![]() She even poked fun at this typecasting in a 2014 Funny or Die sketch – Judy Greer has made a career of playing the best friend – in movies like The Wedding Planner, 13 Going on 30, and 27 Dresses. Patti in Under the Tuscan Sun encourages Frances to take the ticket to Italy that Patti had originally bought for herself, urging Frances to use this opportunity to reignite her life. Becky in Sleepless in Seattle sets the central romance in motion by mailing Annie’s letter to Sam and then sending her to Seattle to meet him. In this context, they tend to be a combination of cheerleader… and life coach, who tries to push the main character towards happiness. The best-friend-as-stock character has long been a fixture of rom-coms. But on screen, a character who’s just supportive can end up propping up the lead’s characterization without having much else to do. This is a quality we all look for in our nearest and dearest. The essence of the best friend type is that they’re supportive. So why is it that so many stories choose to sideline the best friend? And in relegating them to the wings, which traits do the story implicitly deem inferior to the protagonist’s qualities? Here’s our take on the Best Friend onscreen and why when it comes to friendship, the spotlight should be big enough for two. Joelle Brooks: “It’s just that when I look in the mirror, I see someone who’s beautiful and talented and always the second one you think of.” - Dear White People 2x05 They’re there to facilitate someone else’s journey-even when they seem to be just as compelling as the lead. Ultimately, what defines the best friend is that they’re not the focus of the story. Whether they’re dispensing sage inspirational advice, smoothly assisting in the hero’s personal life, or turning up at the drop of a hat to offer a sympathetic ear this person’s first priority is apparently ensuring their friend lives a fully actualized life. They’re often a pretty amazing friend-the kind most of us can only dream of. ![]() They can be found offering comic relief or spicing up their bestie’s life with witty remarks. Freed from the narrow expectations usually imposed on hero characters, the best friend may get to have a more colorful personality than the lead. While the story’s hero tends to be white, straight, and conventionally attractive, the best friend might more often be a person of color, LGBTQ, or belong to another marginalized community. If we look at the best friend character type in cinema and TV, some patterns emerge: So often the onscreen BFF seems to be there solely to support or add dimension to the person we’re really supposed to care about. TRANSCRIPT The Best Friend Trope, ExplainedĪlways a best friend, never a protagonist. Why do so many stories choose to sideline the BFF, who’s only there to support the protagonist? What does this trope say about friendship? ![]()
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