Ryan Coogler Calls This 1997 Rom-Com the 'Perfect Movie'

Ryan Coogler's filmmaking journey stands out for one remarkable reason: his ability to master completely different genres while achieving critical and commercial success across the board. From his breakout independent drama to his latest vampire action thriller, the director has proven that versatility can be a filmmaker's greatest strength.

From Drama to Action: A Director's Range

Since Robert Redford first recognized Coogler's talent with Fruitvale Station, the young filmmaker has defied industry expectations by refusing to stay in one creative lane. He crafted a compelling biographical drama, delivered an instant classic boxing film with Creed, created a cultural phenomenon with Black Panther, and most recently explored period horror with Sinners.

This impressive range makes Coogler's appreciation for romantic comedies less surprising, even though the genre often faces dismissal from serious film critics. During his appearance in the Criterion Closet, the director highlighted Love Jones as an "exceptional" romantic comedy, going so far as to call it a "perfect movie."

Celebrating Underrepresented Voices

The 1997 film Love Jones represented something rare in mainstream cinema: a romantic comedy that authentically celebrated African-American experiences with an entirely Black cast. The movie offered emotional depth that surpassed much of the generic romantic fare that would dominate the following decade, largely thanks to the incredible on-screen chemistry between Nia Long and Larenz Tate. Long, an accomplished poet herself, even contributed original work to the film.

Coogler has consistently championed underrepresented filmmakers, particularly within the Black community, many of whom never received proper recognition during their careers. Love Jones director Theodore Witcher exemplifies this unfortunate pattern – despite creating what's now considered a genre classic, he never got another chance to direct, even though he wrote the crime thriller Body Count the following year.

Romance in Coogler's Own Work

While Coogler might not immediately come to mind as a potential romantic comedy director, he's successfully woven meaningful romantic elements throughout his filmography. Creed particularly benefited from the authentic chemistry between Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson, which echoed the beloved dynamic between Sylvester Stallone and Talia Shire in the original Rocky.

Even within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, known for forgettable romantic subplots, the genuine attraction captured between Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong'o in Black Panther stood out as one of the franchise's stronger romantic elements.

Looking ahead, Coogler's schedule appears packed with a Black Panther trilogy conclusion reportedly featuring Denzel Washington, plus a highly secretive X-Files reboot. With such a promising career trajectory, audiences might eventually see his take on the romantic comedy genre.