How does romantic comedy usually create a happy ending?

Romantic comedy creates a happy ending by invoking an ideal resolution that overcomes the hard realities faced by the protagonists. This is rarely achieved naturally; instead, it relies on a significant degree of contrivance.1

The plot of a typical romantic comedy functions as a medley of clever scheming, calculated coincidence, and wondrous discovery. These narrative devices are designed to ensure that events ultimately align with the hero’s or heroine’s wishes. Common techniques used to facilitate this resolution include:1

• Identity Verification: The use of documents or bodily marks to establish identities to the satisfaction of all characters.1
• Grand Gestures: The use of a grand romantic gesture to resolve conflicts or solidify the relationship.23
• Calculated Artifice: While sometimes viewed as a cliché, these contrived designs are often used to highlight the naturalness of the characters' feelings, inspiring emotions of relief and awe that transcend the circumstances of the plot.1

Ultimately, these elements work together to eliminate obstacles and ensure the characters reach a satisfying, happy conclusion.1