What makes or breaks a romantic comedy?

Hi all - I'm writing a romantic comedy screenplay at the moment and have done my fair share of viewing them also! I just thought that I'd put it out there and see what is your personal view about what makes or breaks a romantic comedy?

At least one of the romantic characters has to be sympathetic. That is what supplies the comedy. You have to feel for that character, put yourself in that person's place. Situational comedy will only take the story so far. Character development has to take it the rest of the way.

Laughter or the lack there of. Simple.

you get a star! I love them I can"t really say what makes them or breaks them they are all very funny in there own way.

Something obvious. If a viewer can foretell what's going to happen next...that's it. Your movie's a dump.

Suspense is the best.

In romance....people like problems, acts to get their crushes jealous....that kind of crap. Just keep the thriller going.

the ending, most of the time the first 2/3rds of the movie is hilarious and well done but if the ending lacks a certain punch that equals the rest its kind seems dumb.

a lot of times its the actors like hugh grant. he's just a likable guy, he can't do any wrong when it comes to rom coms.

sometimes it can be how true to life and close to reality a movie feels, like the movie Once.

People are looking for something they can relate to in their life, and tender moments bring back tender memories of people they have loved.

I like my romantic comedies to have lots of witty and sexy banter. And a lot of "chase". The romance shouldn't come to easy. As for the ending, they are always too predictable.

What makes them for me is the chemistry between the actors (sorry, I know that has nothing to do with the screenplay)

What breaks them is being too forced, contrived and "cutesy"

Believability

For example Sleepless in Seattle works, but You Got Mail doesn't (I use this as you have the same two leads)

Enchanted works because even though you have these animated characters, what they do is believable (within the context that you have framed it)

I wrote a romantic comedy about a man who comes into possession of a female genie and how she really makes things rough for him as she tries to force the three wishes out of him.

"French Kiss" fails for it comes off a bit contrived in spots "When Harry Met Sally" works for it comes off as very natural

The characters are what makes or breaks a romantic comedy. If you like the main characters, you are happy that they get together. It doesn't matter if the plot is a little cheesy, you just want a happy ending for the characters that you like so well.