Letters to Juliet and the Romantic Comedy Ending

I have come to greatly dislike the term "chick flick." It tends to have rather negative connotations regarding the quality (or lack thereof) as well as trivializing the emotions and subject matter depicted. I also find it offensive that films with a female lead, told from a female perspective are marginalized with this label and deemed unworthy of a male viewership (unless of course one is unfortunately tied up and dragged there by said "chick" as part of their Friday night out). Women constantly view films from a male's view (since most films fall under this category) --from the obvious overtly high-testosterone action movies to the more subtle, typical drama. With that said, like most women, I admit I enjoy a good romantic comedy.

Like most mainstream Hollywood films, romantic comedies follow a predictable formula. In the case of the romantic comedy this usually consists of an established romantic relationship followed by a serendipitous encounter between one member of the original couple and an outsider. Usually the latter two are uncompatible and seem as though they would rather stab their eyes out with a blunt knife than be in the other's company. But, as the story unfolds, they realize that the other is exactly what they have been searching for all along and proclaim their true feelings; all resulting in the proverbial "happy ever after." We all know the plot yet we still greatly enjoy the journey (at least when the film is well done).

Letters to Juliet is no exception to this formula, although there is an endearing parallel storyline going on with Vanessa Redgrave's character, Clair, that adds great appeal and substance to the story. Throughout the film, there are very cute moments and even some nice comedic moments and lines (especially delivered by Christopher Egan's character, Charlie, the unwilling participant). However, as much as we enjoy the journey, and as much as we know the inevitable outcome, namely that Clair will find her much loved and much missed Lorenzo and Charlie and Sophie will see that they are meant to be together, the ending still has to deliver. But does it? Here is where I had trouble and fear the "chick flick" label descending. The corny factor became so elevated in the last scene that what was previously a smile on my face was now a wince. It actually brought back recollections of Pretty Woman, a film I greatly enjoyed, but whose ending was similarly cringe-inducing. Both movie endings have cheesy dialogue in their last scenes and ironically feature a balcony. In both films, the balcony does seem a fitting place to end (because in Letters to Juliet there are obvious references to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and in Pretty Woman Julia Roberts' character has a fantasy of a prince climbing a balcony to rescue her and take her away). Therefore, the balcony should be the perfect ending. But why doesn't it work? Is it too hackneyed? Or does it have nothing to do with the balcony setting afterall? Are we just expecting so much, anticipating and envisioning this wonderful ending that when it happens we can't help but be disappointed? Could it be that as much as we like and hope for the romanic "happily ever after" when it actually happens the spell is broken and we fall back into our cynical everyday selves?