The representation of women in independent rom-coms compared to Hollywood rom-coms

In independent films, such as (500) Days of Summer, women are represented as independent and not needing of a relationship, whereas in Hollywood movies, women are represented in a stereotypical way, and require a man to help them or to be happy, and in the film Bridget Jones's Diary: The Edge of Reason, these ideas are very obviously portrayed.

The first time that these ideas are shown is in the introduction to both of these films. In Bridget Jones's Diary, Bridget Jones is the narrator, as the film is based on her diary, and she says: 

"Mark Darcy and Bridget Jones; I've found my happy ending and nothing else can spoil it."

 This quote shows that Bridget Jones is happy because she is in a relationship, which is a juxtaposition of Summer in (500) Days of Summer as the first description we are given of her is:

"...Tom Hansen grew up believing that he would never be happy until he found 'the one'... The girl, Summer, did not share this belief."

From this quote, we can see that the stereotypical male/female relationship is not adhered to in this film as it is the male in the relationship who believes that you can only be happy when you find 'the one' and the woman is sceptic of this belief.

In Hollywood rom-coms, the relationship between the two main characters is a happy one, even though they have bad bits in the middle, which can be seen when Bridget says as a narrator in a voice-over near the beginning:

"Have never been happier in my entire life (billboard says: Mark and Bridget are the real thing) Bridget Darcy; Mrs Darcy; Mr and Mrs Darcy; Lord and Lady Darcy..."

However, at the beginning of (500) Days of Summer as Tom looks back on his relationship with Summer with his sister, he realises that it was never a good relationship, and he describes the break up scene at a diner with Summer describing their relationship;

"We've been like Sid and Nancy for months now."

And as he analyses his relationship with Summer more, the audience, and Tom Hansen, both realise that although Tom may have been happy, Summer wasn't.

Another contrast that Hollywood and independent rom-coms entail is the need for a relationship. In Bridget Jones's Diary, (29:20) Bridget grovels over Mark's voicemail because she thinks that he is going to break up with her after a bad date, whereas in (500) Days of Summer, Tom and one of his friends, McKenzie, are surprised when Summer says:

"I don't want (a boyfriend)... You don't believe that a woman can be free and independent?"

These two clips prove how differently women are portrayed in Hollywood and independent rom-coms; in independent rom-coms, women are seen as quite strong characters, whereas in Hollywood movies, women are seen as needing a man, or a relationship, which can also be seen when Bridget gets arrested in Thailand.

When Bridget Jones is arrested in Thailand over a drug charge, she doesn't do anything to help herself. Instead, she waits around for a man, although in this case a rather emasculated and feminine man, to help her as she talks to the inmates about stereotypical female topics, such as boyfriends, bras, and Madonna. Although no one is arrested in (500) Days of Summer, Tom Hansen starts smashing plates when Summer breaks up with him, and it is up to a strong female character to save him, such as his younger sister, who he goes to numerous times throughout the film to ask for help. 

Finally, the ending of Bridget Jones's Diary: The Edge of Reason, conforms to a classic Hollywood rom-com as she and Mark walk off into the distance as she says in a voice-over:

"So as you can see, I have found my happy ending at last, and I truly believe that love is possible, even when you're 33 and have the bottom the size of 2 bowling balls."

While (500) Days of Summer finishes with Summer marrying another man, and Tom meeting a girl who is applying for the same architectural job as him, which is a very deceiving ending because the beginning scene is him holding Summer's hand with a wedding ring on.  

In conclusion, women are represented as very stereotypical and require a man in their life to be happy in Hollywood rom-coms, whereas in independent rom-coms, women are represented as being independent and as having high goals in their professional life rather than their sex life, however there is a stereotypical male and female role in relationships in both Hollywood and independent rom-coms.