While many could be seen as cliché, they can still be considered leaders in the field on RomComs.
They set the plotlines that are so common now, and with many having an old-school aura to accompany it, you can’t help but feel warm inside when watching.
‘Pretty Woman’
We have to start with one of the most well-known and beloved RomComs from the ’90s. We follow a charming young woman who is subject to not-so-fortunate circumstances and her run in with a powerful and wealthy corporate raider who is interested in hiring her to accompany him for a week. Love undeniably blooms, despite its conflicts. This film surrounds concepts of wealth and need, and offers a fan favourite image of the gorgeous Julia Roberts in an elegant red dress and a collection of diamonds decorating her.
‘Never Been Kissed’
This film is a ’90s classic that is based around a journalist that has to go undercover as a teenager and re-live high school as an investigation for a story. She instead finds a second chance at doing high school the way she wanted, meets amazing friends, as well as an undeniable chemistry with her English teacher. This is a raw and slightly ridiculous film, yet still highly enjoyable.
’50 Fist Dates’
The Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore duo had to make it on to the list at some point, with other enjoyable RomComs together; ‘The Wedding Singer’ and ‘Blended’. This film offered a unique and fresh twist on love, and the willingness to keep falling in love again with your partner every day if that’s what it took. And being accompanied by a strong cast, there’s little not to love.
’10 Things I Hate About You’
This teenage rebellious feature is filled with angst surrounds the love story between a hot-headed and strong-willed woman and the school’s leading delinquent that were forced together, yet relenting adoration still bloomed. With a strong focus on teenage desires and conflict, and manipulation of feelings, this film is sure to pull some heartstrings, but in a good way, of course.
’27 Dresses’
While this film does follow many pre-established plotlines, ’27 Dresses’ redeems itself in its character chemistry, balance between goofy and sincerity, and its drunk bar-top dancing scene to ‘Benny and the Jets’. The film remains heartfelt and pure, and an easy weekend-watch for the family.
‘Hitch’
A masterful matchmaker for men teaches them how to behave how ‘a woman would want them to behave’ in order to foster attraction. While this works in theory, the operation crashes and burns once his identity and interaction with couple’s lives becomes apparent, taking his own growing relationship with it. ‘Hitch’ is full of charm and hilarious scenes.
‘Suddenly 30’
A young girl that wakes up and is suddenly 30 is given the opportunity to find what she truly desires for her future and to rekindle a love between childhood friends. Including an iconic dance-number to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, and focusing on self discovery, passion, and friendship, this film makes you question if you could go back to childhood, is there anything you would change?
‘Love Actually’
‘Love Actually’ has one of the most iconic cast lists, which leaves you on the couch going “I know them!”. The film follows nine different love stories, ranging between family, friend, and romantic forms of love and the conflicts that come with each of them. We then receive a beautiful conclusion where we discover the connections between each of the separate stories and discover how small the world really is.
‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’
Here shows another journalist looking for a promotion and decides to attempt to become the worst possible girlfriend to force her partner to break up with her within 10 days. Yet he is working on his own bet to make her fall in love with him in 10 days. This leads to a battle of wills and patience, and shockingly, true love forms.
‘The Proposal’
Who doesn’t love a Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds collaboration? This film is quirky and personal as a much-disliked executive editor-in-chief blackmails her assistant into marrying her in order to get a green card. In order to pass the test, they need to get to know each other and she hijacks her assistant’s trip to his hometown. This film is full of witty humour and sass, and coupled with appearances from Betty White, this film is a must-watch.
