ANALYSING ROMANTIC COMEDY TRAILERS - 'LEGALLY BLONDE'

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

 THE THEATRICAL TRAILER: 

The trailer for 'Legally Blonde' establishes its identity as a romantic comedy through many conventions such as its narrative structure, humour, visual style and music. These conventions shape the trailer to embody the romantic comedy genre. 

Firstly, the narrative and plot structure is very conventional of the rom-com genre. The trailer firstly introduces Elle Woods as a fashionable, light hearted, bubbly sorority girl which introduces the aspirational element of the rom com genre. Her life is then turned upside down when her boyfriend breaks up with her. The trailer initially shows the journey of her trying to win back her ex by going to law school, a common trope of romantic comedies, however the trailer then shows her journey of self improvement and self discovery. This changes the trope to her finding herself, and within that finding her true love. This blend of romance and personal growth is a staple in the romantic comedy genre.  

The humour in this trailer is a defining feature of the film and of the genre as a whole. The trailer includes 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 Elle saying 'what like its hard' about getting into Harvard. This shows the unrelatablitiy of the character which increases the aspiration from the audience.  The film's funny take on law school 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, 'Legally Blonde' also follows generic romantic comedy elements. Bright, colourful visuals are used, especially Elle's 'iconic' outfits that emphasise the glamorous and stylish world she lives in. Elle's signature pink outfits are her way of standing out and bringing some colour into the gloomy world of law school. The trailer shows this to show her self improvement and journey as at the beginning, she is wearing a dark outfit, as if she is trying to fit in. This colour scheme emphasises the romantic comedy genre. 

In conclusion, the trailer for 'Legally Blonde' 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.