Customer Reviews

Writing the Romantic Comedy

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I've been looking for a book like this for a long time. Most of the screenwriting books out there just cover the usual nuts and bolts of screenwriting and cite the same movies as examples (i.e. Citizen Kane, The Verdict). I found this book very useful because it was specific for the Romantic comedy genre. The author obviously studied the genre exensively as hundreds of romantic comedies old and new are cited. The book has a very good chapter on the basic structure road map of romantic comedy--but leaves enough flexibility and points out exceptions to the rules...like Sleepless in Seattle where the couple doesn't technically meet until the very last scene (but the screenwriter got around the rule well). I also liked the way the book lays this out to you in Layman's terms, not like the Robert McKee book where you end up more confused by the end than when you started. The book also offers some good chapters on Theme, imagery,dialogue, character chemistry, story credibility and "being funny" and offers specific case analyses at the end of the chapter to highlight what the author's talking about. The book also goes into the history of romantic comedy, the future, and a list of sub genres and sub categories--but what really made it worth my money was the chapters on theme and structure and the case studies. Now, if only there were more books out there on all the other genres...

I'm a sucker for romantic comedies. Watching stories about cuddly, charismatic couples falling in love can turn this hard-bitten cynic into a mushy puddle of Jell-O in no time. They're this writer's Achilles' heel. You could show me the worst romantic comedy ever made, and I'd still probably find something good to say about it. So, I was delighted to come across Billy Mernit's "Writing the Romantic Comedy."

Although I've done some screenwriting in my time, my head isn't exactly bursting with ideas for romantic comedies. But since I'm an admirer of the genre, Mernit's book felt like a guided tour through a favorite building when you don't have any plans to construct a building of your own.

Hollywood producers notoriously hate to read, so if you're a Hollywood writer, you need to pick up a few tricks to make reading as easy for them (or their surrogates) as possible. As a writer for the entertainment industry, Mernit has obviously picked up a few tricks of his own, making his book a brisk and enjoyable read. The historical overview is appreciated almost as much as Mernit's disassemblies of some of the rom-com's stand-outs to show how the genre ticks.

Although the book is sprinkled with a few factual errors (for example, on page 177, he refers to author Milan Kundera as "Polish" instead of Czech), these aren't enough to upset the taco stand. Mernit's explanations of the genre's components are straightforward, artful, but clearly presented. And his dubbing of the Mr. Wrong character (a convention in many rom-coms) as the "Bellamy," after actor Ralph Bellamy who specialized in such roles, had me laughing out loud. My only criticism of the book is a mild one: There ought to have been at least a handful of movie stills illustrating some of the films that Mernit talks at length about -- this would have heightened the book's visual interest. I highly recommend "Writing the Romantic Comedy" even if you're not a screenwriter. Understanding how the genre works may make you appreciate it even more.

I do have one word of advice for aspiring screenwriters: If you're just starting out in the craft, you won't want this to be the first book on the subject that you read. Start off with something that teaches you the nuts and bolts of scribing for the movies, like "Screenwriting" by Syd Field or one of its clones. Next, I would recommend "Writing the Character-Centered Screenplay" by Andrew Horton, which talks a little more in depth about the vital components of character and structure. For good measure, you might also want to check out "Making a Good Script Great" by Linda Segar for advice about how to tighten a screenplay. Only then will you want to give Mernit's book a thorough going-over. If you're an old hand at screenwriting, you're probably already familiar with these books.

Once you've got all of them under you're belt, you'll be inspired to sit down at the keyboard and write and write. It may only be your name over and over, but you'll still be inspired to write.

A fabulous book not only on writing romantic comedy movies but on writing, period. In particular, a romance writer of any medium would find this invaluable.

Mr. Mernit examines the basic components of story and character, but also provides fascinating insight to such subjects as theme. End-chapter exercises are unusually helpful and enlightening.

Critiques of a few movies show just how they accomplished what they did. (The examination of "Tootsie" is amazing!) I appreciated the breakdown of how romantic comedy in the movies has evolved through the years and am now collecting many of the titles listed in the book that I've never seen. (The recent AFI list on romantic movies is also a good source for more study.)

This book is on my shelf now right next to Syd Fields and Debra Dixon. I will certainly be referring to it again and again in the years that come.

This book was a very pleasant surprise.

First, it's really the only current book of its type to focus on the romantic comedy genre.

Second, it doesn't neglect screenwriting in general, yet at the same time does not overdue the details of general screenwriting, which can be had in other books.

Third, he's a good writer and knows how to keep the material moving.

Fourth, mixed in with everything else are excellent in-depth analyses of top romantic comedies. I found his analysis of Tootsie especially good. It prompted me to take out the movie and see it again but with new eyes.

Fifth, there's really a lot more in this book than I can write about in this small space, but I particularly gained from his chapters entitled "The Art of Funny" and "Being Sexy."

My one complaint is that I was not too sold on his seven part structure which all romantic comedies can be broken down into supposedly. Perhaps he's correct, but formulaic approaches just irk me. Maybe one day I'll feel differently.

Overall, though, this is an excellent book, delivering what it promises, and worthwhile to have around for rereadings in part or whole.

Bill Mernit's book is a fantastic read not only for those who are trying to dig into the romantic comedy genre, but for anyone trying to expand their understanding of the tenants of any good dramatic story.

Mernit covers the elusive topic of theme in a thorough and clear fashion, which is either dodged or fumbled in other screenwriting books I've read. Specifically, he gives you ideas on how to literate thematic 'intents' so you can have a working answer to the deadly "what's your story about" question. He covers issues of credibility, and creating characters who we'll be willing to care about with equal precision.

But the book's about rom-coms, and it delivers on that front big time. He covers the qualities that make a story romantic in an entertaining, approachable manner. Hey, I hate romance (because it's a for wimps and cat owners), and this book has even made writing one a desirable challenge!

Other reviews have said it, and I will echo it. This book sits on the shelf with McKee's Story and Vogler's Writer's Journey as one of the best screenwriting books going.

As a struggling romantic comedy screenwriter, I found this book to be the perfect bedstand accessory, especially when insomnia strikes as I wrestle with my seemingly incessant story problems. And as a former student of Mr. Mernit, if you can't take the class, this is the second best way to get his wisdom into your brain and improve your work! I've started to watch romcoms, as he calls them, and recognizing what he's discussed such as the uniting force of humiliation in public places and the cute meet. Billy, thanks for giving birth to this baby!!

I have to admit I had a really tough time reading this book. When I sat down with it, I had the shell of an idea. As I read the book, the idea began to develop in my head. With each page I had an urge to throw the book in the corner and start writing my romcom. I resisted that urge, and I'm glad I did. Because also with each page, my story turned in new directions and I found new doors and ideas opening in my head.

The book directly tackles the romcom and offers useful insight. It breaks down classic romcoms so you can see the methods in action. The best thing is that it takes a structure you are familure with (the standard three act structure) and shows how to map your romcom on it. But, it doesn't present the structure as a hard and fast rule. That makes it easy to manipulate the structure to your own story.

I would have liked to have seen more on creating/building chemistry between characters. The book does offer practicle, useful advice on character chemistry, though. I just think that it's such a huge part of a romcom that maybe the book could have devoted a little more time to it.

What I appreciate most is that it has good excercises that can help you get your story moving.

I recommend this book for all writers - not just screenwriters. He has a way of making it so clear all the clever ways not to fall into the usual traps of a typical scene.

Whether you are writing a book or a movie the information he presents how to establish relationships between characters is tremendous. It's also a fun read.

I refer to it often when building characters, relationships, and their world.

This IS the book for anyone interested in writing a romantic comedy. Simple and easy to follow with great examples from films we love. It's all about the chemistry. If you want to write an emotional picture...this is the book for you. Writing the Romantic Comedy is your ticket to writing a romcom that sells!

I've been working on my text for a while and struggling with
it. Once I start reading the book I knew I was in right hands because page after page I immediately start finding out answers for my questions. I gained time and saved much of my energy for writing the better. Definitely value of my money.
ILKSEN BAS f/36