How Fire Island's Will & Noah Can Change Romantic Comedies
Fire Island may seem like a typical romantic comedy, but its exploration of queer relationships and its happy ending highlight a quietly powerful shift in the genre. As a modern riff on Pride & Prejudice, Fire Islandintroduces a cast of characters that head to the titular vacation spot for a week of fun that could be their last time together on the island. Joel Kim Booster, who also wrote the screenplay, stars as Noah, the movie's stand-in for Jane Bennet. Early in the movie, Noah meets Conrad Ricamora's Will, Fire Island's Mr. Darcy. Their relationship follows a similar path akin to Darcy and Elizabeth's, with the pair reticent to connect, mostly due to miscommunication and preconceived notions of who they think the other person is.
Throughout Fire Island, the pair finds themselves attracted to each other, while they both help their respective friends, Howie and Charlie, connect as well. For the most part, Fire Island follows the typical romantic comedy formula, but its focus on queer relationships, found family, and relationship dynamics within the queer community give the film an added layer that pushes the genre forward. When Fire Island's ending comes around, Noah and Will finally connect, professing their complicated feelings for each other and expressing the kinds of relationships they seek out in their lives.
Related: How Fire Island Compares To Pride & Prejudice (Did It Get Everything?)
During a conversation on the docks at the end of Fire Island, Will tells Noah, "I don't think monogamy is for me," and Noah agrees with him. The pair proceed to dance while the sunsets, sharing a kiss, and seemingly agreeing to explore a potential relationship. This moment is important for a few reasons and highlights the subtle
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