5 Romantic Films That Are Considered Classics But Haven't Really Aged Well

The romantic genre is arguably the most receptive to changes in real society. If monsters and ghosts are forever going to be what triggers our primal fears in horror movies, the on-screen love stories have to change as quickly as our attitudes toward relationships.

Just a few years ago, people were not talking about avoiding red flags and toxicity, healthy bonding with a partner, and the significance of self-care. Naturally, none of this was the subject of romantic movies.

That's why some of the genre's classics don't look so good when we rewatch them today. Here are five notable examples.

You've Got Mail (1998)

Meg Ryan's Kathleen and Tom Hanks' Joe seem like an ideal couple, but that's just the surface. At its core, You've Got Mail is about the powerlessness of small businesses against large corporations. And that is reflected in the relationship between Kathleen and Joe.

In the end, the sweet bookstore owner has no choice but to close her family business and fall into the arms of the man who ruined it, leaving viewers confused. Should this level of codependency really be idealized?

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Although it is a children's fantasy movie and omits many scary details from the original tale, The Little Mermaid still raises many questions. Looking at it without the fantasy glasses on, Ariel is basically an innocent and clueless underage teenager who enters a world she knows nothing about and jumps into a relationship with an older man.

Does this concept sound healthy and inevitably leading to a happy ending? Well, maybe in a fairy tale.

Overboard (1987)

When you really think about it, the plot of Overboard is more like a psychological thriller than a romcom. Goldie Hawn's Joanna may be an unsympathetic, spoiled woman, but the brainwashing she undergoes doesn't feel like a proportionate punishment.

After falling overboard, she is badly injured, loses her memory, is taken hostage, lied to, and used as free labor for a huge family she has no connection to. When Joanna finally discovers the truth and decides to stay with the Proffitts, can we honestly say it is not a severe case of Stockholm Syndrome?

Pretty Woman (1990)

The main issue with Pretty Woman is not the theme of love for hire, as you might have thought. Rather, it is how Julia Roberts' Vivian and Richard Gere's Edward treat each other. She wants money, he wants passion. And they fool themselves and each other into thinking that their initial contract is something real and genuine.

Throughout the movie, the leads don't rethink their approach and continue to use each other for their selfish ends. Could such a relationship survive the trials of time? We seriously doubt it.

Love Actually (2003)

The Christmas classic has numerous arcs, many of them romantic. And one of those arcs makes modern viewers raise an eyebrow. The way Andrew Lincoln's Mark becomes obsessed with Keira Knightley's Juliet is unhealthy, to say the least. Mark is presented as a sympathetic, tortured character, but in reality he is a classic stalker.

He even begins to act on his obsession when he comes to Juliet's door with a confession. In real life, this scene would not be the last and could easily lead to the creation of a crime documentary. Especially after the victim gave her stalker a kiss.