Okay, is "Marathon Man" secretly a rom-com (hear me out!)?

Alright, so I know what you're thinking: 'Lauren, you've FINALLY lost it.' But seriously, I just rewatched Marathon Man (yes, the one with the dentist) and I'm CONVINCED there's a bizarre, twisted romantic comedy hiding beneath all the Nazi gold and torture. Think about it! Thomas Levy, aka 'Babe,' is a total commitment-phobe. He's running (get it? running) from his dad's legacy AND any real relationships. Then Syl comes along, all mysterious and alluring, and SUDDENLY Babe's world is turned upside down. He's thrust into this crazy adventure, forced to confront his fears and deal with... well, Nazi dentists. I mean, the whole 'romantic interest pulls you into a dangerous situation' trope? Classic rom-com setup! And the way Babe is constantly questioning Syl's motives? That's just him being vulnerable and scared of getting hurt! Okay, maybe the 'dental torture' scene isn't exactly meet-cute material, but think of it as... metaphorical foreplay? (I'm kidding...mostly.) The suspense builds, they both get closer to each other, and their trust in one another grows… I'm not saying they are good for one another (and definitely not saying that Syl is a good guy), but the romantic tension is there. Maybe if they'd just communicated better and Babe hadn't been so busy running all the time, they could have worked things out you guys! Fine, maybe I'm stretching... a LOT. But tell me I'm wrong! That scene where Babe is trying to figure out if Syl is lying, the palpable energy between them when Syl is explaining what he is doing in New York. I mean I felt it! It's all about perspective, people. And okay, yeah, Dustin Hoffman spends most of the film looking like he hasn't slept in a week and maybe being tortured by Laurence Olivier isn’t a GREAT basis for a relationship. But still! Don't tell me the frisson wasn't there! So, my theory? Marathon Man is a rom-com for people who hate rom-coms. It's a twisted, suspenseful, and utterly bonkers take on the genre, but deep down, it's all about a guy finally facing his demons (and his teeth!) for the sake of... love? Or maybe just survival. Either way, I'm sticking to my guns. Next time you watch it, try seeing it through rom-com glasses. You might be surprised! And someone please stop me before I start writing fanfiction. Honestly.