45 Years Ago, This Rom-Com Flopped – And Only Stanley Kubrick Saw a Masterpiece in It
The film explores what's often hidden in rom-coms: the anxiety of loneliness, the fear of rejection, and the avoidance of genuine intimacy.
In 1981, audiences were perplexed at a test screening of Modern Romance – they expected a light, sweet love story but instead got a tale about an insufferable neurotic who breaks up with his girlfriend and immediately regrets it.
They complained to studio executives, asking why there wasn't a scene with a psychoanalyst to explain why the hero was so restless.
Director Albert Brooks refused to make changes, angering the producers and ultimately, the movie flopped. 45 years later, Modern Romance has been reimagined as an innovative, bittersweet, and painfully honest rom-com that was ahead of its time.
What Is 'Modern Romance' About?
Robert had broken up with Mary several times, only to get back together. After inviting her to dinner again, he takes a deep breath. However, Mary, accustomed to his antics, preempts him: she asks to postpone their breakup for at least half an hour so that she won't have to say goodbye on an empty stomach.
Impatient, Robert breaks up with her – this time, it seems, forever. The next morning, he's plagued by regret. His search for himself and his attempts to assert his boundaries have led to a bitter discovery: an emptiness inside.
Unable to tolerate loneliness, he nervously calls a random number from his address book, asks a stranger out on a date, but soon leaves her to return to Mary.
'Modern Romance' Was a Box Office & Critical Flop, but It Got Something More: Praise From Kubrick Himself
After a disastrous test screening, Columbia Pictures was furious. The producers promised Albert Brooks a raucous party at the luxurious Fairmont Hotel. Instead of an "old Hollywood buffet," however, the director found himself in an empty room.
But then Brooks received a call from Stanley Kubrick. The legendary director, known for his perfectionism and demanding approach, called the film brilliant.
Unlike the general public, Kubrick appreciated Brooks's insights into the toxic nature of jealousy and the challenges of fostering enduring love amid the pressures of capitalism, which fosters distorted notions of personal value in individualists.
'Modern Romance' Was Definitely Ahead of Its Time
Brooks based the script on an analysis of his own problematic behavior, making the protagonist an exaggerated version of himself. Robert is an unbearable character – jealous, narcissistic, and an impossible bore.
Yet, it's hard not to recognize yourself in him and his negative qualities are offset by his vulnerability and desperate attempts to love and be loved.
Modern Romance also became a poignant examination of gender stereotypes. Robert believes that Mary achieves career success solely because of her attractiveness. He values his companion only for the way her presence elevates him in the eyes of others.
His possessiveness and misogyny escalate from scene to scene, reflecting the collective inability of men to accept female autonomy.
Without Modern Romance, movies like When Harry Met Sally, Broadcast News, and modern rom-coms with vulnerable characters might not have existed at all.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Modern Romance'?
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Modern Romance has 83% from critics and 70% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.0/10.
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On Letterboxd, Modern Romance scored 3.7/5.0.
Where to Watch 'Modern Romance'?
Modern Romance is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.
