by Connolly Bottum
Regardless of whether I am reading a book or watching a movie or a television show, I always find myself intrigued by meet cutes. For those of you who may not be familiar with this phrase, a meet cute is a scene in which a hero and a heroine meet in a particularly adorable way. Oftentimes, this moment is rather humorous as it typically includes a mistake or a misunderstanding.
Here are five reasons why I love meet cutes:
1. Meet cutes emphasize the instant chemistry between the hero and the heroine. After all, while locking eyes across a room can show physical attraction, a meet cute can also show how the characters’ personalities ensure that they will be a perfect match.
2. Meet cutes are memorable. When I think of meet cutes, a bunch of specific scenes run through my mind in rapid succession. I recall the way Matthew McConaughey’s character saves Jennifer Lopez’s character from a rogue dumpster in The Wedding Planner. I remember watching the scene in The Big Sick in which the hero accuses the heroine of heckling him during his set at a comedy show. Sure, two characters can meet in a more expected fashion, but a meet cute can define how you think of a couple.
3. They can help set up storylines and tropes. How exactly do the hero and the heroine meet? Are they old friends who ran into each other at their favorite coffee shop? Did two colleagues meet in an elevator? A meet cute can oftentimes tell readers or viewers what to expect from a couple.
4. They can tell you a lot about the hero and the heroine. Both characters will react to the situation. If they both grab the same item at a store, does each character fight for the item or do they each try to get the other person to take it? This moment can set up their whole relationship, but it can also help to set up the characters as individuals.
5. They are adorable!
What are some of your favorite meet cutes?
