With Valentine's Day fast approaching, there is nothing better than relaxing on the couch with your significant other or best friend and watching one of your favorite romantic comedies, right?
… So I've decided to share a few that are my favorites. :)
1. One Fine Day (buy here)
Have you ever had one of those days where nothing goes right? Or maybe the truth of the matter is that everything that can go wrong does go wrong? Yeah. That's exactly what happens when George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer get together … or don't as the case may be. After getting their kids to school late, work problems, family problems, and fish problems result in an amusing story that takes place over the course of a single day and changes the lives of two single adult parents forever.
2. Pretty Woman (buy here)
When you think of 90s romantic comedies which actress comes to mind? Julia Roberts, of course. And this fabulous retelling of Cinderella is no exception. She and Richard Gere have wonderful chemistry as the story unfolds of how a hooker fell into the arms of a rich businessman changing both of their lives for the better.
If you like this one, be sure to follow up with Runaway Bride. It's more kid friendly but just as fun!
3. My Best Friend's Wedding (buy here)
Following closely on the heels of Pretty Woman is My Best Friend's Wedding, the hilarious story of best friends who are forced to re-evaluate their feelings towards one another during a fabulous four day wedding ceremony. Will things work out? Will they find true love within one another?
4. You've Got Mail (buy here)
Nora Ephron created some of the best romantic comedies and You've Got Mail really stands out as a treasure. A sign of the times (who uses AOL anymore?), Kathleen meets Joe in a chatroom on her birthday and over time they develop a relationship unlike any other. When Joe suggests that he and Kathleen meet in person for the first time, they discover just how small their world really is.
I also recommend Sleepless in Seattle if you can't get enough of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. :)
5. Dirty Dancing (buy here)
I put off watching this movie for years and years and years because I was judging the movie by its title. There's nothing too risqué though, so no need to worry; Titanic is far worse! The movie features a coming of age drama about a teenage girl on vacation with her family. Unlike her older sister, Baby always follows the rules, does what she's told, and is a good girl. Then, when she is forced into helping a friend deal with an abortion, her entire life changes. She falls in love … with dancing … and Patrick Swayze. Can her family come to terms with her new way of life?
6. Breakfast at Tiffany's (buy here)
If you've ever read Truman Capote's short story and enjoyed it, do yourself a favor and avoid this movie like the plague.
If you haven't read the book and have no intention of ever reading it, I highly recommend this Audrey Hepburn classic.
Breakfast at Tiffany's is another coming of age story wherein Holly Golightly, a female with a bad habit of running away from everything including her problems, and most especially, love and happiness, stumbles upon a struggling writer who sets out to help her see and achieve what truly matters in life. It would seem that the beauty and glamor of life in New York isn't all it's made out to be … or is it? Will Holly Golightly ever find the life she longs for?
7. Pretty In Pink … or Sixteen Candles
Remember "the brat pack" from the 80s? While The Breakfast Club is my favorite of those produced by John Hughes and starring the lovely Molly Ringwald, I do believe Pretty In Pink and Sixteen Candles take the cake for being the most romantic of the movies.
In Pretty in Pink, Molly Ringwald's character falls for a guy on the other side of the tracks – you know, rich guy, poor girl scenario. It's love at first sight for Andie, but Blane's friends remind him every day that he's too good for her … until he starts to believe it himself. The couple breaks up leaving Andie heartbroken and Blane confused. Is he too good for her? Or do his friends have something to hide?
Sixteen Candles explores what it's like when everyone forgets it's your sixteenth birthday AND your older sister is getting married. It's a silly, contrived story that has you rolling your eyes one minute and laughing the next. Is this really what it feels like to be sixteen?
8. Once (buy here)
When an immigrant meets a singer/songwriter on the streets of Dublin, they form an unlikely friendship. She's going through a divorce and he just broke things off with his girlfriend. Over time their bond grows and develops into something more. The question is: more than what?
9. Say Anything (buy here)
Valedictorian Diane Court seems out of Lloyd Dobbler's league, but he decides to go after her anyway. What's the worst that can happen? Between Diane's father getting in trouble with the law and her acceptance to a school in England, there is a lot in store for her summer. Can she handle a relationship too?
10. The Notebook (buy here)
There is nothing quite like a southern romance … especially when Nicholas Sparks is involved. When Noah and Allie meet for the first time, she will have nothing to do with him. Desperate means call for desperate measures. He follows her around and even hangs from a ferris wheel in an effort to gain her attention and convince her that she is the only one for him. The romance that follows is short-lived though when Allie and her family leave Charleston and Noah goes off to war. When Allie shows up years later at Noah's door engaged the two are forced to question exactly what went wrong with their relationship and how that will affect their future.
What are your favorite romantic comedies? Do you have any favorites that I didn't list?
