‘Isn’t It Romantic’ Review: Brilliance in Self-Awareness

Romantic comedies probably get the worst rap when it comes to movie genres. Their formula has barely changed in decades; girl falls for guy, guy turns out to be not so great a catch, girl realizes she’s actually in love with guy she knew all along but what too blind to see. Whether you reverse the gender roles or add another person or two into the mix, it’s all relatively the same. Isn’t It Romantic is no different, but it’s humor comes from fully embracing the genre and utilizing its tropes for maximum impact. Its brilliance lies in its self-awareness.

Natalie (Rebel Wilson) was never a fan of romantic comedies growing up, believing that everything they stood for was all just a fantasy. That all changes when she gets knocked unconscious after being mugged in the subway. When she wakes up, her entire life is now a romantic comedy. At first she is fully on board with the super hot guy (Liam Hemsworth) who wants to court her, the vibrant new feel of the city, and her massive new apartment complete with gay best friend (Brandon Scott Jones), but soon she wants to get away from everything that is superficial and back to her normal life. To do so, she believes she must find her true love, but who that is is anyone’s guess.

What I love most about Isn’t It Romantic is that is doesn’t shy away from the familiar tropes of romantic comedies but instead uses them to the film’s benefit. We know almost immediately that Natalie is going to fall head over heels for hot guy Blake but that in the end she’ll end up with her friend Josh (Adam Devine) who has always had a thing for her that she just never saw. It’s all very transparent. And yet because it also makes fun of the very same genre it represents, it feels surprisingly new and refreshing to watch.

Isn’t It Romantic is very funny, from Rebel Wilson’s pointing out all of the tropes to the outlandish actions of its supporting cast. Everyone has their moment in the spotlight, and romantic comedy fans will have a great time looking for all the cheesy references. A lake full of rowboats, perhaps? Even if you’re not the biggest fan of romantic comedies, Isn’t It Romantic is funny enough to keep you entertained. It mocks the genre as much as it is a love letter to it.

Rebel Wilson has been very hit or miss with me lately but with Isn’t It Romantic she knocks it out of the park. The film breathes new life into the stale genre and delivers some of the best laughs I’ve had in awhile. Whether you’re looking for that perfect date movie or just want to live in a fantasy world for 90 minutes, Isn’t It Romantic will satisfy all your romantic needs.