A Romcom for Everyone
This isn’t going to be your traditional Valentine’s Day post. Bitter single people, I got you. This day is for us too. What I’m going to attempt to do in this blog is provide movie options for every type of person on this love-filled (or for some, loveless) holiday. Whether you’ll be spending the day planning something thoughtful for your partner, celebrating how much you love your friends, or eating guilt-free sweets while thinking “thank goodness I’m not with that person anymore”, I am going to have something picked out special just for you.
Here’s who I think we have today:
The Optimists: This is your ‘hopeless romantic’ group. You’re cheering for the happy ending regardless of how many hoops, adventures, and sacrifices it’s going to take. I’m just going to take a shot in the dark and guess that this is your theme song for the day.
The Realists: This group is focused on what makes the most sense. Why would she give up her dream job and move across the country to live on a farm with her high school sweetheart who she hasn’t had a conversation with in 15 years because they bumped into each other at a bookstore? If you’re confused and mildly irritated every time you watch a movie on a channel that rhymes with Shmallmark then this might be you. But this group differs from the next in that they aren’t anti-love, they’re just anti-wild scenarios.
The Pessimists: It’s okay, this is a safe space, you can say this is you. I won’t tell anyone. Maybe you’ve had your heart broken one too many times. And this doesn’t mean it’s a permanent state of mind, these are in reference to how you feel on Valentine’s Day specifically. Maybe you reserve this one special day of the year to bah humbug the heart-shaped chocolates and bouquets of flowers. This group is for the people who just don’t understand what all the fuss is about and know that sometimes things just don’t work out.
So first think about what group you fall into and then go check out your movie selections (sorry for any spoilers, I tried my best).
The Optimists
Hey you little love-bird. I know even if someone hasn’t scooped you up yet that you’re still over there cheesing away at all the gushy posts today. Whether you’re taken or not, I hope these movies put a little extra of that love feeling in your day today.
The Wedding Date
Available to stream on HBO / HBO MAX
One of my favorite movie quotes, maybe of all time, but definitely of romcoms comes from this movie. I won’t spoil it for you because I want you to feel warm inside the first time you hear it the way I did. This movie follows a maid-of-honor (Debra Messing) who hires an escort (Dermot Mulroney) to take as a date to her little sister’s wedding (Amy Adams) to make her ex-boyfriend/the best man jealous. Though you can probably guess how this plays out by the category it’s in, you’re still in for a surprise. My favorite part is the main character’s earnest attempt to make everyone think things are going well.
The Holiday
Only available for rent or for purchase
Few films hold a place in my heart like this one. In this film, Nancy Meyers (The Parent Trap, What Women Want, Something's Gotta Give) gives us a story about four people (Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black) who are sort of down on their luck in the romantic category over the holiday season. But their luck changes with a little geographic mix-up, some wine, and MUSIC BY HANS ZIMMER. Some may consider this a Christmas movie but I think it’s great all year round.
Pretty Woman
Available to stream on fuboTV, Freeform
Does this one even need an introduction? Two words: Garry Marshall. I don’t know, that seems like enough information. If you’re unfamiliar with this one it’s about a businessman (Richard Gere) who picks up a prostitute (Julia Roberts) on Hollywood Boulevard I believe. And they get to know each other. And that’s pretty much it. And as simple as that sounds it makes for a great [love] story.
The Princess Bride
Available to stream on Disney+, Hulu
WUV, TWOO WUV
Fun fact: I quote this movie all the time and I just found out this past year that my mother has never seen it. So all of the times I’ve said “INCONCEIVABLE” in that voice, she just thought it was some weird quirk I had developed and never questioned it.
Anyways, love really knows no bounds in this movie. And if you like a sprinkle of fantasy and adventure and, as previously stated, limitless quotes, this one is for you.
The Realists
Hey my “everything happens for a reason” group. That solid grasp on reality doesn’t make you the ideal romcom audience but there are a few select love stories out there that don’t have a perfect bow at the end; these are for you.
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Available to stream on Netflix
This film features maybe the ultimate romcom trio: Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, and Dermot Mulroney. All of whom are featured in movies in the above category. Julia Roberts’ character realizes she’s in love with her college best friend/kind of ex WHEN she gets invited to his wedding. Chaos ensues, there’s an inexplicable sing-a-long, and it ends how people in this category would probably like it to end.
How To Be Single
Available to stream on Freeform
You can thank Shanny (my mom) for this one. I’ve only seen it twice now but she really enjoys it and I can see why. The main character, played by Dakota Johnson, breaks up with her boyfriend and moves to New York where she navigates being single in a big city. There’s nothing all that spectacular about this movie but that makes it all the more endearing. There’s no extravagance to her journey and that is exactly what this group is looking for.
Celeste & Jesse Forever
Available to stream on Starz
Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg play high school sweethearts who married young. But they find themselves in fairly different places in their life and decide to separate, despite still getting along. The movie follows their friendship, their separation, and their attempts (rather successful or not) to move on.
The Pessimists
LOVE SUCKS. I’m just kidding. But I understand how today can feel a little harder. Don’t listen to the people who say “You’ll find someone someday”. Not saying you won’t. But that’s really not the point is it? Feeling down about being single isn’t about thinking you’re going to be single for the rest of forever as much as it’s about it at the moment. So I’m validating your feelings of not liking it. And if you aren’t looking for a happy ending on this holiday, these movies are for you.
Romeo + Juliet
Only available for rent or purchase
We all know what this story is about so we can skip that little song and dance. I am here to advocate SPECIFICALLY for the mid-90s Baz Luhrmann version featuring a young Leonardo DiCaprio, Clare Danes, and Paul Rudd. This version is entertaining and visually appealing and will take your mind off the instantly in love part. We know it doesn’t go well for them anyway.
500 Days of Summer
Available to stream on Starz
If anything, this movie about someone from the Optimist group and someone from the Realist group dating. And the Optimist not being able to handle the Realist and it turns him into a Pessimist. And it also includes a girl named Autumn so that should be reason enough. No bad blood, no cheating or screaming, just two people who weren’t on the same page.
Comet
Only available for rent or purchase
Similarly structured to 500 Days of Summer in the sense that it’s not chronologically ordered, you follow the good, the bad, and the ugly of the main characters’ relationship. I’ve always wished this movie was more widely recognized because it’s one of the most beautiful and genuine stories I’ve ever seen on screen.
Whichever category you fall into, I hope you enjoy your day and have a lovely weekend.
