When Harry ran after Sally, and the other most recognizable moments of romantic realization in film history
Lionsgate
If you just saw Friends with Kids and are considering procreating with your best friend in the hope that it will awaken some latent attraction and end this tortuous search for love already, you're not alone. But as cultural critics we feel it's our job—no, duty—to point out that although this new rom-com is wonderful and refreshing, it still employs some of the same devices as its predecessors, namely the late-in-the-game epiphany.
You know what we're talking about: the moment in which one of the leads realizes their soul mate has been in front of them the whole time. Thanks to dramatic denouement and proper timing, rom-coms have led us to believe it's a perfectly good idea to date our sex buddies, stepbrothers, and sparring-partners. Just click through some of our favorite examples to see what we mean.
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