I know these weekend posts are a little thin, but hey, everyone needs a little break sometimes. Anyways, as someone who loves his romantic comedies and may or may not have been binging them this weekend, these are my all-time top 5 favorites, in no particular order.
Sleepless in Seattle
Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks at the height of their powers. I think one of the things that no one realizes is that the main characters don’t so much as kiss in this movie. It’s pretty much the platonic ideal of a romantic comedy. Also, Jonah is just super cute.
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Probably the best romantic comedy in recent memory. Breaks the usual conventions, and Gosling and Carell are surprisingly convincing in their roles. In addition, the humor and plot are genuinely creative and probably the most reflective romcom of the modern era.
Hitch
Probably the most formulaic of the bunch, but Will Smith is just too damn charismatic. The whole movie is pretty forgettable, but his charm is pretty damn overwhelming. I’m personally still waiting for the sequel starring Will and Jaden Smith, as championed by Tom Haverford; Hitch 2: Son of a Hitch.
10 Things I Hate About You
Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger star in a remake of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the the Shrew”. See the syllabic similarities? Anyways, it’s inspired by Shakespeare, but set in ever so 90’s California. You have to have at least one high school romcom up there, and this is the one for me. Plus, Julia Stiles and her character’s acerbic wit are just fantastic.
When Harry Met Sally
This is still the gold standard for me. It was made in the 80’s but still so incredible relevant. It tracks the evolution of a relationship, and I think that it’s probably the most realistic depiction of all that. It’s also probably the best comedy out of all these movies. The writing is amazing, and sometimes it’s almost too painfully reflective of reality. Plus, I often feel like Harry and I would say and think the exact things that he’d say. If you like the genre, you have to see this movie.