The document analyzes and compares the conventions used in movie posters for The Wedding Singer and Meet the Parents. Both posters feature the film's stars smiling and in close proximity. The Wedding Singer poster shows Drew Barrymore looking at Adam Sandler as he looks away, while the Meet the Parents poster shows Teri Polo looking awkwardly at Ben Stiller as he looks away smugly. Color schemes, taglines, and other elements are used to provide context and draw in audiences. Overall the posters employ stereotypes and visual cues to quickly convey the films' romantic comedy genres and central relationships.

1. Conventions of a film
poster
The wedding singer Vs. Meet the
Parents

2. Denotation

3. Tagline
The star system
Big, bright masthead
Blonde & gorgeous
Tall, dark and
handsome
Bright colours are
used to help keep
the audience
drawn into the
poster and helps
portray the
atmosphere of the
film.
Looking towards him
Big smile
Looking away
from her
Feminine item, in this case a pink
flower and a necklace.

4. Connotation

5. Connotation
Adam Sandler:
Tall, dark and handsome: He’s relatively good-looking
meaning the audience will take an interest in him, the
same way Drew Barrymore’s character does.
Looking away from her: The fact that he’s looking away
from her highlights how he’s trying to keep away from her
and focus on his career. However the close proximity of
their bodies emphasises how close they are and how
supportive of one another they are,.
Smaller image of him: seems as though he’s dedicating a
song to her: This further highlights just how into his career
he is, however the use of his arm pointing outwards helps
resemble a kind of serenade and prompts the audience to
understand that at some stage he potentially might
dedicate a song to her.
Drew Barrymore:
Blonde & gorgeous: Stereotypical of the genre and helps
the male audience keep interest in the film as there is
something beautiful to keep their eyes on. It’s also selfgratifies the audience into believing they can live this life.
Looking towards him: This supports the genre as its quite
romantic her looking at him with the biggest smile on her
face, its like she’s realised for the first time just how much
she likes him.
Feminine item, in this case a pink flower and a necklace:
This case being a necklace and a flower This helps the
audience clearly identify that she is a feminine
stereotypical woman and is quite lady-like
Don’t worry too much about
reading the connotations as they
will be clearly on the next slide

6. Adam Sandler
Tall, dark and handsome: He’s relatively
good-looking meaning the audience will
take an interest in him, the same way
Drew Barrymore’s character does.
Looking away from her: The fact that
he’s looking away from her highlights
how he’s trying to keep away from her
and focus on his career. However the
close proximity of their bodies
emphasises how close they are and how
supportive of one another they are,.
Smaller image of him: seems as though
he’s dedicating a song to her: This
further highlights just how into his career
he is, however the use of his arm
pointing outwards helps resemble a kind
of serenade and prompts the audience to
understand that at some stage he
potentially might dedicate a song to her.

7. Drew Barrymore
Blonde & gorgeous: Stereotypical of
the genre and helps the male audience
keep interest in the film as there is
something beautiful to keep their eyes
on. It’s also self-gratifies the audience
into believing they can live this life.
Looking towards him: This supports
the genre as its quite romantic her
looking at him with the biggest smile
on her face, its like she’s realised for
the first time just how much she likes
him.
Feminine item, in this case a pink
flower and a necklace: This case being
a necklace and a flower This helps the
audience clearly identify that she is a
feminine stereotypical woman and is
quite lady-like

8. Denotation

9. The star system
Blonde & gorgeous
Tagline
Arrogant smile
Feminine item, in
this case a necklace
Looking away
from her
Big, bright masthead
Tall, dark and
handsome
Big awkward, almost fake smile
The predominant colour scheme of red, black
and white are used to help keep the audience
drawn into the poster and helps to further
portray the atmosphere of the film. Black and
white serious tone, red representing love and
the actor used (Ben Stiller) is known for
comedic roles
Looking towards him

10. Connotation

11. Connotation
Ben Stiller:
Arrogant smile: This helps reinforce the audience’s understanding of
the title, he think’s that meeting her parents he’s got in in the bag and is
quite confident with how the meeting will go.
Tall, dark and handsome: He’s relatively good-looking meaning the
audience will take an interest in him, the same way Teri Polo’s character
does.
Looking away from her: The fact that he’s looking away from her
highlights just how smug he is about meeting her parents and how he
doesn’t feel he needs any guidance from her. The close proximity of
their bodies also emphasises how close they are as a couple.
Teri Polo
Feminine item: This case being a necklace. This helps the audience
clearly identify that she is a feminine stereotypical woman.
Big awkward, almost fake smile: Helps the audience identify and
understand that she knows her partner is out of his depth, it also adds a
comical aspect to the film poster and helps reinforce the genre.
Looking towards him: This supports the genre as its quite comical him
being so smug and her being worried.
Blonde & gorgeous: Stereotypical of the genre and helps the male
audience keep interest in the film as there is something beautiful to
keep their eyes on. It’s also self-gratifies the audience into believing
they can live this life.
Robert De Niro
Crossed arms: reinforces the fact that he’s not happy , it’s a very
childlike gesture .
Pursed lips: communicating he’s not happy with his daughter’s choice in
man
Looking straight at the camera: means he means business
Straight back and leading from his back: communicates that he has a
higher status and is the alpha male, his authority won’t be questioned.
Don’t worry too much about
reading the connotations as they
will be clearly on the next slide

12. Ben Stiller
Arrogant smile: This helps reinforce the
audience’s understanding of the title, he
think’s that meeting her parents he’s got in
in the bag and is quite confident with how
the meeting will go.
Tall, dark and handsome: He’s relatively
good-looking meaning the audience will take
an interest in him, the same way Teri Polo’s
character does.
Looking away from her: The fact that he’s
looking away from her highlights just how
smug he is about meeting her parents and
how he doesn’t feel he needs any guidance
from her. The close proximity of their bodies
also emphasises how close they are as a
couple.

13. Teri Polo
Feminine item: This case being a necklace.
This helps the audience clearly identify that
she is a feminine stereotypical woman.
Big awkward, almost fake smile: Helps the
audience identify and understand that she
knows her partner is out of his depth, it also
adds a comical aspect to the film poster and
helps reinforce the genre.
Looking towards him: This supports the
genre as its quite comical him being so
smug and her being worried.
Blonde & gorgeous: Stereotypical of the
genre and helps the male audience keep
interest in the film as there is something
beautiful to keep their eyes on.

14. Robert De Niro
Crossed arms: reinforces the fact that
he’s not happy, it’s a very childlike
gesture in which highlights the genre
of rom-com as a grown, respectable
man may potentially act like a child.
Pursed lips: communicating he’s not
happy with his daughter’s choice in
man.
Looking straight at the camera: means
he means business and he won’t take
crap from anyone.
Straight back and leading from his
chest: communicates that he has a
higher status and is the alpha male, his
authority won’t be questioned.

15. Similarities between the two
• Bright masthead with a
unique font and
size, central to the top of
the page.
• Attractive stars smiling
• Both girls looking towards
their man.
• Both men looking away.
• House colour plate is used.
• Tagline
• Star system
• Both women have a
feminine item
• Title; producer, director, etc.
Central to the bottom of
the page.

16. Conclusion
In conclusion to the films The
wedding singer and Meet the
Parents I have discovered that both
film posters use different ways in
order to attract their target
audience and give them a
simple, basic understanding of what
the film entails.