What to Watch: Romantic Comedies
Who doesn’t love a comforting rom-com? From simple yet dramatized first encounters to heartfelt vows, nothing touches our hearts more than a classic romantic comedy. Whether you're filling a void or enjoying the company of a friend, nothing beats a cozy setting paired with a rom-com. Let’s take a look at our top five rom-com recommendations!
1. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
This classic 1999 movie is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. Kat Stratford is an independent teen girl who initially rejects Patrick Verona, the mysterious bad boy. However, her younger sister Bianca isn’t allowed to date until Kat does, leading Patrick to woo Kat and break through her tough exterior. This film is a staple in the rom-com community!
2. The Proposal (2009)
A good enemies-to-lovers story never misses, especially in a rom-com. The Proposal does this trope well and includes a great twist! The movie follows Margaret Tate, played by Sandra Bullock, who faces a career disruption: deportation! She convinces her assistant Andrew, played by Ryan Reynolds, to fake marry her so she can remain in the U.S. The story uncovers how work and personal life become tangled in a love story.
3. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
The early 2000s produced many classic rom-coms, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a great example. Some consider Matthew McConaughey the "Rom-Com King," in this film, he plays a charming advertising executive, Benjamin Barry, who bets he can make any woman fall for him in 10 days. In contrast, Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) is a fashion magazine writer assigned to write an article on “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Benjamin and Andie are entangled in a relationship filled with over-the-top antics and genuine feelings.
4. 50 First Dates (2004)
Filmed in Hawaii, 50 First Dates follows Henry Roth (Adam Sandler), a marine biologist who falls for Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore), who suffers from a fictional condition that causes her to forget everything she experienced the previous day. With Lucy’s memory resetting every 24 hours, Henry is challenged to win her heart anew daily. The movie is both tear-jerking and filled with laughter, showing that love goes beyond temporary efforts and the importance of not giving up on the person you love.
5. Anyone But You (2023)
There’s nothing better than a rom-com featuring two attractive leads! Anyone But You, starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, starts with Bea and Ben enjoying a great first date, but a misunderstanding drives them apart. Unexpectedly, they will travel to Australia for a mutual friend's wedding. While pretending to be a perfect couple, they navigate unresolved conflict. Though it’s a relatively new addition to the genre, Anyone But You captures the same feelings as the classics.