Actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster, known for his role as Sam in the holiday classic Love Actually, recently blasted the entire rom-com genre. Here’s what he had to say about it how it currently is. The 35-year-old actor and filmmaker expressed his concerns over the effects of streaming services on the industry. He fears their ascent has flooded the market with mediocre films, stealing the genre’s mystique.
In our most recent conversation, Brodie-Sangster lamented the especially fast turnaround times of streaming services. He realized these aggressive timelines tend to result in productions that miss the flavor and depth of what made all-time great romantic comedies so special. Yet he noted that these movies only get temporary green lights. This urgency sometimes drives producers to cut corners in order to break through the clutter.
“They get greenlit for a certain period of time. Then they just have to send out whatever they’ve got to get some attention. And so often it’s just not very good.” – Thomas Brodie-Sangster
He nostalgically referenced a “golden age” that predated the era of smartphones. He explained how it was a “sort of simpler time” where the storytelling in the genre just seemed more authentic. Brodie-Sangster brought out the magic that made films like When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, and Sleepless in Seattle such distinct pleasures. He laments that this filmic quality is sorely overlooked in most movies today.
He lauded big-name directors such as Nancy Meyers and Nora Ephron. Their behind-the-scenes artistry has created some of the most iconic romantic comedies of our time. Brodie-Sangster delivered a deeply nostalgic mood. He remembered how all of these movies reflected what true romance is about in a way that is still relevant to audiences even today.
While he didn’t like the script, Brodie-Sangster was still proud to be connected to Love Actually, if not downright nostalgic when it comes to holiday time.
“It’s lovely to be associated with Christmas,” – Thomas Brodie-Sangster
As he mused, love remains one of the greatest perennial topics, still able to captivate and stop the show. He noted that the emergence of streaming platforms has impacted how romantic comedies are financed. This change has changed the size of these films in today’s marketplace.
“So [romcoms] are more reserved for the streamers, perhaps, and maybe that’s changed the budgeting and the scale that they can do. When the volume goes up, the quality can – not necessarily always does – but can go down.” – Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Brodie-Sangster’s reflections on the romantic comedy genre highlight significant changes in the film industry, prompting discussions about the future of this beloved category.