10 Best Side Couples In Rom-Coms

Romantic comedies often focus on just one couple, but many have secondary pairs that are as good as the main one or even better. The formula of rom-coms consists of lighthearted stories with a good dose of humor and a touch of drama (with some relying more on the former than the latter), through which these movies show how true love can overcome anything (though there have also been movies that challenge this cliché ending). The main characters are often accompanied by their best friends or people close to them who give them support through their many ups and downs, but these characters sometimes end up stealing the spotlight.

It’s not uncommon for secondary or side characters to become as popular or more as the main characters, but it’s especially interesting in rom-coms. As mentioned above, these characters are often there to support the main characters and/or to serve as the audience’s eyes and voice, but there have been movies where they were also given engaging stories. Some of these characters were even given their own romances, and while some were brief or weren’t really explored, they still left a big mark and were as interesting and entertaining as the main couple or even more.

Related

10 Beloved Rom-Com Couples That Were Actually Toxic For Each Other

Although rom-coms are all about the idea of “love wins”, many couples shouldn’t have ended up together as they were pretty toxic for each other.

10 Denise & Kenny in Can’t Hardly Wait

As chaotic as they were, they were fun to watch

Can’t Hardly Wait explained that Denise (Lauren Ambrose) and Kenny (Seth Green) had a history together and were no longer on speaking terms. However, they ended up locked inside a bathroom at the graduation party, where they were forced to open up about their old friendship and why they had drifted apart. As it turns out, there was a deeper connection between Denise and Kenny and they ended up having sex, all while Preston (Ethan Embry) continued his mission to give his love letter to Amanda Beckett (Jennifer Love Hewitt). Denise and Kenny’s story was a lot more interesting than Preston’s obsession, and the movie’s epilogue revealed that Denise and Kenny broke up, but then made up in a bathroom.

9 Frenchy & Doody in Grease

Perhaps the most stable relationship in Grease

Grease was all about the toxic relationship between Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John), but as they broke up and made up multiple times, their friends Doody (Barry Pearl) and Frenchy (Didi Conn) kept a mostly healthy relationship. Doody was one of the goofiest members of the T-Birds, while Frenchy was soft-spoken, kind, and dreamed of going to beauty school. Although Doody and Frenchy weren’t seen much throughout Grease, the brief moments they were on-screen showed that they really cared about each other and supported each other, and even though they were very different, they complemented each other quite well.

8 “Fat Amy” & Bumper in Pitch Perfect 2

“Fat Amy” & Bumper used music to express their feelings

“Fat Amy” (Rebel Wilson) and Bumper (Adam DeVine) met in Pitch Perfect and started flirting, but it wasn’t until Pitch Perfect 2 that they got together. At first, they had a “no strings attached” relationship, with Amy freaking out when Bumper took her on a traditional date and asked her to be his girlfriend. Amy later regretted this and rowed to his cabin while performing a song for him and they reconciled. It was revealed in Pitch Perfect 3 that they had broken up, but their fun relationship, from beginning to end, was a lot more interesting and funnier than that of Becca and Jesse.

7 Clarice & Joe in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Thanks to Mia, Clarice & Joe accepted their feelings for each other

Since The Princess Diaries, it was clear that there was something else between Queen Clarice (Julie Andrews) and Joseph (Héctor Elizondo), her head of security, chauffeur, and confidant. In The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, well aware of the love between her grandmother and Joe, Mia encouraged Clarice to make a move and seize the wedding preparations as she was no longer getting married, but she could still have her happy ending with Joe. Clarice and Joe got married, and it was the most satisfying and heartwarming conclusion to their discreet and “secret” romance that had been developing behind closed doors for years.

6 Mack & Jesse in She’s All That

Mack & Jesse surely had a wholesome relationship

She’s All That focused on Zack’s (Freddie Prinze Jr.) bet with his friends to turn Laney (Rachael Leigh Cook) into the prom queen, as well as the romance that ended up blossoming between them. However, there was a minor side couple that, even though wasn’t properly explored, had more potential than Zack and Laney: Zack’s sister Mack (Anna Paquin), and Laney’s best friend, Jesse (Elden Henson). Mack and Jesse met at the prom, and it was immediately obvious that they were attracted to each other, and together they alerted Zack about Dean’s plans. Mack and Jesse’s connection wasn’t explored after that, but it would be safe to assume that they would have had a very wholesome relationship as they were both kindhearted.

5 Michael & Mandella in 10 Things I Hate About You

Michael knew how to get to Mandella’s heart

While Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) did his best to get Patrick (Heath Ledger) to date Kat (Julia Stiles) so he could date Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) while he also distracting Joey (Andrew Keegan), his friend Michael (David Krumholtz) was doing his best to get closer to his crush, Mandella (Susan May Pratt), Kat’s best friend. Michael knew Mandella was obsessed with Shakespeare and used this to his favor, sending her love notes in Shakespeare’s style. Michael showed up at the prom dressed as Shakespeare with Mandella also dressed for the occasion, and it was a truly wholesome moment to see these two finally together after those clever and adorable exchanges.

4 Dionne & Murray in Clueless

Dionne & Murray really cared for each other

Cher (Alicia Silverstone) felt the pressure of finding a boyfriend in Clueless, and she admitted that her best friend, Dionne (Stacey Dash), and her boyfriend Murray (Donald Faison) were a good pair. Although Dionne and Murray were often seen arguing in public, mostly due to Dionne’s jealousy, they were very loving and caring towards each other, especially when they thought nobody was looking. Dionne and Murray were a pretty stable couple even though they were in high school, and while they had some flaws, they were as interesting as Cher’s messy love life.

3 Marie & Jess in When Harry Met Sally

Marie & Jess’ relationship was fascinating to watch

When Harry Met Sally focused on the slow development of Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally’s (Meg Ryan) relationship as they went from not standing each other to falling in love with each other over the course of 12 years. As they tried to figure out their feelings for each other, their best friends ended up falling for each other fast and hard: Jess (Bruno Kirby), Harry’s best friend, and Marie (Carrie Fisher), Sally’s best friend. Unlike Harry and Sally, Jess and Marie gave in to their feelings and were soon engaged and later married, with Harry and Sally finally admitting their feelings for each other after their best friends got married. Jess and Marie offered another look at relationships, one that was very different from the main one.

2 Gareth & Matthew in Four Weddings and a Funeral

Gareth & Matthew showed their friends what love was

Among Charles’ (Hugh Grant) circle of close friends were Gareth (Simon Callow) and Matthew (John Hannah), the only committed and stable couple in the group. Throughout Four Weddings and a Funeral, and as Charles struggled with his love life, Carrie (Andie MacDowell), and other failed relationships, Gareth and Matthew were the “married” couple and the only truly healthy relationship, but sadly, it all ended tragically for them. Gareth died of a heart attack at Carrie and Hamish’s wedding, making Charles and the rest realize how much they loved each other and how stable their relationship really was.

1 Paulette & Kyle Legally Blonde

Elle helped her friend get the man she wanted

Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) changed many lives in Legally Blonde, most notably that of her new friend, Paulette (Jennifer Coolidge). Paulette was Elle’s manicurist and confidante, and Elle helped her gain confidence to talk to her crush, a UPS worker named Kyle, as Paulette was very shy and awkward. Elle taught her the “bend and snap” move so she could seduce Kyle, but it went terribly wrong and Paulette ended up hurting him. Still, Kyle and Paulette ended up getting together and eventually got married and had children. Paulette’s struggles were very real, and it was heartwarming to see her moving on from her past, toxic relationship and into a healthy, loving one.