9.30.2010

Top 10 Favorite Romantic Comedies.

I swear I was going to do this before she suggested it, but today I'm continuing my honors by moving on to Jess from Insight into Entertainment. Jess likes her RomComs, so today's list is going to feature my favorite Romantic Comedies.

Romantic Comedies almost always follow the same formula; however, that's why they need to come up with some kind of hook. The movie needs a high concept if it's going to work these days... usually. That being said, let's get into it (Thanks again to a Wikipedia List).

Top 10 Favorite Romantic Comedies.

10. Hitch

Concept: A man who prides himself in setting up others on dates can't woo the ladies himself.
Thoughts: I like Kevin James as a comedian, but his movies often suck. Really bad. I think this is one exception, however, and it's probably mostly thanks to Will Smith. It has some sweet moments, usually with James' character. And it has a feel-good ending (as most RomComs do).


9. A Guy Thing

Concept: On the brink of marriage, a man falls for his fiance's cousin after a (supposedly) one-night stand after his bachelor party.
Thoughts: I've only seen the film a couple times, but I really enjoy it. And it has a really good cast: Jason Lee, Julia Stiles, Selma Blair, James Brolin, Shawn Hatosy, and--the funniest of them all--Larry Miller as the minister. It was really the interactions between Jason Lee and Larry Miller that won this movie over for me. I'd recommend for those moments alone. But the rest does hold up, as well.


8. Definitely, Maybe

Concept: A man tells his daughter the story of how he met her mother, and she tries to guess which of the three women from his story turns out to be the right one.
Thoughts: Again, a really good cast is involved, headed up by Ryan Reynolds. I've only seen it once--in theater, at that--but I really remember liking it a lot and I'd love to see it again.


7. How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

Concept: A guy makes a bet that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days; unfortunately, the woman he chooses is writing an article on how to make a guy dump you in 10 days.
Thoughts: This plot is ridiculously contrived, but I just like it so much. Like some of the others mentioned, it's been a while since I've seen it, but I used to always catch it when it was on TV. And it's one of those rare RomComs where it's not solely the guy's fault near the end when they have the inevitable fight.


6. The Proposal

Concept: A mean boss forces her employee to marry her so she doesn't have to be deported back to Canada; however, they must spend the weekend in Alaska with his family and get to know each other, or else they both go to prison.
Thoughts: Another Ryan Reynolds film. The only reason I saw it to begin with was because of him. And I ended up liking it so much. Reynolds and Bullock have some good chemistry, and Betty White is always a delight. It can get strange at times (particularly with White's character), but for the most part is a pretty solid film... and funny!


5. She's Out Of My League

Concept: A "hard 10" woman falls for a "5" guy, and neither he nor his friends have any idea why.
Thoughts: I just recently bought this on impulse, as I hadn't seen it in theater, but I had heard good things about it. I find the true testament to a comedy is if I laugh while I'm watching it home alone. I did, here. This was a great film with Jay Baruchel at the forefront. And his friends were a hoot, as well. You might actually expect a full review sometime soon.


4. 10 Things I Hate About You

Concept: Taming of the Shrew in modern day.
Thoughts: If you're gonna do it, you might as well do it right, right? Go back to a classic... Shakespeare style. Heath Ledger, Julia Styles, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, Jo-Go, and--funniest of them all--Larry Miller as the father. Larry Miller can apparently make movies that much better. But the rest of the film is just up there as a modern classic (of the genre, anyway).


3. I'm A Cyborg But That's OK

Concept: A young woman who thinks she's a cyborg ends up in a mental institution where she gains the attention of a young man who steals souls and has to brush his teeth or else shrink into nothingness.
Thoughts: It's a Romantic Comedy brought to you by the man who gave us Oldboy. How can you not want to watch it based on that alone? OK, so it's not a RomCom in the classic sense of the word. Yes, there's romance and comedy, but I can assure you that the movie is like no other RomCom you've ever seen.


2. Shaun of the Dead

Concept: It's a Romantic Comedy. With Zombies.
Thoughts: It's right in the tag line. It coined the term RomComZom. It's one of my all-time favorite movies. So how could it possibly be at number 2? Because you have yet to see my number 1...


1. The Princess Bride

Concept: Pirates. Swordfighting. Murder. Conspiracy. Revenge. Giants. Miracles. True Love.
Thoughts: Do I really have to elaborate?

6 comments:

  1. Haha, I called it, and thanks for the plug! Very respectable list. The Proposal is definitely one of the best. I would add When Harry Met Sally to round out the list a bit. Haven't seen A Guy Thing, but have always wanted to, now it might need to move up the list.

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  2. Great list! Great series!
    Could ya honor me by doing top ten cliches and absurdities in film (a la according to the movies)?

    I really hate whoring myself out like that...

    :-p

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  3. Jess: No problem!

    Sebastian: It starts to be less of an honor if you request it :P .

    I might "honor" you eventually, but it probably won't be until next week at the earliest. I already have plans for the rest of the week/weekend.

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  4. That Wiki List was lame. They left out some great stuff but included stuff that is far from a romcom (Devil Wears Prada?). I know I rag on them a lot, but here are some of my favorites in no particular order.

    10 Things I Hate About You
    Clueless
    Sixteen Candles
    While You Were Sleeping
    Pretty Woman
    40 Year Old Virgin
    The Wedding Singer
    Love Actually
    Can't Hardly Wait
    The Princess Bride
    My Best Friend's Wedding

    I've only seen six on your list and only like two of them as romcoms (still don't consider Shaun one, despite its tagline).

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  5. Great list ! Thanks for sharing ! It is good to know about the romantic films. I love watching these films.

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  6. Thank you for sharing your list with us! I have added this to my personal favorites for movies to watch.

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