Why does every romantic comedy film in the world have to rely on the plot device of lies?

Last night, Shelly and I watched Alex & Emma, a harmless little romantic comedy that didn't seem to get much attention (at least it didn't get my attention) when it was new. It's about Alex, a novelist (Luke (Or was it Owen? The non-funny one.*) Wilson) who dictates a novel to Emma, a pretty stenographer (Kate Hudson). The characters of the novel resemble their real-life relationship, and they fall in love along the way and all that mumbo jumbo. Cute little idea (except for the absolutely fantastical and unnecessary involvement of the Cuban mafia). But, as it turns out, the hero of the novel (based on Alex himself) is torn between two women, one of which is based on Emma. Emma asks Alex if the other woman in the story is real. He lies and says she's an amalgam. Later, the woman she's based on comes over, they break up, he apologizes, they kiss, the credits roll. Voila.

The problem is: just about every romantic comedy I can think of has some variation on this theme. One or both people lie, the lie is exposed, they break up, they make up, they kiss, the credits roll. To take a few examples. In While You Were Sleeping, Sandra Bullock lies about her relationship with the guy who's in a coma. In Some Like It Hot, the guys lie about their gender to Marilyn Monroe. How To Lose a Guy In Ten Days is all about lying, as the eventually-happy couple both have ulterior motives for even going on a date. First Daughter and Chasing Liberty (the latter of which I'm even more ashamed than the former that I've seen) even have the exact same lie between the exact same characters: the secret service agent assigned to protect the President's daughter lies to her about his job, allowing her to fall for him. Julia Roberts lies in My Best Friend's Wedding about how Rupert Everett is her boyfriend. The brand-new Wedding Date, which I haven't even seen, is about how Grace also lies about having a boyfriend. Even one of my personal favorite romantic comedies, Sleepless in Seattle, has Tom Hanks lying (albeit indirectly) about wanting to meet someone and about showing up at the Empire State Building.

The only exception to the rule that I am aware of is My Big Fat Greek Wedding. When the two protagonists get together, Ian finds out Tula is Greek and says, "Hey I know this great Greek restaurant--Dancing Zorba's" (or whatever it is). A normal Hollywood movie would have Tula pretend she's never heard of the place and we'd laugh at the hilarious antics that ensue as they go on a date there and she tries to keep her identity hidden from the management. But, as the refreshing independent film it is, she replies the way any normal human being would: "My family owns that restaruant." The truth. I think that one scene is the main reason I liked that movie so much.

See, real people don't usually lie so much as part of the dating game. At least they didn't in my experience. Yeah, it provides conflict, but when you're watching a romantic comedy, even when the relationship is on the rocks (read: when the lie comes out), do you ever really wonder if they're going to get together? (Just once I'd like to see them remain broken up.) It's so formulaic. It's so boring. It's so frustrating.

I dunno. Maybe all this traces back to Cinderella, who lied about her social status and got the man anyway. But it seems to me that the best way to win someone's heart is not to be dishonest with them about who you are. And I wish the movies would stop telling me that it is.

* Which one do you think is the older brother? I think Luke. That is, the guy in this movie. The non-funny one. The one in Legally Blonde, not Shanghai Noon.