By Laurie Parks
Romantic Comedies – they have been around as long as movies themselves. I don’t want to go that far back, but I still love “The Philadelphia Story” from 1940 with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It’s an oldie but goody, but it really didn’t age well. The same could be said for 1990’s “Pretty Woman”; it’s a classic but dated. So many of the movies that we either grew up with or enjoyed as adults would never be made today. Every generation has their go-to rom coms. I’m thinking of “Sixteen Candles” and “Pretty In Pink”; they were never MY rom coms. I have tried my best to compile a list that appeals to just about everyone, and hopefully a couple that that you haven’t seen yet! So here’s my list of MY top 10 Valentines movies (in chronological order, not preference):
- “Sleepless in Seatle” 1993, PG – This is my favorite Nora Ephron movie. Here you have Tom Hanks as a recently widowed dad in Seattle, whose son calls a radio talk show to find him a new wife. Enter Meg Ryan as a woman from the other side of the country who hears this endearing boy ask for someone for his dad. Curiosity peaked. Rosie O’Donnell, at her smart ass best, is her confidant and conscience. FYI – Tom Hanks’ real life wife, Rita Wilson is cast as Tom’s character’s sister-in-law. The late great actor Rob Reiner is Tom’s best friend. Cute movie, Tom and Meg meet at the top of the Empire State Building on Valentines Day, thanks to the son’s careful planning. Love at first sight!
- “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” 2002, PG – Here you have Nia Vardalosas Toula Portokalos, a 30 year old Greek woman who transforms herself and her life, leading to a romance with a non-Greek man, much to the dismay of her very traditional Greek family. John Corbett is Ian Miller, the vegetarian English teacher she eventually marries. The late Michael Constantine is Toula’s precious father. Windex is his answer to everything! Have a cut, put Windex on it; got a pimple, put Windex on it. This was a major box office success, becoming one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies of all time. They have several sequels, but the first is definitely the best! OG!
- “Something’s Got To Give” 2003, PG-13 – Romance knows no age limit in this sweet rom-com about two older people who fall in love in spite of their better judgement. And what a cast! You have Jack Nicholson as a womanizer who falls for his young girlfriend’s mother, the late great Diane Keaton, a successful playwright, after he has a heart attack at her Hamptons beach house. This forces him to stay and recover there, with Diane Keaton playing reluctant nursemaid. We are treated to Jack Nicholson’s butt hanging out of a hospital gown but having him admit that he took a male enhancement medication was a hoot. Keanu Reeves is his doctor and ends up wooing Diane. They actually end up in Paris together and Jack shows up to declare his love. Now how’s that for romantic! By the way – I would’ve chosen differently.
- “Hitch” 2005, PG-13 – Will Smith stars as Alex “Hitch” Hitchens, a smooth talking, professional “date doctor” who helps men woo women, but finds his own techniques failing in his own love life. Enter cynical gossip columnist adorably played by Eva Mendes. She doesn’t realize who he is at first; she’s busy investigating the new love interest (and client of Hitch) of a celebrity heiress. When she does, he is in for the wrath, and jeopardizes both couple’s relationships.
- “The Wedding Date” 2005, PG-13 – Debra Messing is Kat Ellis, a professional woman, that happens to be single. Not cool when you are going to your sister’s wedding in London and your hot ex happens to be the grooms best man. Solution: hire an even hotter male escort to be your date to make your ex jealous. Dermont Mulroney switches between all business and wickedly flirtatious. The film follows their fake relationship as it turns into a real romance. The cast is outstanding and has real chemistry. Usually I love anything Amy Adams does, but this time I just wanted to smack her spoiled, self-centered, cheating, back-stabbing character. Who needs a sister like that!! Jack Davenport is charming as her naïve fiancé. Give love a second chance when you least expect it.
- “Leap Year” 2010, PG – Speaking of Amy Adams, here’s another film where she’s only slightly spoiled. But this time I love her. She portrays an American woman that travels to Ireland to propose on Leap Day to her big-wig surgeon boyfriend that is attending a conference there. Her transportation plans get side-tracked and she ends up hiring the cynical Matthew Goode to drive her to Dublin. This may play like a predicable “enemies-to-lovers” movie, but the Irish scenery and quick-witted banter between the leads is icing on the cake. Let’s just say that I TOTALLY support her decision in the end.
- “Crazy, Stupid, Love” 2011, PG-13 – This film opens up with a bombshell when Julianne Moore asks Steve Carell for a divorce over dinner. He is stunned and so are his kids, 13 year old Robbie, and mid 20’s Hannah (played by the lovely Emma Stone). Poor Steve Carell downs his sorrows in a cocktail lounge where he meets lady-killer Ryan Gosling. Ryan takes him under his wing, creates a new image, complete with fool-proof pick up lines. In the meantime, Ryan meets and seduces Emma, not knowing that Steve could possibly have a daughter that old. Chaos ensues when all the parties meet. One of the sweetest subplots is the 13 year olds’ crush on his babysitter (Analeigh Tipton), but she has a crush on his dad. All of the main characters persevere in the faith that for every person there is One True Love! AWWWWW
- “The Big Sick” 2017, R – Here you have a rom-com based on the real-life courtship of Kumail Nanjiani and Emily Gordon (played by Zoe Kazan). He also co-wrote the screenplay. It follows a Pakistani-American comedian as he falls for an American graduate student. One of the best scenes is when they have a fight and she calls an Uber to take her home, and it’s Kumail! Their relationship is complicated by cultural differences and his parents’ disapproval, leading to a crisis when Emily falls into a mysterious coma. Kumail is forced to bond with her parents (portrayed by Holly Hunter and Ray Romano). This one has humor, heart, and commentary on culture and race.
- “Crazy Rich Asians” 2018, PG-13 – The film was praised for its all-Asian cast and its portrayal of Asian characters beyond stereotypes. It was based on a best-selling novel by Kevin Kwan. I did not read it, but I love this movie. It is about a Chinese American professor, Rachel Chu (the gorgeous Constance Wu), who discovers her boyfriend, Nick Young (the equally gorgeous Henry Golding), comes from an extremely wealthy Singaporean family. There are culture clashes and family drama as she meets his disapproving mother (Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh). Awkwafina is hysterical as her best friend. Watch for the mahjong scene – you too will want to learn how to play!
- “Long Shot” 2019, R – Finally a fun political movie with a happy ending! You have Seth Rogen as a free-spirited journalist, Fred Flarsky, who reconnects with his childhood crush and former babysitter, Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) who just so happens to be running for president. She hires him as her speech writer and they go on a world tour to garner support for an environmental initiative. She teaches him to care about something other than his own opinion, and he teaches her to enjoy the world and helps her find her voice again. It works because of the odd-couple chemistry of its leads. Warning: there is some very R rated humor, but not too bad.
