While I was pregnant I didn’t have 2 hours to spare to sit and watch a movie. Now I’m home, on painkillers, and forced by my sexy new incision to spend a good amount of time sitting. Since Baba O’Riley likes to sit with me, it’s not bad, but let me be honest: as usual I have 900 channels and there’s nothing on. And the percocet makes it difficult for me to read and pay attention. I either end up staring at the words blankly or I pass out.
So, while I’m recovering, I figure I’ll watch some movies. But I don’t think I’ve watched a movie in 2 years – so I am at a loss. What’s your recommendation for romantic films (on the comedic side please – I am wickedly hormonal after all) that you’ve enjoyed?
Kalen Hughes – Were we separated at birth? I’m also in love with Mark Ruffalo. I almost suggested 13 going on 30, but I only remember a couple bits and pieces. Really need to see it again. I also think I need to re-watch Love Actually, since so many people think it’s great, but your response was what I was thinking – I oscillated between thinking it was bad and boring. Still, I’ll watch again sometime when I’ve nothing else to do.
Everyone else has listed some great ideas, so my list is growing too.
My go to movies
Last of the Mohicans – it’s been mentioned a few times
The Outsider with Tim (drool) Daly and Naomi Watts based on the book by Penelope Williamson and
Something New with Simon (also worth a drool) Baker and Sanaa Lathan
I gotta say, I’m really happy About a Boy is popular here! I’m the only of my friends whose seen it. A shame, that movie is quite bloody brilliant.
My romantic comedy recs:
– “Captain Blood” (okay, neither new nor a comedy, but SO swashbuckling)
—“Persuasion”
—“Bell, Book & Candle”
—“Maverick”
—more votes for “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and “Ten Things I Hate About You”!!
—“Clarissa” (fine, fine, so it ends unhappily, but Sean Bean as Lovelace is just too yummy to pass up—and you can always press stop before it goes downhill).
John Tucker Must Die
Too funny of a movie. It’s a teen one, but the drive of some girls for revenge proves to be a good laugh.
I didn’t see anyone mention Little Miss Sunshine. We were just roaring about that one this weekend.
I loved the new Pride and Prejudice, mostly because I love Matthew Macfadyen. Mmm, Mr. Darcy. And for comedy, Blades of Glory was entirely too funny, and I expected to hate it.
I thought I was the only one who liked the new Pride and Prejudice. I like the Colin Firth version, but if I want to watch a nice happy movie with lovely people, lovely costumes, good acting, and a decent script without it taking 4 hours then I pop in the new movie.
And the dance between Elizabeth and Darcy remains one of my favorite scenes of any movie ever. So I recommend that movie as well.
All time favorite Love Actually
Forgot The Piano. (Brilliant, disturbing but, in the end, satisfying.) There’s a particular actor you will never view the same way again after seeing this movie!
I second Leslie’s recommendation of “American Dreamer.” Anyone who likes romance novels – hell, anyone who likes BOOKS – needs to see that movie at some point. In fact, I think I need to watch it again soon.
The movie most replayed in our home is The Fast & The Furious, Toyko Drift. I have teenage boys…your turn is coming sooner than you think dear. Action, growing up, and romance…it’s actually kinda good.
The Saint, I’m a Val Kilmer fan. What Women want, with Mel Gibson…I laughed so much my tummy hurt, and I woke up the children upstairs.
When your in the mood for hotties again…300.
Say Anything. It proves teen movies don’t have to be stupid and vulgar (not that there’s anything *wrong* with that…)
John Mahoney as Ione Skye’s dad is fabulous. And John Cusack with the boombox, playing ‘In Your Eyes’—gets me right in the heart.
I like Love Actually, but the Rickman/Thompson plot makes me cry too much.
Master & Commander:The Far Side of the World. What? It is SO a romance. Jack+Stephen=OTP.
Movies I’d recommend that are actually good:
Most of what everyone else has been saying, also as a Cary Grant fan I’d like to put in a word for Arsenic and Old Lace, also My Favourite Wife.
Movies I’d recommend that are fantastically terrible:
There’s about 5 made-for-TV movies based on Barbara Cartland books – they’re on DVD, and they are HILARIOUS. My personal favourite is A Hazard of Hearts, featuring the young Helen Bonham Carter…and a bad guy called Lord Wrotham (pronounced: Root ‘em)
The other one I’d highly recommend is The Lady and the Highwayman, starring the young (and fluffy-mulleted) Hugh Grant as the dashing highwayman Silver Blade…
What a Girl Wants
It’s not the most awesome movie and it’s more than a little formulaic. However, it is really cute and has a satisfying ending. Also, the scene with Colin Firth dancing in black leather motorcycle pants… yeah, that’s worth the price of admission right there. His performance was way too good for this little movie, but I still totally enjoyed it. Nothing wrong with a little happy ending action, even if it’s predictable.
So many good movies! I’m going to have to go back through and make a list of ones I haven’t seen yet.
Meanwhile, some others:
The amazingly beautiful “Spirited Away” (I think somebody mentioned “Howl’s Moving Castle,” but I’ve always liked this Miyazaki film better)… incredibly, mind-bogglingly gorgeous animation, wonderful plot, spunky heroine who grows over the course of the story, and, of course, love. And a dragon. Hee.
For more silly early-90s swashbuckling, “The Three Musketeers”—Kiefer Sutherland! Tim Curry devouring all available scenery! Flouffy-haired Chris O’Donnell! Oliver Platt!
The updated “The Thomas Crowne Affair”—Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo are fabulous together (and occasionally naked!), and the caper plot is quite fun and clever. And, also, gorgeous outfits.
“Impromptu,” about Chopin and George Sand… pre-“Weddings”-breakthrough Hugh Grant and Judy Davis, plus Julien Sands, Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin, Emma Thompson… 19th century decadent Parisian artist community; wicked snarkiness and lovely, lovely romance.
For completely brainless fairy-tale fluff, there’s a modern version of “Cinderella,” set in Paris, with Rob Lowe (yes, really)as a stuck-up fashion designer and Jennifer Grey (yes, really) as a plain, poor, shy-yet- brilliant shoe designer, and (of course) a pair of magical shoes, called “If the Shoe Fits.”
Let’s see… final recommendations, on a musical note: “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “Hello, Dolly,” “The Music Man,” and “Bells are Ringing”—colorful, classic, romantic, and… well, just excellent choices to relax with.
J.D.
(long-time lurker; first-time poster!)
In addition to all the great mentions:
Current: Stardust. In theaters now, and marvelously romantic.
North and South: A BBC production of Gaskell’s novel that is just fantastic.
Oldie but goodie: The Shop Around the Corner. A swooningly good film, later turned into a musical (She Loves Me), a film musical (In the Good Old Summertime), and then updated as You’ve Got Mail.
ml
I Second the nomination of Hot Fuzz, awesomely funny.
Blades of Glory
Music & Lyrics
Baz Lurman’s Red Curtain Trilogy: Strictly Ballroom, Romeo & Juliet, Moulin Rouge
4 Weddings & a Funeral
50 First Dates
Cool my captcha is view13
I’m not much up on new movies myself but I’ll second (or third) Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally. And I’ll add “A Lot Like Love” because I saw the last half of it the other day and really really want to see the rest of it. And I’m not a bit Ashton K fan.
Saw a movie called “Waitress” on the plane this summer and it was fun.
Judging from the list you’ve already got, you can keep yourself amused with movies for the next year or so, but still here are a few more recs:
A Good Year (with lovely French landscape and Russell Crowe)
Wedding Date
The Holiday
And if you like animated films:
Whisper of the Heart (Studio Ghibli)
My Neighbor Totoro (Studio Ghibli)
Howl’s Moving Castle (Studio Ghibli)
…and it won’t be long until Thanksgiving, so Home For the Holiday—Holly Hunter, Dylan McDermott, Robert Downey Jr, Anne Bancroft, Steve Guttenberg, Geraldine Chaplin, and more! All directed by Jodie Foster.
The Breakfast Club – still one of my favorites after all these years
When Harry Met Sally – again – one I can watch over and over and over
The Princess Bride – need I say more
Army of Darkness – one of Bruce Campbell’s best. movies. ever.
The Empire Strikes Back – yep – another Star Wars nerd who wants to slap Lucas for ruining it. Harrison Ford is just too too yummy in this one.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – Harrison and Sean Connery? What’s not to love?
Singles – I just love this one. I don’t know why, really.
Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, actually any old Mel Brooks movies.
I think that’s it – these are my standbys =) They’re like comfort food for the eyes and brain…
“A Lot Like Love” because I
saw the last half of it the other day and really really want to see the rest
of it. And I’m not a bit Ashton K fan.
A Lot Like Love is surprisingly good. It is, in fact, the only movie in which I’ve ever found Ashton Kutcher attractive and Amanda Peet is great as well. And it has a happy ending.
Wow, one my favorites isn’t on here.
Go watch Return to Me. There’s a scene where I defy you not to bawl like a baby. You’ll know it when you see it.
OMG, I love Return to Me!!! I have to pull that DVD out tonight now. 🙂
Me too, Rinda! I could watch it over and over again. *gusty sigh*
Btw, Sarah, it does have a sad moment, but overall, I’d still call Return to Me a romantic comedy. The cast is stellar; I think you’ll love it.
Congrats on the Baby! He’s darling.
I know you asked for movies but since all of my favorites were already up here I decided I’d throw in my two cents for tv shows because sometimes they can almost be as good as movies. If you haven’t done so already, you might want to catch up with Grey’s Anatomy. Lots of romance action but also lots of other drama not to mention eye candy. October Road is good too, as is Men In Trees. Plus they’re all up for season premiers soon. Anyways, good luck!!!
Hi Sarah,
Hope you’re feeling better soon girl.
All John Huges movies, 16 Candles ET AL
Better Off Dead
Must Love Dogs
I hate 50 First Dates
Hey Teddy Pig your list is waaay too sad man 🙁
When Brenden met Trudy is a hilarious romantic comedy adapted by Roddy Doyle from one of his own books. Be warned you’ll be saying it’s grand for weeks to come if you do watch it.
Possibly known as Stolen Nights in America but I’m not to sure
Almost all of my favorites have already been mentioned (Amelie, The Committments, Sleepless in Seattle, Strictly Ballroom, P&P, What’s Up Doc<=which may be the funniest movie I’ve ever seen in my life)... oh there’s also:
Crossing Delancey—which FINALLY came out on DVD a couple months ago.
Bull Durham—the only movie I can stand to watch Kevin Costner in (oh, wait, I also loved Field of Dreams, which is a lovely movie, romantic, but more on the weepy side).
Men With Brooms – cute little Canadian movie about curling.
One Crazy Night – a.k.a. the Australian version of the Breakfast Club
Slings and Arrows – actually a television series, but only six episodes per season, so you could zip through them all in a couple weeks (heck, I made it through all of season 1 of Heroes in that time).
I also adore Cinema Paradiso, beautifully romantic, but always make me cry, so save that for not-so-hormonal times.
Oh, and I’ll join the few, the proud, who did not like “Love Actually.”
Thank GOD somebody mentioned When Harry Met Sally. Funny. Poignant. Uh, funny.
“…and I watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding over and over when I need a fix.”
Posted by hollygee
That was shot in Toronto. One of our prominent businessmen Joe Persechini who owns a fitness club played one of the prospective grooms. He was so funny!
Have fun resting and movie watching.
Have been reviewing the list again. I actually left the theater during “Down With Love.”
I also did like “Win a date with Tad Hamilton” and “What a girl wants”. “What a girl wants” was on HBO on demand with my little girl and I confess that I watched it way more than once. I wasn’t a fan of that Ashton Kutcher one, but maybe I need to watch it again.
Something About Mary
Little Miss Sunshine
Dodge Ball
Night at the Museum
Galaxy Qwest
Jurassic Park
Lost World (Jurassic Park III)
Ladyhawke
True Lies
Serenity
Armagedon
Fifth Element
If you’re ever in the mood for Comedic Horror:
Shaun of the Dead
Slither
OK—So I’m a chic-flick whore! Here are my all time girly favs:
Blue Crush—Kate Boxworth, Michelle Rodriguez and Matthew Davis. I always feel like I’ve been on a quick vacation after watching all the beautiful hawaiian scenery.
Bridget Jones’s Diary—OK—the book was better, but the movie’s pretty good, too.
The Devil Wears Prada—Just a good one. Love Meryl Streep in this!
The Girl Next Door with Elisha Cuthbert. Kinda dumb, but has some porn references! LOL!
Mean Girls with everyone’s favorite Hollywood DUI poster Child.
Mystic Pizza—Classic!
For TV—you can’t go wrong with any of the seasons of Sex and The City, or Greys Anatomy.
New favorite—Knocked Up, which comes out on DVD on Tuesday (tomorrow). YEAH!! Can’t wait. Saw it in the theater, and can’t wait to see the “Uncut and Unprotected” edition!
That’s just what I pulled out of my collection to make you a quick list. I know I have TONS of VHS that I could make the list about 3 times as long…
if asked to recommend a fun romantic comedy i always recomend
outside providence
– its about hs kids, but its set in the 70s and is too funny.