While there are hundreds of genres and subgenres in film, there is one thing Hollywood will always be known for… clichés . From the nerd getting the girl, to the classic take off your glasses makeover, to fighting on top of a train that is going through a tunnel, they are always there. The best thing about these clichés is that, although most of the time we as an audience are aware of the cliché being portrayed, we don’t exactly realize it at the moment it’s shown to us. They are often so well fitted into the film that it isn’t apparent the same trope from an “old-Hollywood classic” is being utilized in modern cinema.
Breaking down some of the best “Hollywood Clichés” it’s important to start with one of the most iconic… the “meet cute”.
The Meet Cute
The “meet cute” is one of the most well known stereotypes, or clichés in romantic comedies. From When Harry Met Sally, to Notting Hill, to The Holiday, this adorable way to introduce couples to each other has been a staple in all your favorite romantic films. Whether they’re running into a childhood best friend at a coffee shop, or placing a bet on a random stranger in the bar, if you think it, they’ve done it! Audiences are looking for that unintended circumstance where you meet someone and your life changes forever, because that fantasy is what many hope will become their reality, so watching gorgeous actors and actresses meet that way just brings that fantasy to life. Often times this is the setup to a great love story, so although it may appear cheesy to some, the “meet cute” is a vitally important piece of your favorite Hollywood classics.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxBu82Dte10
The Average Guy and The Hot Girl
This is a cliché one might find Adam Sandler to be the king of, as he is often playing the love interest of some of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. Sandler isn’t the only one guilty of this cliché though, as it has been common practice for years upon years. This stereotype is quite common in high school-centric films as well, think of 10 Things I Hate About You. Obviously, Joseph Gordon Levitt isn’t an average looking guy to US, but he isn’t exactly catching Bianca’s eye at the beginning of the film. Scenarios like these can be found in practically any movie involving high schoolers, sometimes it may be the average girl and the hot guy, but regardless, this cliché has proved itself as a staple in film. Because who doesn’t want to see the underdog get the girl/guy?
http://https://youtu.be/Wmo60ltq-TA
Think of Superbad, for example. The entire plot of that movie is the underdog getting the girl. Of course, the idea is unoriginal, but still successful and interesting to watch. These multidimensional characters make it fun for us to watch them with and without the romantic interest, which in the end leaves us rooting for their happiness.
The Makeover
Would you look at that, she took her glasses off and now she’s beautiful! It’s nearly impossible to count how many times the same makeover scene has been done over and over in film and television. This one ties right into the “average guy and hot girl” scenario, as most of the time the makeover is to impress the hot boy or girl the average looking person has their eye on! Now, I love a good makeover scene, but taking glasses off and straightening your hair is not enough to qualify as a makeover. Sorry, She’s All That! And for the record, He’s All That did a bit more of a makeover, but still hard to see how they didn’t find either of these characters attractive beforehand. Now, Princess Diaries took makeover to a new level, her being a princess and all, but at the end of the day these scenes are always lacking. Of course, they help push the plot of said guy and girl ending up together forward, but the scenes themselves could use some work.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPuJkuesiyM
The Breakfast
Something that many viewers notice when watching their favorite films is the intense amount of food the characters seem to have available to them for breakfast. We are talking pancakes, bacon, eggs, fruit, toast, yogurt, etc. all on the table for them each morning. In true Hollywood fashion, the characters take one small bite of toast, kiss their apparent at-home chef on the forehead and say “I’ve gotta go, I’m running late”. Now, if it were real life, I would certainly wake up early to have enough time to eat this amazing breakfast, rather than walk right past it. This is ever-present in both film and television, and despite a universal acknowledgement that this consistent cliché is unrealistic, Hollywood continues to throw it in everything you watch. Gossip Girl is majorly guilty of this one, and don’t get me started on the Thanksgiving episode!
Women Must Wear Heels At All Times
How many times have you watched something where the lead female detective is wearing stilettos on a chase? Maybe its a scene where a group of unlikely friends are stuck in a tragic situation and of course the woman has only a see through white t-shirt and heels. Now, there may be a situation where a female character has to run in high heels, but the amount of use this cliché has gotten is proof that it isn’t quite about being realistic. Take a look at this scene from Jurassic World, Bryce Dallas Howard is chasing a dinosaur in heels and a tank top. This is a clear directional choice made by the filmmakers, and while it can make sense within the context of a film, this is a cliché that female actors often deal with, and may not be too happy about.
The British Takeover
Some of us love British accents. I mean, Taylor Swift even wrote a song called “London Boy”, where she basically says British people are better. That being said, film and television find a British accent to be the sound of evil. There is often an evil mastermind or head villain who comes in with an accent. Why is this the case? Maybe it is because the accent is the opposite of normal in the film, and by standing out this villain already comes across to us as “different” from our classic main and side characters. It can also be argued that British actors have had more rigorous training when it comes to acting skill, and they are capable of playing a complex and dark character much stronger than an American actor. Regardless, they tend to knock it out of the park when it comes to playing the part of an evil, antagonist. Whether its Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, or Donald Pleasence in You Only Live Twice, British villains can be found scattered all throughout Hollywood. There are plenty of villainous characters played by other non-British actors, but something about Brits makes Hollywood say “you’re hired”!
http://https://youtu.be/UvlBS5CmsNA
Will Hollywood clichés ever become outdated or outgrown within modern Hollywood? Honestly, no. Although they have an apparent “re-use” throughout film and television over the years, Hollywood clichés have lasted this long because they work, and people like them. Now there are some cases where the clichés are just too cheesy, too obvious, too overused, and that can lead to a “flop” in either television or film. When directors, writers and producers know what they’re doing, they can take a classic cliché and turn it into something nearly unrecognizable. Thinking back to the origin of cinema, with Charlie Chaplin and silent films, there are tropes and clichés present in that age that we still see in modern Hollywood. The damsel in distress, the mad scientist, the wise old man, all of these characters can be found in movies being produced right now. This is proof that strong tropes like these will be ever-present in entertainment in some way, shape or form, because if we are still using the damsel in distress in films like The Nice Guys and San Andreas, then it is likely we will be using it for years to come.
While these examples are only a small few of the plentiful Hollywood clichés and tropes, they are vitally important in the world of entertainment. These clichés give audiences what they are looking for, whether they know it or not. Although they can be transformed into more unique contexts or ideas, the root of the cliché is there; and it will stay there. At the end of the day clichés work and they are the backbone of cinema, whether we like it or not.