it only happens in the movies book review

Audrey watched a film called ' Cinema Paradiso' a film about film-making and cinematic kisses(?). Also, one of my favorite parts is when Audrey made a survey for her course work about which is the best cinematic kiss ever and I’m like,YAAS, I’M HERE FOR THIS! Audrey has many conversations about the survey with Harry and her friends. “ Before Sunrise”, my favorite romantic film of all time (a fact which I have mentioned here and here in the blog before) is directly referenced in the book and mentioned in Holly Bourne’s bonus content in a positive light.

It’s even indulging in some ways like referencing a lot of familiar romcom films.

The book does not make itself sound superior over this brand of entertainment. Yes, it is a takedown on romance films but what I like about it is it does not offend people (like me) who enjoy fluff in films (and books). It makes the reader realize that stuff onscreen do not often reflect reality, thus it will eventually lead us to disappointments with how real-life romantic relationship works. Through humor, the book exposes the dangers of cute and commercial cotton candy cinema that feeds our unrealistic romantic fantasies. I don’t think that the book will even pass the Bechdel Test and personally knowing Holly Bourne’s previous works, that is super funny in an ironic kind of way. Audrey’s media course work snippets are funny and what’s funnier is when she contradicts herself and violates her own rules about entering relationships. Or another snippet that lambasts “The grand gesture” and then will be followed by scenes of Harry making a huge romantic effort to win Audrey.

To make its case, a chapter will begin with a snippet of Audrey’s course work featuring a certain element of romcom like “The bestfriend who only exists to be your bestfriend” and then that chapter will introduce a character that somehow fits the bill. For the most part, the story adheres to the romcom plot formula to prove the toxicity in most romantic films. It tries on a lot of stuff to set its tone: Audrey’s Media course work which shows her utter disdain of how unrealistic romantic films are, screenplay of the things that she wants to say to her faithless dad, zombie film-making featuring a zombie bride who has an agency to make her own choices, montage of Audrey’s happy romantic days complete with background music and blooper reels of Audrey trying to be nice with a girl competing for Harry’s affections. “It Only Happens in the Movies” is basically a YA book that satirizes romantic films.

It only happens in the movies book review