This blog post examines whether romantic comedies have evolved into female growth narratives or remain stuck in familiar formulas, analyzing ‘Legally Blonde’ through its characters, plot, and style.
What is a Romantic Comedy?
A Comprehensive Definition of Romantic Comedy Drama
Personally, I would define romantic comedy as a genre that uses reality as its stage but delightfully unravels situations that are actually difficult to achieve in real life. Amid various events triggered by love, the protagonist engages in liberated escapades, delivering laughter and a refreshing feeling to the audience. In this sense, I believe romantic comedies are like the Lollipop or Pink Lemonade of the film genre world.
This genre is realistic, yet it allows the protagonist to boldly execute actions that ordinary people like us couldn’t easily do in real daily life. This provides viewers with vicarious satisfaction and helps them emotionally resolve conflicts, at least temporarily. This function is akin to sweet wine or cocktails, possessing the power to make the audience forget reality for a moment.
Of course, realistic conflicts appear in romantic comedies. However, they are resolved through laughter, cuteness, and liveliness, never in a heavy or tedious manner. Instead, the conflicts naturally dissolve within the laughter, and this is precisely the unique charm of romantic comedies.
Character Traits in Romantic Comedies
Characters in romantic comedies are typically portrayed as attractive, cheerful, and lively personalities. They are often talkative, active, and proactive individuals who constantly create situations. Without such personalities, the plot wouldn’t unfold smoothly, and the process of resolving issues would inevitably become dull.
Another crucial element in romantic comedies is the honest expression of emotions. When something happens, the typical romantic comedy protagonist doesn’t bottle it up inside. Instead, they outwardly express their feelings—whether laughing, crying, getting angry, or talking it out. This emotional expression typically manifests differently from overly socialized individuals with rigid mindsets, often taking the form of unexpected remarks that catch others off guard.
Another key characteristic of romantic comedy characters is their tendency to exhibit unconventional behavior that seems to mock societal expectations of etiquette, propriety, or conflict itself.
Plot Characteristics of Romantic Comedies
Romantic comedies, needless to say, are stories centered around love. Of course, their plots contain slight variations, and the themes also differ somewhat between works. The way the plot unfolds also changes slightly depending on the degree of emphasis placed on love within the film.
A key element that can be both an advantage and a disadvantage of romantic comedies is the fast pace of the story’s progression. While this keeps the story exciting and prevents boredom, it also means the narrative can sometimes lack realism. Ultimately, a certain formula applies: conflicts over class, gender, or values are overcome, leading to a happy ending. This conclusion leaves a satisfying, positive lesson and a pleasant aftertaste.
Of course, the conflicts addressed in romantic comedies are never purely superficial. While they may not appear serious on the surface, many conflicts are actually deeply rooted. Conflicts often center around discrimination arising from various domains like class, appearance, race, and gender. Many plots take the form of exposing the flaws of the privileged class and then triumphantly, yet gracefully, trampling over them. This is why upper-class characters frequently appear, and stories often unfold against lavish, opulent backdrops.
A key point to note here is that the focus of romantic comedy plots differs somewhat between the 1930s, when the genre first became popular, and modern times. Romantic comedy was a genre born during the Great Depression to show the tragedy of capitalism from a different angle. It served as a tool to comfort people weary from the Depression, and one could say its key goal was to bridge the vast gap between classes. It was a format that showed the conflict between the haves and the have-nots, revealing the flaws of the American upper class through the process of overcoming this conflict, and offering a fresh perspective on human worth.
However, the focus of today’s romantic comedies has shifted somewhat. In modern society, women’s roles are changing; they are no longer passive beings relying solely on love to live, but more active and assertive female archetypes are emerging. Works like “Legally Blonde,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Bend It Like Beckham,” and “Bridget Jones’s Diary” go beyond simple bickering between men and women of different classes, comprehensively addressing women’s self-fulfillment, relationships, and even love. Thus, romantic comedies are expanding their scope, using conflicts stemming from various forms of discrimination as their subject matter, rather than just simple conflicts between social classes.
Stylistic Characteristics of Romantic Comedy
If the style of a romantic comedy were set against the backdrop of a dark and dreary slum, could this genre truly fulfill its original purpose? The answer is clearly no. Romantic comedies provide satisfaction by allowing the protagonist to achieve what we often cannot in reality, and this function cannot be compromised stylistically.
Therefore, most romantic comedies are set in the world of the wealthy, emphasizing an atmosphere of luxury and sophistication. This style offers audiences diverse sights, fashion, and spaces, delivering visual pleasure and thereby amplifying satisfaction. If the style of a romantic comedy—whose defining characteristics are its lively, energetic chaos and lightheartedness—were overly tacky or dated, it would clash with the genre’s inherent vibrancy and freshness.
Romantic Comedy Characteristics of ‘Legally Blonde’
Character Traits in ‘Legally Blonde’
As examined earlier, ‘Legally Blonde’ serves as an example of the romantic comedy genre, clearly demonstrating its defining traits. The protagonist of ‘Legally Blonde’ (hereafter referred to as ‘Blonde’), Elle, appears as the president of the sorority, a character who is talkative and always cheerful and energetic. She is a woman who naturally exudes a cheerful charm, always enjoying gossip with her friends in a room decorated as lavishly as a princess’s.
However, Elle faces conflict due to the prejudice of being perceived as a “dumb blonde” simply because of her hair color. This even leads to her being dumped by the man she expected to marry. Despite this, Elle doesn’t give up easily. She devises a plan to follow her boyfriend all the way to Harvard Law School and puts it into action, displaying an active and proactive attitude while undertaking unconventional actions that defy common sense.
El’s actions stand out even more in the setting of Harvard Law School, which seems entirely at odds with her style. Carrying a pink notebook and a fur-tipped pen while everyone else uses laptops for lectures, or sticking to her uniquely eye-catching, pink, and often baffling fashion choices, El is portrayed as somewhat of an anarchic character. She also expresses her emotions coolly and naturally, approaching the audience with a likable, approachable image through her honest attitude.
Plot Features of ‘Legally Blonde’
Like typical romantic comedies, this film also centers its story around love. However, a key difference is that the love which initially sparked the story doesn’t remain the central focus throughout; instead, it transforms into a secondary outcome.
El, who got into law school to become the ideal girlfriend of her Harvard Law student boyfriend who dumped her for being blonde, faces the harsh reality that prejudice doesn’t easily fade even there. Amidst the ridicule and disregard from all the Harvard students, El struggles fiercely. Ultimately, she surpasses her initial goal, gaining confidence and achieving self-fulfillment.
She evolves into a more compelling woman, cultivating confidence, passion, and conviction—no longer the love-obsessed El of the past. Ultimately, she rejects the ex-boyfriend who once dismissed her, gains recognition in her studies and work, and finds new partners and friends. Though initially seeming like people from different worlds, trapped in prejudice and unable to blend, the Harvard students and Elle break down their conflicts through human connection, passion, and conviction. The film concludes with a classic happy ending.
Furthermore, while centering on a ‘doenjang girl’ like Elle and set primarily at Harvard, the film naturally uses the upper class as its backdrop. Furthermore, it exposes the flaws inherent in the established class system when it is revealed that Elle’s ex-boyfriend, portrayed as a quintessential upper-class figure, actually gained admission through corruption.
‘Legally Blonde’s Atmospheric Characteristics
True to its nature as a romantic comedy primarily set against the lavish backdrop of the upper class, ‘Legally Blonde’ strongly emphasizes a visual and sensuous atmosphere. The overall tone is predominantly pink, combining the blonde bombshell image with princess-like pink. This extreme girlish style is evident throughout the entire room, various props, luxurious sofas and bags, sunglasses, and even dog accessories.
This setting, rarely encountered in reality, captures the audience’s interest and provides visual enjoyment. The musical style also plays a crucial role. Bright, positive songs and upbeat music infused with a strong determination to achieve goals maintain the film’s lively, lighthearted atmosphere throughout, drawing the audience into El’s success story with greater engagement.
Success Factors of ‘Legally Blonde’
Visual and Musical Styles Resonating with the Reality of Young American Women at the Time
This film uniquely showcases Elle’s home and various props, reminiscent of an actual Barbie dollhouse.
The overall color scheme is predominantly pink, with everyday items like cushions, nail polish, cosmetics, bedspreads, dog clothes, her own clothes and shoes, accessories, bags, even a single pen and the dog’s food bowl, all filled with cute and vibrant pink hues like toys, creating the feeling of watching a living, breathing Barbie doll.
Furthermore, the characters’ figures and fashion styles, which are rarely seen in real life, delight viewers. The film resonates deeply by portraying women relieving stress through nail care and hair styling, making it feel refreshingly relatable. It played a leading role in shaping the consumption patterns of young American women at the time. This style significantly contributes to making the film’s atmosphere even more endearing.
Lightly blending the prejudices between ‘bean paste girls’ and the highly educated
The romantic comedy ‘Legally Blonde’ features a tension between the so-called ‘bean paste girls’ and the highly educated, represented by Harvard students. Initial conflicts arise from mutual prejudices, but the film comically and effortlessly depicts this process, gradually resolving the tensions.
The ‘Legally Blonde’ phenomenon, reflecting the reality of young American women today, seems not unique to Korea. These images, reminiscent of figures like Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton, often evoke a female archetype losing her sense of self.
The film seems to have resonated deeply with American girls by comically satirizing these stereotypes while simultaneously showing the protagonist advancing to a new stage without abandoning her identity. El’s ability to transcend prejudice within human relationships—such as helping a guy in the same study group avoid being dumped or fiercely protecting a girl’s loyalty by guarding her alibi secret to the end—is thoroughly worthy of audience enthusiasm.
While carrying elements of criticism and prejudice, it creates a win-win structure where those lacking such qualities receive help and encouragement, forming human connections. Ultimately, the two groups blend together so naturally that viewers feel a sense of satisfaction.
Establishing an active, proactive female archetype that breaks away from traditional passive female roles
‘Legally Blonde’ can be considered a work that relatively accurately reads the changing currents of society. Initially portrayed as a woman obsessed with marriage, Elle ultimately grows into a confident woman who studies, manages herself, and regains her self-assurance.
In this process, Elle experiences frustration amid the advances of a male professor and people who dismiss and mock her. Yet even in such situations, she refuses to give up and forges her own path. It boldly and cheerfully portrays a woman who lives her life as an independent individual, not dependent on men, presenting a new female archetype as a desirable model—one who cultivates herself while also not neglecting her responsibilities. Through this, the film opens new dreams and visions for female audiences.
The energy and cathartic vicarious satisfaction from a success story overcoming prejudice
Her ex-boyfriend dismisses her, saying, “A blonde girl like you can’t handle it, you won’t make it,” despite her attending the same university. Yet Elle steadfastly endures this prejudice and triumphantly succeeds. Furthermore, the scene where she decisively rejects her pathetic ex-boyfriend upon his return provides an even greater catharsis.
Such narratives of success and growth breathe new will and vitality into modern people exhausted by constant neglect, jealousy, and competition. Audiences resolve, “I’ll overcome prejudice like Elle,” “I’ll show them what I’m made of,” “I’ll change, I’ll transform.” Moreover, the vicarious satisfaction felt through Elle is considered one of the key factors in the film’s box office success.
The Thrilling Appeal of Deviance
Truthfully, everyone desires to feel special. Few people would say they don’t want to be the center of attention and receive praise. Elle from ‘Legally Blonde’ fulfills this latent human desire.
With her Barbie-doll figure, blonde hair, and every accessory down to the last detail, Elle is a character who simply cannot blend in wherever she goes. Though she sometimes becomes the target of criticism and ridicule, her unconventional, eye-catching actions—from her costume party outfits to carrying her laptop and dog in flashy attire alone, down to a single pen and a fragrant pink resume—deliver small yet definite pleasures to the audience. In this sense, Elle’s deviation offers the audience an exciting thrill.
The Drawbacks of Romantic Comedies Seen Through ‘Legally Blonde’
Lack of Realism
Romantic comedies generally adopt a lighthearted and breezy approach to resolving problems. While the outcome is presented, the process is often not detailed enough, frequently resulting in a lack of realism. This can also create a sense that the resolution lacks justification. Problems that seem relatively easy to solve in movies can be extremely serious in real life, making the content of romantic comedies feel somewhat contrived.
Even in ‘Legally Blonde’, the premise that a top-performing fashion design undergraduate could get into Harvard Law School with that level of preparation seems a bit far-fetched. Of course, the film does show Elle studying, preparing her resume, enduring being ignored, and making efforts to adapt to her new environment. However, the pain and burden she must have experienced during this process are glossed over relatively easily. Her hard work is presented for only a few minutes, accompanied by stimulating, upbeat music, which I believe is insufficient to establish sufficient realism.
The protagonist grows, but there are limits to fully resolving the conflict
As mentioned earlier, in ‘Legally Blonde,’ the protagonist Elle overcomes some of the discrimination she faced due to her existing image as a blonde and a dumb blonde. However, this significance lies in the fact that this overcoming is not achieved by completely discarding the cause of discrimination, but rather by transforming that image into an advantage. Of course, this method of overcoming can be seen as sufficiently positive and desirable. As a result, the tension between the group represented by the ‘bean paste girl’ and the highly educated individuals also appears to be somewhat resolved on the surface.
But this resolution of conflict inevitably remains at a superficial level. While Elle’s success story, initially driven by her efforts to escape the blonde stereotype, does manage to transcend some existing perceptions about blondes, she still adheres to a style similar to that of the traditional ‘bean paste girl’. Therefore, it’s difficult to say the gap between the two groups has completely vanished. Rather than a flaw, this aspect is better understood as an inherent limitation of the romantic comedy genre itself.
Romantic comedies can plant new oppression and unrealistic dreams
‘Legally Blonde’ presents an idealized image of a smart, beautiful, and charming woman through the character of Elle. However, this ideal image carries the potential to become another form of coercion in certain contexts. As we move further into modern society, the conditions demanded of individuals are increasing, and the atmosphere pushing the pressure to meet perfect standards is also intensifying. Romantic comedies can convey this message in a very gentle way, potentially implanting an obsession with new human ideals into our consciousness.
Furthermore, repeatedly consuming unrealistically cheerful stories, akin to pure love comics, carries the risk of blurring the line between film and reality. This can lead to unrealistic expectations of real-life situations mirroring those in movies, fostering impractical dreams. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a clear distinction between reality and fiction when enjoying romantic comedies. They should be appreciated primarily as a source of vicarious satisfaction, comfort, and a daily pick-me-up.
