Love is in the Air….and at the Movies

The Notebook.  No list like this would be complete without paying homage to Nicholas Sparks’ masterpiece.  We were swept up along with Noah and Allie, their highs and their lows, their past and their present.  Theirs was a sizzling romance, one that was familiar and unattainable all at the same time.  

When Harry Met Sally.   Boy meets girl, boy and girl become best friends, boy and girl sleep together and boy freaks out.  In the end, boy realizes it has been her the whole time, and boy and girl marry.  Who thought a movie with a fake orgasm scene could be so entertaining?  It was sweet, funny and to this day, remains a favorite.

Love, Actually.  A personal favorite.  Had this movie been made with any other ensemble cast, it wouldn’t have worked.  But the combination of Britain’s finest was brilliant; Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Keira Knightley.   The Prime Minister, his new position and young household staff.  The aging rock star and his manager.  The movie body doubles.  Ah…..love!

The Wedding Singer.  Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have done several movies together, but this is the one where their chemistry clicks.  Who doesn’t love reliving the 80’s and mocking that time period at the same time?  Throw in a granny who raps, and it is sheer genius.  

Never Been Kissed.  Speaking of Barrymore and reliving your youth, let’s throw in the hot Michael Vartan while we’re at it.  While student-teacher relationships are taboo, we’re rooting for Josie because we’re in on the secret.  

The Wedding Planner.  No romantic movie list would be complete without the lazy, Southern drawl of Matthew McConaughey.  His voice alone is enough to drop panties.  And while the story line was unrealistic, we bought into it because of his lazy, Southern accent.   The same way we bought into How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Magic Mike (not a romance movie, but come on……Channing Tatum).

Reality Bites.  Oh, the 90’s!  The angst, the flannel, Ethan Hawke.  Not to mention the grunge-era music as the backdrop.  

Singles.  No Seattle reference would be complete without this gem.  Set the story aside, and you have live performances from the greatest musicians of the time: Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam.  In fact, Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament are all part of Matt Dillon’s band, Citizen Dick.  But it is the stories behind the stories that make this movie so great.  Steve’s inner monologues showcase the fact that guys second-guess themselves just like women do.   And Campbell Scott is so yummy that you want to dislike Kyra Sedgwick’s character, but can’t.

10 Things I Hate About You.  Best movie with Heath Ledger, outside of The Dark Knight.  Even though lies and an ill-thought-out bet brought the two rebels together, in the end, boy wins girl.  Shakespeare done in a rocking fashion and done right.

Casablanca.  Not to leave out the classics, and this is THE classic love story, even if Rick and Ilsa are not fated to stay together.   As famous as Rhett Butler’s “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn”, Rick’s lines are oft-repeated. 

Gone With The Wind.  Take one spoiled Southern belle, add in a dashing carpetbagger and there’s a formula for the greatest rocky love story.   Although Scarlett’s heart desire is Ashley, who marries Melanie, Rhett’s bigger than life character captivates audiences the world over.  Scarlett matures rather quickly, due to circumstances, but remains stubborn as a mule.  In the end, she realizes she loves Rhett, but it is too late.  Isn’t that always the case?

There are many, many more not included here, but use your best judgment.   Did you and your sweetie enjoy any of these movies over Valentine's Day weekend? 

Written by: Allyson Johns