Top Five Rom-Coms
Subjectively Outlining my Favorite Romantic Comedies
Shalom,
This Valentine’s Day post will identify my top five favorite romantic comedies aka rom-coms as well as a list of honorable mentions. This opinion is mine and yours will probably differ so feel free to start a healthy dialogue in the comments. If you don’t have me on Letterboxd I have a list of my favorites here.
Would like to add this list is mostly based on how these movies shape love, transform our views on “the ideal love story”, and their affects on the culture of love in the world.
Hope you enjoy these films as much as I do and maybe discover what to watch next!
Hitch
Will Smith, Kevin James and Eva Mendes show us that love can be taught, learned, but most importantly needs to be treated with tenderness. Will gives us a lovely performance as the guy who has an answer for everything. He can take the guy with no confidence and make him into the stud he’s always wanted to be while Mendes shows us the reluctance one can have to let someone into their heart. Ultimately, love conquers all as an audience we learn you really do just need to look at one’s heart.
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Gosling & Carrell give us lovely performances as we see love from many angles, particularly heartache. This movie takes you down to bring you back up and realize love is not linear, it will change even if you think you are with your “forever” person. Emma Stone is the perfect actress cast as the daughter and during this time in the 2010’s was killing the genre as a whole (Easy-A is another magnificent performance). You leave this movie realizing you need to take joy in what life gives you and be thankful for the people it puts into your life.
That Awkward Moment
This one is going to be hot take for a lot of people who read this but I feel like this movie is going to be considered a hidden gem with this trio killing it! We get three different stories of love and with each, I feel audiences can connect deeply on their levels. The scene with Imogen Poots & Zac Efron in the bar should go down as an iconic NYC romcom scene in my book (find it here). Teller delivers a great performance as the middle man unknowingly falling in love with the last person he expects and it shows again that love is not always linear, and to appreciate who is in your life. Overall, I will love this movie until the end of time.
When Harry Met Sally
The caption above might be the greatest line in a romcom ever said. The true essence of love lies right in that quote (I know it’s not the scene I love the picture though). A theme that I hope you have picked up on here is how my favorite romcoms display how nonlinear love is, because if it were linear would it really feel like it was worth it or just feel like it fell into your lap? Many of you might get heated that this is not not my number one, and for any of you that this is your number one I would never argue with you. This story displays the transformation of love over time so well, growing with and away from the ones you love, while always bringing you back to those whom you love too dearly to let go.
Annie Hall
Let me start off by saying Woody Allen is a horrific person, but this a damn good film. You don’t get my #2 without this movie in my opinion. For those who want to dive deeper yeah you can say Harold & Maude set the stage for this type of movie but the true NYC nature of this story stands the test of time in my opinion. Fun fact, I am almost certain the son from Wedding Crashers is based off the role Christopher Walken plays in this movie as Annie’s kid brother. If you have not seen this movie I highly recommend and to my friend Foley if you are reading this for the 100th time I am not apologizing for saying you need to watch this. Will never forget the first time I watched this and the film (not Allen you weirdos) has shaped my thoughts surrounding love. Will probably watch again this weekend just because it’s that’s good!
Honorable Mentions
Crazy Rich Asians
This movie made me cry twice on an airplane and is that good I can only watch it every couple of years now. Fan fucking tastic film about the power dynamics that go into when you decide to marry someone and how you must do what you heart wants.
It’s Complicated
A love story and romcom that’s all too real with an even realer cast. Baldwin, Streep, Krasinki, Martin all nail their roles and you might not enjoy how it leaves you but understand it’s authentic to love and not coy to a story.
Something Borrowed
Another one with Krasinki (not a mina character again) that is all too real. Watch at your own risk, great film regardless.
10 Things I hate About You
RIP to a legend in Heath Ledger. He delivers and that’s all I need to say about this.
About Time
My dad’s favorite category of film; time traveling romantic comedy. Film is fucking amazing and is genuinely so close to my top five. You will probably cry not by choice.
He’s Just Not That Into You
Again you’re going to cry and this is a little too real for love.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
The definition of a romcom right here. Little corny but gets the job done.
Love Actually
Actually… I need to watch this but have heard so much about it over the year it cracks the HM’s.
Very solid list and thumb nail description / analysis. Along the lines of pseudo time travel / non linear love tracks - Love Actually fits the bill. And I support Ryan Reynolds in almost anything he does!