Instead of braving the crowds on Valentine’s Day, why not eat out
the night before? This will leave the 14th open for a cozy evening sending
out for pizza, opening a bottle of wine and watching a DVD at home.
Contrary to the popular stereotype, relationship movies aren’t
always sappy chick flicks. Luckily, there are some love stories out there both
sexes can enjoy, such as:
City Lights (1931)
Ranked number one on AFI’s list of Top 10 Romantic Comedies, City Lights stars Charlie Chaplin in his
famous “Little Tramp” role, doing his best to help a poor blind girl (played by
Virginia Cherrill). To raise money for the desperate damsel, the Tramp agrees
to fight in a crooked boxing match, leading to one of the most hysterical
scenes ever filmed: Chaplin keeping the referee between himself and the other
fighter as the trio dances around the ring. Released several years into the “talkie”
era (The Jazz Singer debuted in 1927),
City Lights is a silent masterpiece
with laughs galore and a truly profound ending.
Unrated
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Bride of Frankenstein is hardly a romantic comedy in the conventional sense, but there’s
inherent romance (of a gothic sort) in the notion of building a mate (Elsa
Lanchester, doubling as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley) for a lonely, sympathetic creature
(played masterfully by Boris Karloff). And, thanks to William Hurlbut’s clever
screenplay and director James Whale’s typical brilliance, the film is nothing
if not darkly comedic. The Bride’s reaction at seeing the Frankenstein monster remains
one of horror cinema’s most iconic moments, and, despite dated “humor” from the
grating Una O’Connor, the film is a distinct pleasure for modern audiences.
Unrated
The Seven Year Itch (1955)
The title of this film refers to the notion that a man, after
having been married to the same woman for seven years, will inevitably feel the
need to cheat. While this may or may not be the case, it’s hard to fault
Richard Sherman (played by Tom Ewell) for being tempted by his upstairs
neighbor, a gorgeous and sexy, yet clueless blonde played by Marilyn Monroe. In
George Axelrod’s original play, Sherman is unfaithful, but in the Billy
Wilder-directed film, he merely has elaborate fantasies. Keep an eye out for one
of the most famous images in movie history: Monroe’s dress rising up as she
stands over a subway grate.
Unrated
Annie Hall (1977)
The movie that likely kept Star
Wars from winning the Academy Award for Best Picture,
Annie Hall is a hysterical, emotionally complex delight. Woody
Allen, who co-wrote and directed the film, stars as Alvy Singer, a neurotic (of
course) standup comic fumbling his way through a series of quirky
relationships, none of them built to last. In addition to a star-making
performance by Diane Keaton (as Hall), look for inspired cameos by Paul Simon,
Christopher Walken, Jeff Goldblum and others. Often referred to as “the Casablanca of romantic comedies,” Annie Hall remains Allen’s best film
(despite stiff competition from the recently released Midnight in Paris).
Rated PG
Splash (1984)
While not every man fantasizes about hooking up with a hot mermaid
(go figure), many men like the idea of dating a gorgeous, yet naïve woman. In
Ron Howard’s Splash, a fruit and vegetable
wholesaler named Allen Bauer (played by Tom Hanks) does just that, falling
head-over-heels for a blonde beauty (played by Darryl Hannah) who walks ashore
buck-naked on Liberty Island and eats lobster with the shell still on.
Unbeknownst to Bauer, the object of his affection is a mermaid, whose tail
becomes legs when she’s on dry land. Sweet, funny and sentimental, Splash is a true crowd pleaser.
Rated PG
The Princess Bride (1987)
Like the character Fred Savage plays in this great film, guys
typically don’t want a bunch of “mushy stuff” in their entertainment. Fortunately,
The Princess Bride is filled with
action, adventure and, most notably, comedy—the kind that will make you laugh
out loud, even if you are all alone (which would be a pity on Valentine’s Day).
From Miracle Max advising the boys to “Have fun storming the castle” to Vizzini’s
mind boggling battle of wits with Westley (“Plato, Socrates, Aristotle…Morons!”),
The Princess Bride has memorable
lines (and characters) to spare. And the romance ain’t bad, either.
Rated PG
Twins (1988)
Directed by Ivan Reitman (Stripes,
Ghostbusters), Twins is a “bromance” that spins pure gold out of what could have been
a one-joke throwaway film. Bulky, brilliant Julius (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger)
and diminutive, despicable Vincent (Danny DeVito) are twin brothers, separated
at birth. Yes, their contrasting images are hilarious (both Schwarzenegger and
DeVito turn in stellar comic performances), but the movie has heart as well as
humor. For example, when Vincent belts out the amusing refrain, “Tonight is
your night, bro,” it’s clear that Vincent, in his own crass way, truly wants
Julius to be happy with the new woman in his life.
Rated PG
When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
Directed by the highly versatile Rob Reiner (The Princess Bride, Stand by
Me, This is Spinal Tap), When Harry Met Sally… is the most
conventional “rom com” on this list, but it’s also one of the best. The titular
couple, a very likable Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, run into one other several
times over the years and eventually become friends and after that, lovers. With
Nora Ephron’s Oscar-nominated screenplay, When
Harry Met Sally… manages to be both predictable (in a comforting kind of
way) and smart (the characters speak as though they are in a Woody Allen film).
Rated R
Groundhog Day (1993)
Far superior to Scrooged
(1988), which had a similar theme and also starred Bill Murray, Groundhog Day puts the famed comedian in
the role of a cranky, contemptuous weatherman, reporting on Punxsutawney Phil,
a groundhog who lets the nation know each year whether it must endure six more
weeks of winter. When Murray gets trapped in a time loop, in which he repeats
the same day again and again, he uses this to hit on gorgeous women, including
his beleaguered producer (played by Andie MacDowell). Murray, in one of his
best roles, eventually finds redemption, but the story never gets preachy or
overly precious.
Rated PG
Friends with Benefits (2011)
Given the title of the film, anyone with even the slightest
knowledge of the conventions of cinema will be able to successfully predict the
barebones plot (and ending) of Friends
with Benefits: boy (Justin Timberlake of ’N Sync fame) meets girl (Mila
Kunis of That ’70s Show), and the two
have a casual, sex-without-commitment relationship, only to fall in love as
their “friendship” grows. Fortunately, the film rises entertainingly above the
fray with its quick pacing, solid acting, good-natured raunchiness and cheeky
references to chick flick clichés. Hilarious appearances by Woody Harrelson and
snowboarder Shaun White add to the fun.
Rated R
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