It might come as a surprise, considering I studied film, and often talk about my love for the films of Lynch and other arty-farty directors, which is true - I love them a lot! However, I also have a penchant for really, really cheesy, romantic comedies, the kind that have about an average of 5/10 on imdb.
Of course when someone asks, 'what's your favourite film/director?' etc - a romantic comedy would not be my first choice. I guess they fall into the 'guilty pleasure' category. You know what though, I don't even feel guilty about it. My taste has always been broad, whether that's in music or art, books or films, if it is something I enjoy then I don't see the harm.
I'm talking about my favourite rom-com's which shaped and developed my love for the motion picture. At the time I definitely didn't watch in depth considering the script, acting, location, production, lighting or anything for that matter, but these stories for me were fun and easy-going, something I'd watch to just switch off and dream off into a land where happily ever after was a certainty. Yes, it was quite a shock when I began to develop my tastes and watch real films about real life and realise I'd been lied to for years and years by Hollywood. Thanks guys.
Here were (are) my favourites that I still watch to this day, if only to revel in the nostalgia of my pre-teen/teen days and dreams of meeting my very own Ralph Fiennes.
Maid In Manhattan
This has to be one of my all time favourites. Story goes as follows - maid works in hotel in New York, tries on clothes of one of the rich guests, accidentally bumps into a charming senatorial candidate, thinks she's a guest - they fall for one another - you get the jist. It's a sweet but predictable modern day Cinderella-like love story which Empire describes the plot as "rags-to-riches which should keep hopeless romantics happy". Hm, sums me up in a nutshell...
How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days
The fun thing about writing this post is that it requires very little of my brain to describe these easy plots to you, hurrah!
How to lose a guy in 10 days was when I first fell in love with Kate Hudson and Matthew (can't spell his name). They were the best-looking couple I'd seen on screen since Jack & Rose! The film tells the tale of Andie and Benjamin - A being a how-to columnist for a magazine and B working in advertising. He bets that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days. She is assigned to write an article on "How to Lose a Guy in 10 days." They then meet in a bar shortly after the bet is made...so as you can see it does actually make for a fun film, as the conflicting characters have different goals which creates several obstacles for the bets they have made. On top of this, I find this film actually really funny (I mean it is a rom-COM after all) and Hudson's character Andie plays an OTT neurotic/dramatic girlfriend who is hilarious to watch as she tries all sorts of weird tactics to push Ben away.
How to lose a guy in 10 days was when I first fell in love with Kate Hudson and Matthew (can't spell his name). They were the best-looking couple I'd seen on screen since Jack & Rose! The film tells the tale of Andie and Benjamin - A being a how-to columnist for a magazine and B working in advertising. He bets that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days. She is assigned to write an article on "How to Lose a Guy in 10 days." They then meet in a bar shortly after the bet is made...so as you can see it does actually make for a fun film, as the conflicting characters have different goals which creates several obstacles for the bets they have made. On top of this, I find this film actually really funny (I mean it is a rom-COM after all) and Hudson's character Andie plays an OTT neurotic/dramatic girlfriend who is hilarious to watch as she tries all sorts of weird tactics to push Ben away.
The Wedding Planner
It's Matthew whatshisname and J LO, again! Did my parents pick up these tapes for me buy 1 get 1 free in Woolworths? I think so!
The Wedding Planner is about Mary (played by jenny from the block) who is rescued from a near-fatal collision with a runaway dumpster by handsome pediatrician Steve. After spending the most enchanting evening of their lives together, Mary thinks she's finally found a reason to believe in love after spending years of her career organising the big day for other people. She finally thinks her time has come. But her career and relationship collide. I won't say anymore in case you decide to watch this drivel and haven't already predicted what will happen.
She's All That
She's All That tells the story of Zach (Freddie Prinze Jr. - who fyi was my heartthrob) who is the 'most popular guy in school' (say that in a squeaky voice) and the envy of his peers. But his popularity fades when his cheerleader girlfriend, Taylor, leaves him for sleazy reality-television star Brock - lol, are you still following? As he is desperate to revive his fading reputation, he agrees to a seemingly impossible challenge and embarks on a bet with his friends (what is it with American movies and placing bets???)...anyway, he has six weeks to gain the trust of nerdy outcast Laney and help her to become the school's next prom queen.
10 Things I Hate About You
I suppose out of all of these films, I am least ashamed to love 10 Things I hate About you. It is the coolest of the bunch - not hard to be when 'the bunch' of films are bordering on embarrassing. Kat (Julia Stiles) and Bianca are sisters but are like chalk and cheese. Older sister Kat is ill-tempered, moody, unapproachable and against mainstream everything - young Bianca is pretty, popular and trying to get a date with the popular boy Joey. New student Cameron goes head over heels for Bianca and even pretends to be a French tutor to get close to her (kinna creepy now I think about it). Kat & Bianca's dad is overprotective and forbids dating until Kat dates - which is highly unlikely since she is deemed a 'man-hater'. Joey wants Bianca and uses senior Patrick to attempt to win over Kat (another movie involving a bet!!!). Sounds like a bit of a mess but this is my all time favourite rom-com. It's the most quoted of this era of movies and Heath Ledger is a complete heartthrob especially during his rendition of "i love you baby" in the school's football grounds - a. moment. It also features now Oscar-winner Allison Janney in the early stages of her career!
Coyote Ugly
21-year-old Violet heads to NYC to pursue her dream of becoming a singer-songwriter. In order to make a living and afford rent, she settles on a job in a bar, only to find her aspirations sidelined by the accolades and notoriety she receives at her day job as a barmaid at the famous 'Coyote Ugly'. The "Coyotes" as they are affectionately called tease customers and the media alike with their outrageous antics, making Coyote Ugly the go-to place for guys looking to pull (they just opened a real-life bar in Liverpool fyi, I've been - it's quite something). This film is the definition of CHEESE but I really enjoyed it - it was a laugh, fun to sing a long to, and not to be taken seriously.
Sweet Home Alabama
Melanie (played by my fave Reese Witherspoon) has to return to her roots in the South to obtain a divorce from her redneck husband after seven years of separation, though he refuses to do so. Melanie left her home to become a fashion designer in New York and is due to be married to Andrew, the mayor of NY's son. On her trip home, she rediscovers her love for the simple life and realises that her life in New York was far from perfect in comparison.
Crossroads
Three best friends (Britney Spears, Zoey Saldana, Taryn Manning) get together and bury a box, making a pact to open it at midnight at their high school graduation. On the night of their graduation, they open the box and they strike up a conversation. Suddenly, one brings up the topic of her going to Los Angeles for a record contract audition. With little money, they set out on the road. This is probably the worst of the lot but I used to love this film so much, particularly because I was a Britney Spears fan at the time and this film features a couple of sing-a-long moments.
Other major favourites are Raising Helen, 13 Going on 30, Clueless, Legally Blonde, Notting Hill, Pretty Woman, The Lizzie McGuire movie...and so many more...what can I say, I have a thing for romantic comedies and I. am. not. ashamed.
There's definitely not as many romantic comedies circulating as there used to...is it a dying genre? Are you partial to a rom-com, or are they just conveying unrealistic stories to an audience?
MENU SOCIAL LINKS