I’m a sucker for romantic comedies. Whenever I pick a movie to watch, I always go for the humorous, light-hearted genre so many fail to appreciate. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good action movie and even enjoy a horror film every now and then, but rom-coms still rank number one.

I know what you’re thinking – rom-coms are too cheesy and unrealistic. Oftentimes you can already predict what’s going to happen: boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl have a misunderstanding between them and finally they end up together and live happily ever after. Can they get any more basic?

So yes, on the surface rom-coms seem far-fetched and silly, but once you dig a little deeper you’ll find that they aren’t all that foolish and I don’t simply love them because I’m a hopeless romantic. Here’s why romantic comedies are the best movie genre:

1. They emphasize the importance of relationships

Not only romantic relationships but family relationships and friendships. Whether there’s a best friend that offers support and encouragement or a parent that provides comfort and endearment, the value of human connection and belonging is recognized and accentuated. Rom-coms remind us that the people we love keep us grounded.

Rom-coms also highlight the gravity of healthy relationships. Nobody likes the cheating ex-boyfriend or the spiteful archenemy because they’re harmful in more ways than one. We deserve to be surrounded by people who radiate positivity and make us feel better about ourselves.

1.   They embrace vulnerability

So many of us are afraid of being vulnerable because we risk experiencing harm, but rom-coms remind us that vulnerability can be the path to happiness. Rather than concealing our feelings out of fear we should recognize that being vulnerable isn’t a bad thing.

1. They underline the value of communication

Where there’s a lack of communication, there’s a problem. Rom-coms stress that we should openly communicate our feelings and thoughts. Improving our communication skills is essential for various reasons, including building healthy relationships and understanding others.

1. They remind us that honesty is the best policy

Things almost always go wrong in a rom-com because someone told a lie. Because of this, rom-coms remind us that lying gets us nowhere.

1.  They make us happy

Witnessing a love story unfold incites a warm, tingly feeling in us. No matter how cliché they are, they can’t help but make us smile. Most importantly, they never fail to remind us that love truly is beautiful.

If you’re interested in pursuing the genre, here’s a list of some great movies to get you started (you can thank me later):

• “My Best Friend’s Wedding”
• “Pretty Woman”
• “When Harry Met Sally”
• “10 Things I Hate About You”
• “While You Were Sleeping”