ANALYSING ROMANTIC COMEDY TRAILERS - 'CLUELESS'

The second trailer I am going to be looking at to see how genre is presented and where it is apparent is from the film 'CLUELESS'.

 THE THEATRICAL TRAILER: 

The trailer of 'Clueless' uses many conventions that are usual for the romantic comedy genre. It teases the audience by not showing the full story or who she ends up with but shows the overall atmosphere of the film. It uses techniques such as quick edits of comedy and humour, the actual structure, music and sound, visual effects and romantic and emotional elements. It appeals to audiences by showcasing a lighthearted, witty side of high school like whilst Cher is ultimately finding herself and a love interest. 

Firstly, the narrative and plot structure. The trailer is structured by introducing Cher's character as fashionable, popular and witty high schooler that sets up the tone for the film. It follows a classic romantic comedy structure whilst she tries to find herself and romance, when she realises it was in front of her all along. The trailer doesn't reveal much about the actual journey she goes on during the film and who she ends up with but teases multiple romances which the audience want to find out more about. This is typical for the romantic comedy genre as the conflict with her feelings and relationships is presented. 

The humour in this trailer is a defining feature of the film and of the genre as a whole. The trailer includes quick cuts through highly comedic moments in the film to help reveal the genre. The humour in this trailer relies on witty, sarcastic dialogue and dramatic situations. For example the trailer opens on Cher making a speech in school overly dramatically and clearly cluelessness about real world issues. The film's funny take on high-school life creates a lighthearted, fun atmosphere which romantic comedies are known for. 

The music and sound is also used to show the romantic, light atmosphere of romantic comedies. The trailer uses upbeat, catchy pop songs that show the films fun and youthful energy. The exaggerated sound effects also highlight the comedy and emphasise the tone of the film. Visually, clueless also follows generic romantic comedy elements. Bright, colourful visuals are used, especially Chers 'iconic' outfits emphasise the glamorous and stylish world that they live in, emphasising how they are 'clueless' about the real world. This also reinforces the aspirational aspect of rom coms. 

In conclusion, the trailer for 'Clueless' effectively embodies the romantic comedy genre by using all the conventions above. It successfully targets romantic comedy lovers that like the rom com's emphasis on fantasy and escapism.