5 Great Movies with Surprisingly Disappointing Romance Arcs
In all five, the main character ends up with the wrong partner.
Romance in movies is often portrayed unrealistically. The need for a happy ending often breaks every rule of logic, but more importantly, it hurts the characters' interests because the partner they're paired with isn't always objectively the best choice. Here are five examples.
The Wedding Planner (2001, 5.3 on IMDb)
One of the most famous films in Jennifer Lopez's acting portfolio, this romance follows professional wedding planner Mary Fiore as she falls in love with Steve, her client's fiancé. According to the happy ending rule of rom coms, they end up together. But in reality, Steve just isn't right for Mary. A man who goes on dates while he is engaged is hardly a reliable partner. Meanwhile, Massimo, the man Mary's father wanted her to marry, is charming and kind.
This Means War (2012, 6.3 on IMDb)
Starring Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy, this rom-com spy action centers on two CIA agents and best friends, FDR and Tuck, who fall in love with the same woman, Lauren, while competing for her affections and fending off a dangerous criminal on a mission to kill them. Ultimately, Lauren chooses FDR, even though he's a liar, womanizer, and manipulator, over the sweet Tuck, who gets the consolation prize of reconciling with his ex-wife.
Something's Gotta Give (2003, 6.7 on IMDb)
The classic rom-com starring Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Keanu Reeves is already controversial as it tells the love story of Erica, a professionally successful Broadway playwright who has no luck in her personal life, and Harry, the very mature businessman boyfriend of her daughter. Harry and Erica's journey from hate to love wins over the audience, despite the fact that he used to date her daughter. But considering what a terrible person he is, and that Erica had Reeves' Dr. Mercer, who adored her, in her life, the final couple is nothing short of a disappointment.
Thor (2011, 7.0 on IMDb)
This Marvel film needs little introduction. Thor features a very tender love story between the title character and Dr. Jane Foster, an astrophysicist who meets the Asgardian in New Mexico. As they spend more time together, Thor and Jane develop feelings for each other, but it's actually not the best possible pairing for the superhero, which is perhaps why he ends up leaving her later. In Asgard, Thor has a very close friend, Lady Sif, with whom he has a lot in common and seems to have a very strong chemistry.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994, 7.1 on IMDb)
The cult British rom com follows Hugh Grant's Charlie as he falls in love with his one-night stand Carrie. They reconnect years later, only for Charlie to discover that Carrie is engaged to another man. As he pines for her, Charlie's friend Fiona tells him that he'll always find love with her, but he rejects her kindness. In the end, Charlie and Carrie end up together, despite the fact that she's unreliable and cheated on her previous fiancé with him.