By Haydn Elmore | February 14, 2024
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Are you and your significant other struggling with finding a romance movie to watch at this lovely time of the year? Well, here are a few picks of the best romance films and romcoms for you to check out and have a great time watching.
“When Harry Met Sally” (1989) - A romantic comedy for the ages. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are spectacular as two friends who are struggling to maintain their friendship without the need for romantic pleasure getting in the way. Filled with great laughs, and sweet moments, and brings interesting conversations about male and female relationships, this is one romcom you don’t want to miss.
“La La Land” (2016) - Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone star in this lovely musical about two individuals helping each other to pursue their dreams and aspirations which led to them caring for each other in the process. With dazzling colors, amazing musical numbers, a believable romance between Gosling and Stone, and an inspiring message about chasing your dreams and caring for others, it’s hard not to find yourself in awe of this film.
“But I’m a Cheerleader” (1999) - For anyone in the LGBT community who wants a great romantic comedy that focuses on LGBT characters, this film has got you covered. Natasha Lyonne plays Megan, a young girl who’s confused about her sexuality and is being sent off to a program that makes LGBT people “straight,” only to then find happiness through developing a romantic relationship with a woman in that program. This film gives a hopeful message to any LGBT person that no one and no organization should get in the way of expressing who you are and loving someone who brings you pure happiness, on top of being hilarious, creative, and heartfelt in all the right places.
“Chungking Express” (1994) - Travel overseas as film director Wong Kar-wai tells the story of two individuals finding love in the most unconventional places within the city of Hong Kong. This film makes any hopeless romantic longing for the feeling of being in love and the desire for a deeper connection with others. With amazing cinematography and directing, excellent performances, and the repeat of the song “California Dreamin” you won’t get out of your head once this is over.
“The Princess Bride” (1987) - If you want a film that offers everything you wanted in a film, you have come to the right place with this fairytale-inspired adventure. It has action, romance, comedy, adventure, and a great cast of amazing actors such as Robin Wright and Wallace Shawn, it’s got so many quotable lines (“My name is Ingo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”), it has it all that you and your partner will have a great time watching it.
“The Before Trilogy” (1995-2013) - Richard Linklater’s romantic trilogy that focuses on Jessie and Celine (played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) spending a day with one another and talking about their lives and their stance on topics such as love, life, and marriage. On the surface it doesn’t seem these films have a lot going on, but you start getting invested in the romance between Jessie and Celine through the excellent dialogue and chemistry from Hawke and Delpy throughout this whole trilogy, and seeing how they evolved the relationship from when they first meet in “Before Sunrise” to them reunited in “Before Sunset” to them being married in “Before Midnight” is so engaging. As advice, watch each film in the trilogy one at a time to let the mood and feeling of each film sit with you for a good time.