. Bea and Ben meet for the first time in a appealing meet-cute, and the story builds around their awkward interactions and growing chemistry. The narrative is fast-paced and centers on instant attraction and relational obstacles that prevent the couple from immediately ending up together.

Ticket to Paradise leverages vibrant tropical locations, warm lighting, and scenic wedding settings to create a romantic atmosphere, reinforcing its emotional side since it took a unique path. Anyone But You uses everyday settings, bright and casual lighting, and close-up shots of character expressions to focus on chemistry and engagement. The visuals are simpler but more widely known for storytelling.

In Anyone But You, the leads are strangers at the start, relying on classic rom-com archetypes: the quirky, determined protagonist and the charming, slightly mischievous love interest. Their chemistry drives both the humor and the romance. In Ticket to Paradise, the leads are already familiar with each other, and their dynamic is shaped by shared history. This allows for witty humor and a more subtle romantic build-up. 

Scripting:

Through my previous research, the romcoms usually follow a simple narrative:

1.

Meet‑Cute: The moment the leads first encounter each other in a way that’s memorable, funny, or awkward.

2.

Midpoint Shift: A turning point where the relationship deepens or faces a major setback.

3.

Climax: A moment of crisis (often a breakup or emotional turning point.)

4.

Resolution: A satisfying ending where conflicts are resolved and the characters grow together.

However, after viewing 2 examples of what a romcom opening can be. I found out I can add my own charm into the product. Like how in Ticket to Paradise, there was no established meet-cute because the characters already had history. I would love to add my own touch to our romcom but it would still have to follow other conventions. The movie Ticket to Paradise still maintained its romcom vibe by its lighting, color, sound, characters, etc. I will have to keep that in mind if I choose to make my romcom a bit different.

Self Reflection:

Through analyzing the openings of Anyone But You and Ticket to Paradise, I’ve realized that rom-coms don’t always follow the same format. Anyone But You uses a classic meet-cute and fast-paced romance, while Ticket to Paradise relies on slow-burn tension. Both still achieve the same goal of romcoms: humor, romance, and emotional engagement.

This has taught me that while it’s important to respect genre conventions, there’s also room to experiment. For my own brief, I want to take inspiration from Ticket to Paradise’s approach by allowing characters to have a backstory, while still keeping comedic and romantic beats that the audience expects. This proves how important genre conventions are. Even though the story structure changed, the aesthetic and mood are kept while filming. This makes a recognizable a rom-com . But I will have to discuss with my partner whether she agrees to add our own touch. I feel like the would make our brief stand out and really bring in our target audience from before. 

Sources:

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-romantic-comedy-screenplay-plus-15-classic-rom-coms-to-watch-for-screenwriting-inspiration 

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/romantic-scripts/