So, here it is. A list of my Top 10 All time favorite Romantic Comedies. I’ve watched pretty much every rom com that released from the 90s’ onwards, so I consider myself an expert on this subject.
10. The Holiday
Nancy Meyers (Director of Something's Gotta Give) brings a sweet movie about how a holiday can truly change one's life. With a stellar cast consisting of Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Jude Law, there's no way she could have gone wrong, anyway.
The two main characters are Amanda (Cameron Diaz), a highly successful movie trailer editor in Los Angeles, and Iris (Kate Winslet), a lovesick society column editor for The Daily Telegraph in London. The story is set in motion when each of them suffers a heartache: Amanda discovers that her boyfriend has cheated on her, while the object of Iris' unrequited love announces his engagement at the office Christmas party. Seeking an escape, Iris proposes the home swap on the internet, posting an ad about her quaint cottage in Surrey in the English countryside. Her offer is eagerly accepted by Amanda, who lives in a luxurious home in L.A. but is stressed over her break-up. Each woman discovers a new way of life and another chance at a romance. A perfect movie to cheer you up on a Saturday night at home!
9. A Lot Like Love
This 2005 film starring Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet is about how life can come in the way of love. Constructed as a series of chapters that take place at a turning point in each character's life, the story moves over seven years. Emily Friehl (Amanda) and Oliver Martin's (Ashton) first encounter is on a flight from Los Angeles to New York City, during which they join the mile high club. He has hopes of becoming an Internet entrepreneur and, certain of his future success, gives her his phone number and suggests she call him in six years to see if his prediction came true. She ends up calling him much sooner than that and their star-crossed love story carries on. Each time they meet, the pull they feel towards each other is immense but the timing is always wrong. Will they realise that what feels a lot like love is indeed the real thing? You have to watch it to find out!
8. 10 Things I hate about you
This movie is a remake of the classic Shakespare play "The Taming of the Shrew.", set in a modern day highschool. Made in 1999, it stars the late Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles in lead roles. The talented cast also comprises of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The story begins with Cameron (Joseph), a new student at Padua High, who has a major crush on Bianca Stratford, a beautiful sophomore with one problem: she isn't allowed to date. And neither is her "shrew" sister, Katarina (Julia), a senior who loves indie rock and feminist prose and hates conformity. But Kat and Bianca's father alter's his house rule: now, Bianca can date as long as Kat has a date, too. So, in order for Cameron to date Bianca, he has to find someone to date Kat.Enter the misunderstood bad boy, Patrick (Heath) Although Hollywood has churned out numerous high school movies, 10 Things I hate about you stands out because of it's star cast, humor, script and dialogues. If you haven't watched this yet, please do, if only to pay homage to Heath Ledger.
7. He’s Just Not That Into You
He's Just Not That Into You is a 2009 film based on the self-help book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo.
I've read the book and while it was indeed a revelation to a naive teenager (I read it 4 years ago) like me, for once, a film based on a book outdid the book. While the book is mainly non fictional, the movie manages to create lovable characters and stories to get it's message across. The story focuses on Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin), a clueless journalist looking desperately for love and Alex (Justin Long), a bar owner who educates Gigi on the pyschology of men. The ensemble cast also includes Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Conolly and Ben Affleck. The four main love stories are connected by inter-related characters. A must-watch for every woman who has ever mis-interepreted a man's signs. Never again will you waste your time on a man who is not that into you after watching this movie!
6. While You Were Sleeping
Sandra Bullock has starred in some of the best romantic comedies made and this is why she features in two of the movies on this list. While You Were Sleeping is an adorable 1995 movie about a lonely ticket collector, Lucy (Sandra Bullock) who pretends to be engaged to the man whose life she saves. However, while her "fiance" (Peter Callaghan) is in a coma, she ends up falling in love with his brother, Jack Callaghan (played by the dashing Bill Pullman). While the love story is endearing, another highlight of this movie is the eccentric yet highly endearing Callaghan family who welcome Lucy into their family whole-heartedly. This is one of those movies you can watch over and over again and never tire of.
5. You’ve Got Mail
This is the story about two owners of competing bookstores who hate each other in person but fall in love on the internet. Released in 1998, this movie stars rom com experts and sweethearts, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. This lead pair creates as much magic in this movie as they created in Sleepless in Seattle in 1993.Each of them has attractive partners but can't help being drawn to each other online. This movie shows that true love can be found (and can find you) anywhere.
4. Two Weeks’ Notice
Two Weeks' Notice explores the relationship between an intelligent lawyer, Lucy (Sandra) and her wealthy, charming boss, George (Hugh). George hires Lucy as Chief Counsel for his real estate enterprise. However, he soon starts relying on her for every mundane decision of his life. Tired of being his nanny-cum-assistant, Lucy serves her two weeks' notice to him. But is George the only one who needs Lucy or is there more their relationship than the usual boss-employee one? The chemistry between Hugh and Sandra is great in this movie and Hugh shines in this rom com due to his trademark accent, unique expressions and inherent wit and charm.
3. Bridget Jones’ Diary
Based on the novel by Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones' Diary is a hilarious rom com about an average woman struggling against her age, her weight, her job, her lack of a man, and her many imperfections. As a New Year's Resolution, Bridget (Renee Zellwegger) decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. The fireworks begin when her charming though disreputable boss (Hugh Grant) takes an interest in the quirky Miss Jones. Thrown into the mix are Bridget's band of slightly eccentric friends and a rather disagreeable acquaintance (Colin Firth) who Bridget cannot seem to stop running into or help finding quietly attractive. This movie is worth watching for Renee's hilarious antics, Hugh's indisputable charm and Colin Firth's portrayal of 'Mr. Darcy' yet again.
2. Someone Like You
Jane Goodale (Ashley Judd) has everything going for her. She's a producer of a popular daytime talk show, and is in a hot romance with the show's dashing executive producer Ray (Greg Kinnear). When Ray unexpectedly dumps her, she begins an extensive study of male behavior to try to find out what makes men tick. Her "research" leads her to become an overnight sensation/Guru for single women everywhere. When Jane begins to use her womanizing roommate and co-worker Eddie (Hugh Jackman) as fodder for her research, she finds both humor and answers where they were least expected.The reason to watch this movie? It stars Hugh Jackman! You don't need any other reasons! This 2001 movie marks the beginning of my 9 year crush on the delectable Hugh Jackman.
1. Love Actually
Love Actually follows the lives of eight very different couples in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.
The characters are falling in love, falling out of love, some are with right people, some are with the wrong people, some are looking to have an affair, some are in the period of mourning; a capsule summary of reality. Love begins and love ends. They flirt a lot. They are all flirting with love. At all ages and social levels, love is the theme. Romantic love and brotherly love is the hotchpotch through out the movie.This is the most uplifting rom com you will ever watch. And with an ensemble that boasts of Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, Emma Thomspon, Kiera Knightley, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman and Billy Bob Thornton, amongst others, you know you are in for a Christmas treat! Watch it in the holiday season or simply whenever you need to renew your faith in love; the one thing that makes the world go round.
