PDA, Coordinated Outfits, and the Drama: At this moment, we are experiencing a period of "Rom-Comification."

      Last autumn, those even slightly engaged online were aware of Chante Joseph’s Vogue article claiming that having a boyfriend was the peak of embarrassment. Fast forward six months, and it appears, to quote Charli XCX, “everything is romantic.” From celebrity pairs to coordinated outfits and heartfelt love stories in films and television, we seem to be in a period of “rom-comification.” At the heart of this trend is the rom-com guy. Charming. Kind. Loyal. Humorous. Looks great in a sweater… traits that could be among the qualities a single person desires in their ideal life partner. If that’s you, you might just find them this year—at least on screen, that is.

      (Image credit: Getty Images) Our romantic lives have arguably been shaped by fairytale-like relationships for ages. Consider classic films penned by women, like 1989's When Harry Met Sally, where the leads begin as friends, or the original 2001 version of Bridget Jones’s Diary, featuring Colin Firth as the understated gem of a man finally recognized by Bridget after her fling with a flamboyant Hugh Grant. More recently, viewers of Bridgerton have envied the sizzling, electric chemistry between the characters played by Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey, partly due to their deep, soulmates-level connection that hints at authenticity.

      This is a character we've become accustomed to, who has made a return to film and television after a break. From Chris Evans as the second-chance hero in Celine Song’s Materialists to Adam Brody’s sensitive rabbi in Nobody Wants This and Will Sharpe’s emotionally perceptive goth in Lena Dunham’s Too Much. The latest entry? Robert Pattinson as a museum director, complete with glasses and a tousled hairstyle, opposite Zendaya in The Drama, an A24 film released this month.

      Meanwhile, in the realm of celebrity couples, it seems life is mirroring art, with this so-called "rom-comification" evident among A-list pairs. Gracie Abrams and Paul Mescal look like the romantic leads of a film, whether they are at a baseball game or the Oscars; Callum Turner and Dua Lipa are frequently seen sharing hugs and inside jokes in holiday pictures and at red carpet events; and Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz are spotted walking around Manhattan (quintessential rom-com territory) in matching outfits. Whether real or fictional, it feels like the rom-com—and the ideal rom-com guy—has made a comeback. Previously overshadowed by those with a more enigmatic and mysterious aura (think Adam Driver or Bradley Cooper), we’ve collectively realized that someone openly loving and affectionate—what the internet often refers to as a “golden retriever boyfriend”—is actually quite appealing.

      Emma Firth, a writer, brand consultant, and founder of the literary salon Rejection is Romantic, mentions she was raised on a cultural diet primarily consisting of late-'80s and '90s rom-coms. She believes wit is a crucial feature of the rom-com guy, shaping her relationship expectations. "A guy with a sense of humor, a healthy level of self-awareness, and a stylish knitted sweater collection is much more appealing than just a random attractive guy," she states.

      (Image credit: Getty Images) Holly Beddingfield, the individual behind the pop culture newsletter Capsule, recently discussed how boyfriends might be gaining popularity again. She recalls the films she watched during her teenage years, stating, “[They] really influenced what I thought a first boyfriend should be like, and then you start dating someone who is just obsessed with his Xbox and you think, ‘well, I didn’t expect it to be like this.’”

      While Firth acknowledges it's better not to fixate on finding that cinematic ideal, certain traits remain significant. "The rom-com guys I’ve had virtual crushes on over the years possess kindness, emotional maturity, humility, and a genuine interest in you—what brings you joy, what makes you happy," she tells me. "These are wonderfully desirable qualities—and not unreasonable to want in a life partner."

      I asked my friends—in classic teenage-girl style—who their current celebrity crushes are, and the men they've selected as their internet boyfriends fit the rom-com-guy profile. Along with Mescal and Styles, other favorites include Henry Golding ("He's so charming.") and Rege-Jean Page ("Honestly, my dream man."). The term "golden retriever boyfriend" repeatedly came up; it’s an archetype characterized by endless enthusiasm, adoration for their partner, and a wholesome handsomeness.

      If the rom-com guy has long influenced our views on relationships, celebrity pairings have done so as well. Beddingfield suggests that love is a universal trait we all connect with. “As [celebrities’] careers progress and their lifestyles diverge so significantly from their fans', their intimate relationships are the common ground we can all relate to,”