Worst2First: My Top Ten Romantic Comedies
Worst2First:
My Top Ten Romantic Comedies
Here are my personal top ten romantic comedies, worst2first...
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#10
10 Things I Hate About You
"I want you, I need you, oh baby, oh baby." When you read that sentence you think it could be a sonnet of pure love and affection, but it's actually a sarcastic line told by Kat Stratford, who is an independent, sarcastic girl in high school who doesn't need a man. In a modern take on the Shakespeare classic "The Taming of the Shrew," "10 Things I Hate About You" is about a high school girl who wants a date, but the only stipulation is that her older sister also needs a date - and she's not looking for one. The film is hilarious and made household names out of its leads Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
#9
Juno
Ellen Page plays Juno, a wise-cracking introvert who finds herself pregnant by Michael Cera's equally socially inept Paulie. Coming to terms with her choices, Juno decides to give the baby up for adoption to a loving home, but soon realizes the ramifications of her decisions. The film won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Actress for Ellen Page, and is a witty, humorous, no-holds-barred look at teenage pregnancy. The film also stars Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman.
#8
The Wedding Singer
Rapping granny. That's just one of the several iconic moments in this Adam Sandler classic. Set in 1985, Sandler plays a wedding singer who is crushed when his own bride-to-be leaves him at the altar. Now disgruntled, he runs into a waitress named Julia who is getting married, and wants his help to make the wedding perfect. Only problem is, she's marrying the wrong man, and the wedding singer is in love with her. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have perfect chemistry that leads to future films together, but none can compare to this classic (since Sandler's films lately have been subpar at best).
#7
La La Land
#6
The Big Sick
One of the most real romantic comedies on this list - mostly because it's true - focuses on the unconventional relationship between Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani) and Emily (Zoe Kazan). Kumail is of Muslim descent and his parents want him to marry a good Muslim woman, but he falls for white girl Emily, who is pretty much the opposite of everything his parents are looking for. Having to choose between being shunned by his family or being with the woman he loves, the story takes a turn when Emily is hospitalized with a possibly life-threatening disease. He meets her parents (played perfectly by Holly Hunter and Ray Romano), and begins to learn more of who Emily is. It's a heartwarming film filled with laughs and impeccable performances, one of the most modern romantic comedies, and a deeply moving tale at the center.
#5
Sleepless in Seattle
In the early 90s, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were the go-to couple for films. In Nora Ephron's "Sleepless in Seattle," Hanks plays a recently widowed single father whose young son calls in a radio talk show to get his dad a new girlfriend. Meg Ryan's character writes a letter to him, even though she's in a relationship, and asks to meet him at the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day. The rest is movie history, and this film is the best of the Hanks-Ryan pairings, with electric chemistry, a good-natured story, and great comedic moments.
#4
When Harry Met Sally
Can men and women ever just be friends? That's the question posed in Rob Reiner's classic film "When Harry Met Sally," written by Nora Ephron. Billy Crystal plays Harry and Meg Ryan plays Sally, two friends who spend over a decade together as just friends, but also debating whether or not they have feelings for each other. The film is a classic romantic comedy featuring one of the most iconic scenes in cinema - that restaurant scene.
#3
Love, Simon
#2
Twenty years ago, a film centering on a young adult who struggles with whether or not to come out as gay was something unheard of. What makes "Love, Simon" so groundbreaking is the fact that it IS the first romantic comedy with a gay male as its lead, and mixes the laughs and feels in equal measure. Nick Robinson gives a commanding performance as Simon, a high school senior who struggles with whether or not to come out to everyone as gay - not because he's afraid he'll be shunned, but because of how it will change everything. It's revolutionary, excellent, and memorable.
#2
Pretty Woman
You've heard the saying "hooker with a heart of gold," and Julia Robert's Vivian Ward epitomizes that expression. Vivian is a hooker on the mean streets of Los Angeles when she runs into successful businessman Edward Lewis, played by Richard Gere. He hires her to be his escort for a week, and tries to turn her into a sophisticated woman. The result is a hilarious rom-com featuring two A-list actors who exude chemistry, a hilarious story, and even some truly heartfelt moments.
#1
The Princess Bride
A film that blends romantic comedy, action, and fantasy would of course top my list, because it involves more than just a relationship. Rob Reiner's classic "The Princess Bride" centers around a woman torn from the man she loves to marry a prince she despises, and her true love's quest to get her back. It's filled with over-the-top silliness, iconic lines ("hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die"), and swashbuckling action - of sorts.
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