It’s the month of romance! Valentine’s Day is all about big, cheesy moments and stories that make us laugh, cry, and believe in love (at least for two hours). That’s why I will be reviewing and recommending my top four favorite “rom coms”, perfect not only for all the lovely couples out there but also for our single people who celebrated with snacks.
- When Harry Met Sally
I genuinely cannot believe I haven’t watched this sooner, I thought I had an unmatched knowledge of romance movies but this was a slap in the face reminding me how much I still have left to see. “When Harry Met Sally” is a slow burn romance focusing on the evolving friendship between Harry and Sally (shocker) and is a perfect representation of the “red string theory”-The theory that when two people are bound to be together, they’ll always reconnect through life even after going their separate ways. The characters themselves are a 10/10, Harry is pessimistic to self-destruction and actor Billy Crystal portrays him perfectly as someone with doubts towards any happiness at all. On the other hand, Sally (Meg Ryan) is the complete opposite. She’s a beautifully optimistic and pristine woman who isn’t afraid to call Harry out for his blunt honesty which often comes off as rude.
In the beginning, I wasn’t exactly hooked since I didn’t find Harry’s actor to be that attractive since let’s be real, we all love a hot male lead. Don’t worry though, he’ll grow on you. I’d give this movie a 9/10 for its realistic approach on how two people with opposite views on the world can come together and help each other grow. Although a lot of times I wanted to scream through the screen for how clueless they were, if you push through the frustration and wait till the end and I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait.
2. The People We Meet on Vacation
If you’ve already seen “When Harry Met Sally” and fell in love with the classic friends to lovers trope, this should definitely be added to your watch list. It follows that same irresistible duo: Poppy, a bubbly, slightly chaotic woman, and Alex, a more reserved and serious guy, who initially can’t stand each other. But you know what they say: there’s a fine line between love and hate.
This slow burn was driving me absolutely insane (in the best way). Watching them shift through every stage from barely tolerating each other, to friends, to best friends, and finally…maybe something more? What makes it even better is how the story jumps back and forth between the present and flashbacks of their past vacations together, slowly revealing what went right and wrong. Every scene adds another layer so you’re constantly piecing together their history while watching them in present time. I won’t spoil any of the major scenes but the plotline is genuinely perfect. They start out at the same college, but their lives quickly go in opposite directions. Poppy becomes a travel journalist who literally gets paid to go on vacation. (everyone’s dream job honestly). I sickly envy her. Meanwhile, Alex settles into life as a high school teacher in his hometown of Linfield, Ohio. So now we have the girl who’s been everywhere and the guy who has zero desire to leave home. You might be wondering, how do they even meet? Could that really work? Would they have to do long distance? Well, I guess you’ll just have to watch and see.
I will give you a warning, Poppy can be kind of irritating. Don’t get me wrong, I love her as a character but if I knew her in real life? Oh God. Still, there’s something about her that makes you want to be more yourself. The fact that a genuinely caring and walking thirst trap level guy falls in love with her honestly gives the rest of us hope. If Poppy can find love, we all can.
3. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
If chaos was a rom com, it would be How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. This movie follows Andie (Kate Hudson), a magazine writer who’s determined to prove she can make any man fall for her and then drive him away within ten days for the sake of her article. On the other side, we have Benjamin (Matthew McConaughey), a confident and cocky advertising executive who made a bet that he can make any woman fall in love with him in the same amount of time (coincidentally). So basically they’re both lying, yet somehow…it works?
Now this is a film for a good laugh. Andie goes out of her way to be the annoyingly clingy, crazy girlfriend stereotype by showing up unannounced, crying over absolutely nothing, rearranging his apartment with girly belongings and just driving him insane. Watching her pull some of these tricks was hysterical and seeing Ben try and keep his composure while losing his mind made it even better.
While their relationship started out as a total scheme, what made his movie stand out is that behind all their sabotages, you start to see real chemistry build. If you haven’t seen this yet, you’ll definitely recognize some of the iconic scenes. The gorgeous yellow dress scene? “Princess Sophia?” The “You’re so vain” moment? Total rom com history.
4. Dirty Dancing
“Dirty Dancing” is one of those movies that I will never stop thinking about until the day I die. The plotline follows a young woman, Baby (Jennifer Grey) who’s staying at a country club with her family. Her days are consumed with golf and boring wig classes, she quickly becomes sick of the formal adult lifestyle. Little did she know this trip would introduce her to a completely new group of people and a world far different from what she’s used to. The movie doesn’t only focus on romance though, it subtly highlights the contract between wealthy families vacationing at the resort and the working class staff members who keep it running, showing how separate and judgemental those worlds can be.
That’s when she meets Johnny (Patrick Swayze) and is immediately drawn to his good looks and scandalous dance moves, let’s be fair though, who wouldn’t fall head over heels for Patrick Swayze. Jonny is naturally charming in that effortless kind of way, while Baby is naturally awkward who uses, “I carried a watermelon” as her best line. The directors really choose this role perfectly because Jonny’s confidence smooths over Baby’s slightly cringey energy in the best way possible. Their relationship also challenges the strict social boundaries between the rich and poor. Baby steps outside her privileged bubble and starts to understand the struggles Jonny and other staff members face.
At first, Johnny doesn’t think much of her, but as they are forced to spend more and more time together, something changes. What starts as “I’m just helping you with a dance” quickly leads into lingering eye contact and a level of chemistry that is absolutely unmatchable. Filled with iconic scenes and total 80’s vibes from the dancing and killer soundtrack, they really don’t make movies like this anymore.
At the end of the day, Valentine’s isn’t about having a perfect date or relationship, it’s about feeling something. Whether it’s the tension in “When Harry Met Sally” and “The People we Meet on Vacation”, the chaotic mind games in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”, or the electric connection in “Dirty Dancing”, each of these movies reminds us why we love love in the first place.
