Happy V-Day Loverz!
In order to celebrate this historical week of love, I will be creating a Top Romantic-Comedy Movie Poll just in time for Valentine’s Day. This list will be totally biased and prejudiced based on what I consider a great romantic-comedy so please take that into your consideration.
But before we dive into the list, there are a few items that need to be addressed – this list will only focus on Romantic-Comedies, meaning "Titanic" (the greatest love story ever told) will not be included in my list, though it does give me a reason to shamelessly promote my favorite movie. I am looking for those fun, up-beat movies that are your total go-tos, no need to get (more) depressed over V-Day.
I am also steering clear of “holiday” rom-coms as those fall in an entirely different genre (looking at “The Holiday” and “Love Actually”). Besides, I am sure you have heard me talk about these enough.) I am not limiting the release dates of these movies to any ranges and have dropped in the location to stream in case you want to check them out.
Alright, here we go!
My Best Friend’s Wedding
While I love this movie so much, I am forced to leave it in the last spot due to the ending – spoiler alert – Julianne (Roberts) doesn’t end up with Michael (Mulroney) though we are somewhat rooting for them the entire movie. This film accomplishes what not many other romantic comedies have ever attempted to do, it kind of makes you hate the main character. While she is psychologically sabotaging the relationship of her best friend in hopes that he will see the light and pick her instead of his perky 22-year old fiancé (Cameron Diaz), the film does make room for some great swoon-worthy moments. Architectural Tour on the Chicago River while dancing to “The Way You Look Tonight?” Yes please and, for that, it kind of makes you forget about the awfulness of the main character.
Available to Stream: Netflix
To All The Boys I Loved Before
A more recent favorite, “To All the Boys I Loved Before” kind of came out of nowhere when it was released in 2018. The now 3-Part Movie Series, is based off the books of the same title by Jenny Han. The release and rapid success, spurred Netflix to begin investing in these categories over the next few years, giving us more great romantic comedies to enjoy (many of which are listed below). Two words: Peter Kavinsky. Prove me wrong.
Available to Stream: Netflix
10 Things I Hate About You
I firmly believe that Heath Ledger has never looked better than he did in “10 Things I Hate About You.” The film, released in 1999, was definitely the kick-start of Ledger’s American acting career. The film features typical high-school movie stereotypes, but in the moment it seemed fine. Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gabrielle Union all nail their performances and it has definitely stood the test of time! It gives us fun, energetic scenes with Ledger scaling the bleachers belting out “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” to the emotional hitters at the end of the movie with Stiles reading her poem. “I hate the way I don’t hate you, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.”
It’s the whole package.
Available to Stream: Disney+
My Big Fat, Greek Wedding
A gem from the early-2000s that pretty much hits the nail on the head when it comes to, well… a big, fat Greek family. The movie takes place in Chicago where Tula (Nia Vardalos) is a thirty-year old still living at home with her parents. When she finally meets and brings home her new, non-Greek boyfriend, Ian (John Corbett), the family gets involved. It’s loud and obnoxious and holds a special place in my heart.
Available to Stream: Hulu
Notting Hill
“It was a dream, in fact, to see you again.” Boy meets girl, girl meets boy, girl is a mega-famous celebrity, boy works in a local book shop in London. And together they begin their tumultuous relationship, what can go wrong? While I generally adore Julia Roberts, the best part of this movie is Hugh Grant and his outrageously crass British best-friends who seem to carry the film and land all the jokes. I do love this movie, but the role of Anna Scott (Roberts) could have been anyone. Hugh Grant donning the nick name “Floppy” and using “whoopsie-daisies” instead of curse words is the icing on the cake to this very British rom-com.
Available to Stream: HBO Max
27 Dresses
Jane (Katherine Heigl) is always, always the bridesmaid. She spends her days crushing on her boss and always puts her life in the back seat to serve everyone else’s needs. When her little sister comes back in town and begins seeing Jane’s boss, George (Ed Burns), she realizes that she is tired to putting her life on pause. With the help of the over-eager and always cynical writer Malcolm/Kevin (James Marsden), Jane learns to stand up for herself. This movie gives you everything you need in a mid-2000s Rom-Com including an impromptu dance sequence at a local bar to “Benny & The Jets” and it perfectly encapsulates Heigl at the peak of her success.
Available to Stream: DVD
Something Borrowed
While I do enjoy this movie very much, when you sit back and think about the premise, you can’t help but judge it, slightly? In this rom-com we meet Rachel (Ginnfer Goodwin), the perpetual best-friend who always let’s Darcy (Kate Hudson) win at everything, even at the expense of her personal life. So, when Darcy announces that her and Dex (Colin Egglesfield), Rachel’s secret crush, are engaged, Rachel “accidentally” begins an affair with Dex behind Darcy’s back. Yikes. The plot of the film is still…questionable but it does feature some great supporting performances from John Krasinski and many quotable lines. I still love it!
Available to Stream: HBO Max
Hitch
It’s very rare that we experience a romantic comedy from the man’s perspective, but thank god Hitch gave that to us…also thank god that there aren’t very many of these. Alex Hitchens is the date doctor in this 2003 classic hit, he can set up any man with the woman of his dreams, but keeping a girlfriend is a whole other challenge. Featuring some great layering from Will Smith and a very memorable fish allergy scene, Hitch remains relevant and a must watch to this day! Also, there are few scenes out there as re-watchable as the "Yeah" dance scene. Besides, didn't you want more of Hitch and Albert's friendship dynamic? They were the true power couple.
Available to Stream: Hulu
No Strings Attached
I will forever stand my ground that “No Strings Attached” is the far better and far superior movie to “Friends with Benefits.” For some reason, Hollywood has a tendency to release similar movies at the same time and this is one of them. Both movies focus on the same plot, what happens when your friend with benefits develops feelings, but I believe that “No Strings Attached” has a way better approach and ensemble. The movie was written by Elizabeth Meriwether, the same writer on “New Girl” and has a very similar sense of humor.
Available to Stream: DVD/Rent
About Time
The film was written and directed by Richard Curtis, who is responsible for some of the other beloved English rom-coms over the past few years including “Notting Hill” and “Yesterday.” It is so inherently British that it might originally turn people away from the dialogue, but it is thoughtful and tender and hilarious like so much of his other work. When twenty-one-year-old Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers that the men in his family are able to time-travel, he begins planning his life around his new magical ability. As the time wears on, he realizes what the true meaning of each day is and appreciates life so much more as he gets to experience certain days over and over again. This film is wildly under-rated and I would encourage everyone who hasn’t seen it, to check it out.
Available to Stream: Netflix
Someone Great
It starts off with a love-montage of Jenny’s (Gina Rodriguez) failed relationship set to the perfectly fitted Lorde track “Supercut.” And if you don’t tear up in the first five minutes of this movie, then I truly believe that there is something wrong with you. The film holds a special place in my heart because it feels so in-tune with the lives of upper-twenty-year old’s who are excited about the possibilities of new adventures, but terrified to let go of old memories. It is guaranteed to make you laugh and cry, probably even at the same time.
Available to Stream: Netflix
13 Going on 30
Very few people are immune to the infectious energy of Jennifer Garner which has become glaringly apparent after experiencing “13 Going on 30.” In this mid-2000s rom-com we meet 13-year-old Gina Rink, barely surviving the social pyramid of high school, eternally wishing to be older. On her thirteenth birthday, she miraculously gets her wish and becomes “thirty, flirty and thriving.” However, the life that she imagined she would achieve at 13, is far from the perfect reality. Plus, there is a really great "Thriller" dance sequence. One of my all-time favorite Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo performances, this movie is the perfect V-Day Rom-Com that will make you nostalgic in the best way possible!
Available to Stream: HBO Max
Pretty Woman
You haven’t seen this movie? Big mistake, huge! There isn’t much here that I will say that others haven’t echoed before me, but honestly, just a classic rom-com. The Rodeo Drive shopping scene, the trip to the Opera and finally the grand romantic gesture at the end of the movie that ends with Richard Gere scaling a fire escape to declare his love to Julia Roberts, isn’t everyone waiting for that??
Available to Stream: DVD/Rent
Those are my rankings! I do have a ton of other notable contenders like “Cinderella Story,” “What a Girl Wants,” “Crazy, Stupid Love” and a lot more – but these are my always-on go-tos. What are yours?
And that’s the sitch.
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