The list of romantic comedies must be all of this and more: easy to watch again and again, funny but not distractingly so and fun. Each of these films is one that I have delighted over again and again and would never be without. Please challenge me with others I will not hesitate to consider changes, additions or even a next 10 must haves.
No. 10:SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (1995) - Jane Austen endures in film as well as anyone before her and Sense and Sensibility is my personal favorite film based on her work. Emma Thompson brings her wonderful talent and heart to one of the most enduring love stories ever. I would not be without this wonderful movie and suggest the same for you. I would also recommend the incredible BBC miniseries of Pride and Prejudice as a wonderful companion piece. Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy is a real treat and the best one I’ve seen.
No. 9: ABOUT LAST NIGHT (1986) - Rob Lowe and Demi Moore are excellent in this wonderful film about love and relationships. This tends to be more of a serious comedy, though Jim Belushi and Elizabeth Perkins add some humorous touches, and yet it’s easy to watch and a nice popcorn movie. Once again, I was torn by two very good films that you’ll enjoy, He Said, She Said and Footloose, both excellent films, but just not as moving for me.
No. 8:FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (1994) - Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell star in one of my favorite romantic comedies not because the acting is great, or the plot superlative, or even the story element's great fun…it’s all of those and some of them most engaging and off the wall characters in film. I toyed with Notting Hill and Groundhog Day for similar reasons and would recommend those too, but Funeral is much easier to watch again and again.
No. 7: JERRY MAGUIRE (1996) - Easily my favorite Tom Cruise film (with the possible exception of Risky Business) and by far his best film as an adult, Jerry Maguire toys with the best in the human condition and redemption of the greatest sort. I never hesitate to recommend it and should be in your film library.
No. 6:THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998) - Odd that this film should fit into such an elite group of films, but it is movie that everyone should own. The content is questionable, the subject matter dubious but even so the film has such wonderful originality and heart that it is one of my favorites and always ready for guests.
No. 5:PRETTY WOMAN (1990) - An unlikely film, Pretty Woman is the story of a beautiful hooker and her shining prince: a isolated multimillionaire. Their unique business arrangement leads to a fairy tale ending and a role reversal that challenges Shakespeare.
No. 4: ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944) - This is one of my personal favorites and the movie in the group that is least about love and the most about killing, but one of the most amazing of Cary Grant’s films and one no one should be without.
No. 3:WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989) - This is the best love story about the attraction of opposites in the universe. Harry, a lonely but funny typical male figure finds Sally to be the most annoying and finicky high maintenance female he’s ever met. Sally finds Harry a negative, depressing shell of a man, dedicated to the idea that males and females cannot be friends. And yet, they manage to fall so deeply in love that only they are left in the dark.
No. 2:MOONSTRUCK (1987) - One of the quirkiest comedies ever, Nicolas Cage and Cher star in this all-Italian, all-the-time love fest. A brilliant film well deserving of its critical acclaim Moonstruck touches the heart like few films before it. Primarily a character driven movie the film is directed with heart, the characters acted with precision and sensitivity, even when they are at their worst, and the story and plot great fun.
No. 1:SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959) - Still the greatest romantic comedy ever made, but with legends like Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Pat O’Brien and Joe E. Lewis starring and Billy Wilder directing, how could it not be. Packed with gender bending, mobsters and beautiful women it’s definitely a must own.
God, I was so tempted by The Apartment, but...and I say this advisedly. Does any but the most dedicated fan really need a copy on hand at a moments notice?
Speaking of Pride and Prejudiece, It's cast is less that great. Again, I suggest the much better cast of the BBC version. It literally blew me away and totally negates the value of the hollywood film. If I had to choose the best Pride and Prejudice, I would go back many years to the great one with Olivier as Darcy, sorry.
I would add "As Good As it gets" and trade it for "There's something about mary".
Come on, if you're stranded on a desert island with 10 romantic comedies, wouldn't you prefer to watch that magnificent character played by Jack Nicholson over and over again? On the other hand, I think you'd quickly be bored by Stiller and Diaz in "Mary".
Wow, good pick, but if I find As Good as it Gets as a once a year film and I MUST watch it from start to finish...Mary I can watch a little at a time from any part of the movie. Also As Good As it Gets is more comedy than romance...though I considered it.
I love romantic comedies. I've always loved the two I want to add to your list. 1. Joe vs the Volcano...silly but a good hearted movie. 2. Can't Buy Me Love...my alltime fave.
I LOVE that movie! Whenever I see it playing on tv I watch it.
Great comments. Joe Vs the Volcano, oh my god, I thought I was the only one that liked that one...but I can't call it must have. Can't Buy Me Love, excellent choice, only this is a classic teen movie and must be categorized as such unless of course you want must have teen romantic comedies....
About A Boy
As Good As It Gets
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Hitch
Knocked Up
Love Actually
Lot Like Love
Serendipity
There's Something About Mary
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Craig, I am surprised that you didn't add Shakespeare in Love to your list. I remember that you loved it.
A comment about Shakespeare In Love: It's not a romantic comedy. Romantic comedies have a happy ending...in no way did Shakespeare in Love have a happy ending, though I love your list but it's weighted way heavily on new films.
Comments
20 September 2007
40 weeks 3 days
You've got Sense & Sensibility but not Pride & Predjudice?
I'd also add The Apartment that starred a young Jack Lemon and Shirley McClaine.
27 November 2008
42 weeks 6 days
God, I was so tempted by The Apartment, but...and I say this advisedly. Does any but the most dedicated fan really need a copy on hand at a moments notice?
Speaking of Pride and Prejudiece, It's cast is less that great. Again, I suggest the much better cast of the BBC version. It literally blew me away and totally negates the value of the hollywood film. If I had to choose the best Pride and Prejudice, I would go back many years to the great one with Olivier as Darcy, sorry.
16 June 2009
2 years 7 weeks
I would add "As Good As it gets" and trade it for "There's something about mary".
Come on, if you're stranded on a desert island with 10 romantic comedies, wouldn't you prefer to watch that magnificent character played by Jack Nicholson over and over again? On the other hand, I think you'd quickly be bored by Stiller and Diaz in "Mary".
27 November 2008
42 weeks 6 days
Wow, good pick, but if I find As Good as it Gets as a once a year film and I MUST watch it from start to finish...Mary I can watch a little at a time from any part of the movie. Also As Good As it Gets is more comedy than romance...though I considered it.
29 December 2007
9 hours 7 min
I love romantic comedies. I've always loved the two I want to add to your list. 1. Joe vs the Volcano...silly but a good hearted movie. 2. Can't Buy Me Love...my alltime fave.
I LOVE that movie! Whenever I see it playing on tv I watch it.
27 November 2008
42 weeks 6 days
Great comments. Joe Vs the Volcano, oh my god, I thought I was the only one that liked that one...but I can't call it must have. Can't Buy Me Love, excellent choice, only this is a classic teen movie and must be categorized as such unless of course you want must have teen romantic comedies....
29 December 2007
9 hours 7 min
WOW, you're right. I guess there are enough teen romantic comedies that you could have that as a category by itself.
25 September 2009
1 year 38 weeks
Top 10 Romantic Comedies...
About A Boy
As Good As It Gets
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Hitch
Knocked Up
Love Actually
Lot Like Love
Serendipity
There's Something About Mary
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Craig, I am surprised that you didn't add Shakespeare in Love to your list. I remember that you loved it.
27 November 2008
42 weeks 6 days
A comment about Shakespeare In Love: It's not a romantic comedy. Romantic comedies have a happy ending...in no way did Shakespeare in Love have a happy ending, though I love your list but it's weighted way heavily on new films.