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by - February 12, 2009 - 3:30 PM
With Valentine’s Day looming around the corner, I thought this was an appropriate list for today. I’m generally not a fan of romantic comedies – at least, not ones from recent years. I love the old ones, but if you want to guarantee that I won’t see a movie, put Kate Hudson or Drew Barrymore in it. Except I’m lying, because I sort of have plans to see He’s Just Not That Into You this weekend. But you know what I mean.
That being said, I fully support eight of the 10 movies on the American Film Institute’s top 10 romance movies of all time. I’ll let you guess which two I dislike immensely. First to guess correctly wins Carl Kasell’s voice on their home answering machine? That’s the second lie I’ve told in one paragraph. I’d better quit while I’m ahead.
1. City Lights, a 1931 silent film starring Charlie Chaplin and Virginia Cherrill.
2. Annie Hall was nominated for five Oscars and won four of them – Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay. Woody Allen lost the Best Actor award to Richard Dreyfuss for his performance in The Goodbye Girl.
3. It Happened One Night. This one struck Oscar gold too – it won in all five categories it was nominated in, including Best Actor and Actress Awards for Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. Supposedly, when Clark Gable bucked the trend of wearing an undershirt in this film, undershirt sales dramatically dropped across the country. Snopes calls this one undetermined.
4. Roman Holiday. This 1953 film is the one that won Audrey Hepburn her Academy Award (she also won a Golden Globe for it). And, you know, Gregory Peck was not too shabby in it either.
5. The Philadelphia Story. With Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart, it’s kind of hard to go wrong. Stewart won the Best Actor Academy Award for his role as tabloid reporter Mike Connor, but felt that it was sort of a makeup Oscar since the Academy failed to award him one for his part in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
6. When Harry Met Sally. Fun fact: the lady who says, “I’ll have what she’s having” after Meg Ryan really enjoys her sandwich is Rob Reiner’s mother.
7. Adam’s Rib. Another classic with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Two married lawyers take opposing sides of a case; hilarity ensues. Ruth Gordon, the star of the #9 film below, was nominated for an Oscar for best screenplay.
8. Moonstruck, the 1987 movie starring Cher and Nicolas Cage. It won three of the six Oscars it was nominated for, including Cher and Olympia Dukakis’ Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress wins (respectively).
9. Harold and Maude. This one makes all kinds of AFI lists – it also comes in at #45 on the 100 Laughs list, #69 on the 100 Passions list, and #89 on the 100 Cheers list. Despite this, it wasn’t nominated for any Academy Awards. Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon did receive Best Actor and Actress nominations at the Golden Globes, but didn’t win.
10. Sleepless in Seattle. This movie could have starred Kim Basinger instead of Meg Ryan, but Basinger turned the role down and has later said she very much regretted it. The movie it was based on, An Affair to Remember, takes AFI’s top spot on its 100 passions list.
What do you think should have made the list? I nominate The Princess Bride.
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Comments (48)
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Yes! I totally second The Princess Bride.
posted by Bryn on 2-12-2009 at 3:54 pm
I nominate “Always” with Holly Hunter and Richard Dreyfuss, a remake of “A Guy Named Joe” (1943). I’ve seen it at least a dozen times, and I cry every time.
posted by Beth on 2-12-2009 at 3:59 pm
“My Favourite Wife” and “The Awful Truth” with Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. Such great actors, funny scenes, physical chemistry, far-out costumes, and quaint romantic notions. Those two films are the benchmark for rom-coms as far as I’m concerned. And Irene Dunne is amazing.
posted by Kikadee on 2-12-2009 at 4:13 pm
I personally would have gone with Basic Instinct.
posted by David on 2-12-2009 at 4:14 pm
Gotta go with Say Anything…can’t have a romcom list without any 80s camp, high-school melodrama, or John Cusack!
posted by Amanda Rachel on 2-12-2009 at 4:15 pm
I totally love The Princess Bride! One my my favs.
I saw He’s Just Not That Into You, it really was not good. Wait till it comes out on DVD.
posted by Leslie on 2-12-2009 at 4:17 pm
Princess Bride should totally have been nominated. And perhaps a Fish Called Wanda.
posted by Hattie on 2-12-2009 at 4:19 pm
“He’s Just Not That Into You” made me feel ashamed to be a woman… I recommend against. Do people really act like that? Of course, my dating record isn’t exactly stellar, but still, I don’t want to see that on the big screen.
recaptcha: $15 suffer (what you will spend and do if you see that horrible movie)
posted by Lindsey on 2-12-2009 at 4:23 pm
THe 2 you don’t like would be “Sleepless in Seattle” and “When Harry Met Sally”. Two that should be on the list are “Seredipity” with John Cusack and Dianne Lane and “Still Breathing” with Brendan Fraser. All movies with any Saturday Night Live alumni (especially Adam Sandler) should be automatically disqualified from consideration.
posted by harold on 2-12-2009 at 4:24 pm
My bad. Diane Lane was in a good movie called “Must Love Dogs” with John Cusack. Kate Beckinsale was in “Serendipity”. Both are good examples of the genre.
posted by harold on 2-12-2009 at 4:27 pm
@harold, right on about “Sleepless in Seattle.” But I actually like “When Harry Met Sally.” I can’t really explain why but I think it might have something to do with Billy Crystal.
posted by stacy on 2-12-2009 at 4:36 pm
re:harold
I disagree. “The Wedding Singer” with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore is one of my favorite romantic comedies. So 80s, and the leads actually convince you they care about each other (unlike, say, Fool’s Gold). Plus, one of the best kisses EVER and an appearance from Billy Idol. How can you go wrong?
posted by Chelsea on 2-12-2009 at 4:40 pm
While not a comedy, I gotta give a shout to my favorite romantic movie – Hanover Street starring Harrison Ford as a WWII pilot in London who falls in love with Christopher Plummer’s wife (Leslie Ann Down). Great flick released in ‘79 with a neat twist to the story.
posted by Johnny Cat on 2-12-2009 at 4:47 pm
I usually don’t watch “chick flicks” unless my wife makes me but…
I agree with the call on “Serendipity” and I really enjoyed “He’s Just Not That Into You.”
posted by JasonHendo on 2-12-2009 at 4:47 pm
@Chelsea – doh, you’re right about The Wedding Singer. I do like that movie quite a bit. I was thinking more along the lines of Fever Pitch and Never Been Kissed.
posted by stacy on 2-12-2009 at 4:51 pm
Re: #6, it’s after eating a *sandwich,* not a salad.
I don’t know why that’s important to correct, but it is.
posted by Abi on 2-12-2009 at 4:51 pm
@abi – noted and corrected. And I am going to stop commenting on my own post now. :)
posted by Stacy Conradt on 2-12-2009 at 4:53 pm
I actually did a posting about these category lists when they released them. Go to my blog and search for AFI Lists (Mental Floss doesn’t allow links – por que?) I gave them kudos for this category, probably their best work. But Sleepless in Seattle? Ugh. I’d rather watch my cereal get soggy. I would’ve preferred Say Anything…
Incidentally, Romantic Comedies not even on the initial ballot they sent to voters:
Almost Famous
Singin’ in the Rain
Some Like it Hot
The Apartment
The Graduate
Coming To America
Dave
High Fidelity
Lost in Translation
Knocked Up
Airplane!
Punch-Drunk Love
Sideways
Marty
posted by Reed on 2-12-2009 at 5:21 pm
Yes i agree with Princess Bride, but Love Actually should have made the list hands down, and a guily pleasure is You’ve Got Mail, sorry love
im a nerd :)
posted by lindseyu on 2-12-2009 at 5:57 pm
@ Reed: I was totally thinking of Lost in Translation and High Fidelity.
@lindseyu: Cure that You’ve got Mail guilty pleasure and see The Shop Around the Corner. Much better. And I have to say that I was really disappointed with Love Actually. I knew about it ages before it came out and I was so excited about the cast list that I think I set unrealistic expectations.
And to add: I have kind of a thing for Bridget Jones’s Diary…I empathize with Bridget and immensely appreciate the Pride and Prejudice parallels. Oh yeah, and Colin Firth. Definitely appreciate Colin Firth…
posted by Fruppi on 2-12-2009 at 6:28 pm
Pillow Talk. Perfect Cast (Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Tony Randall, and Thelma Ritter)and brilliant writing. I’ve seen it at least twenty times and still bust out laughing at Doris when she realizes just who she’s gone away with for the weekend.
Lover Come Back is pretty awesome, too.
posted by Camille on 2-12-2009 at 6:38 pm
No love for Shop Around the Corner?
posted by Bob on 2-12-2009 at 6:54 pm
How about The Notebook? Waht’s the general consensus about this film as a romantic one?
posted by Orleanas on 2-12-2009 at 8:51 pm
How about The Notebook? What’s the general consensus about this film as a romantic one?
posted by Orleanas on 2-12-2009 at 8:55 pm
I loved viewing The Notebook when it first came out, but it was so heart-wrenching I don’t have any urge to see it again. Oh, and not a romantic comedy.
posted by Johnny Cat on 2-12-2009 at 9:09 pm
I’ll guess you didn’t like City Lights and Sleepless in Seattle.
Anyway, I totally second Princess Bride. That is by far my favorite Romantic Comedy.
Maybe I am a little too young but I loved 50 First Dates, About a Boy, High Fidelity, Love Actually, The Notebook, and Stranger than Fiction.
posted by Nathan on 2-12-2009 at 9:44 pm
I agree with The Notebook and 50 First Dates. Maybe not best of all time, but some recent “chick flicks” I have enjoyed are P.S. I Love You, Catch and Release and Because I Said So.
As for Moonstruck, I have never liked that movie. I always felt the Academy was kind of paying her back for not giving her the one she deserved for Mask.
posted by bzzyb on 2-12-2009 at 10:00 pm
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was sort of a comedy. It certainly is romantic. That’s one movie I can gladly watch a million times in a row.
posted by CatWithaSea on 2-12-2009 at 10:24 pm
I’ve always been a huge fan of “The Goodbye Girl.” Richard Dryfuss was incredible in it and absolutely deserved that Oscar!
posted by Rebecca on 2-12-2009 at 10:45 pm
I’m going to go with Shaun of the Dead as my favorite romantic comedy. It’s romantic, as it has Shaun and his girlfriend work things out in the end (sort of) and its a comedy. It totally qualifies.
posted by Victoria on 2-12-2009 at 10:58 pm
I love Adam’s Rib. So funny–I recommend it if you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path of recent releases at Blockbuster this weekend.
posted by kate on 2-12-2009 at 11:57 pm
I agree with Princess Bride, Love Actually, Serendipity, and High Fidelity. What about Bull Durham? And I will stick up for Sleepless in Seattle, it was practically my first REAL date as a teenager…
posted by theYerg on 2-13-2009 at 7:59 am
I second ‘Pillow Talk’; one of the best romantic comedies of all time.
I zillionth ‘Princess Bride’; some of the best movie quotes ever…
“Still Breathing” with Brendan Fraser; wow, haven’t seen that in years! I really liked this one.
posted by PepperReed on 2-13-2009 at 8:30 am
I love Secretary with Maggie Gyllenhaal, but I guess people might not class it as a romantic comedy.
posted by Anna on 2-13-2009 at 8:58 am
@The Yerg
Ooooh, Bull Durham. Best romantic comedy baseball movie ever. Way sexier than The Natural.
posted by Abi on 2-13-2009 at 9:36 am
I kinda liked Notting Hill in spite of some cringe-worthy dialogue (that both actors pulled off like the pros they are)…I think the comraderie of the friends and the sweet ending make it the perfect date movie…and I especially like the fact that one of the Grant’s friends is physically challenged
posted by Daryl on 2-13-2009 at 11:21 am
i might be in the minority here, but i saw Annie Hall, and i just didn’t get it. i mean, i got it, but i don’t see why it was such a big deal. it was kind of depressing.
High Fidelity is my vote. John Cusack for the sweet, Jack Black for the funny.
posted by the creature on 2-13-2009 at 11:27 am
Romantic comedies can be tough – you either love or hate them. My favorites from recent times:
4. Under the Tuscan Sun
3. Last Chance Harvey
2. Notting Hill
1. Love Actually
Love Actually is on my short list of best movies period.
posted by gwdMaine on 2-13-2009 at 11:58 am
@lindseyu and @Fruppi :
Love actually did qualify because it is a British film. This is the American Film Institute list :-P
posted by Kristine on 2-13-2009 at 12:15 pm
*did NOT. sorry. typo!
posted by Kristine on 2-13-2009 at 12:16 pm
Princess Bride – great all around.
have to add “What a Woman Wants” (What Women Want?). Helen Hunt and Mel Gibon. . .
posted by Denise on 2-13-2009 at 12:36 pm
lindseyu –
Yes, yes yes.
Love Actually is one of the best chick flicks ever made. Another is Playing by Heart, but I don’t think it qualifies as “comedy”, even though some parts are quite funny.
My guilty pleasure is You’ve Got Mail. I always watch it when it’s on. Even though he could have let her keep the shop and done away with the childrens department in his store… whatever.
Okay, I’m totally having a chick flick day Saturday. Love Actually and Playing by Heart, with champagne and strawberries. Yay! (It may sound like I’m single, but I’m married. We just don’t celebrate Vday.)
posted by Leah on 2-13-2009 at 12:57 pm
Iwas going to guess “Sleepless” & “WHMS” but I see people have already beat me to it.
“The Princess Bride” is definitely on my Top 5 Films list. Speaking of which, I agree about “High Fidelity”. I love “The Notebook” but have to agree that it is not a romantic-comedy. I enjoyed “Love Actually” and “Serendipity” but my husband and I thought “Must Love Dogs” was so bad that we couldn’t even finish it.
“Under the Tuscan Sun” was good but, again, not really a romantic-comedy.
Sorry I didn’t get “Lost in Translation” and I don’t see it as a romantic-comedy either.
What about “As Good As It Gets”? or “Down With Love”?
posted by Nerak on 2-13-2009 at 3:35 pm
Not that it was the most amazing love story in the world, but I think “Making Love” should be mentioned purely on the significance of it being the first American film since the 30s to depict a gay relationship that wasn’t based purely on sex. Woe is me, who gets so bored with these hetero relationships.
posted by DemitraEden on 2-13-2009 at 7:11 pm
Word…I’m a guy and Love Actually is one of the few romcoms I actually enjoy.
That, and Princess Bride, Wedding Singer and 50 First…
posted by ndhwn on 2-13-2009 at 7:12 pm
I don’t think it’s been mentioned… and it’s certainly not like a best movie ever, but Kate & Leopold holds up really well for me. And my husband, who HATES rom-coms, will watch it every time I do. Sweet, funny, and a touch of sci-fi thrown in. And Hugh Jackman. Mmmm.
posted by Lisa on 2-13-2009 at 11:53 pm
I’m annoyed that they didn’t put “Singin’ in the Rain” (my favorite movie ever) and “High Fidelity” on there. “Moonstruck” sort of makes up for it, though.
posted by Sillstaw on 2-17-2009 at 11:34 am
I second Kikadee’s recommendation on 1939’s “The Awful Truth.” As far as screwball comedies go, it’s a lot funnier than “It Happened One Night” and much sexier. Who cares about Gable’s bare chest when you’ve got Cary Grant and Irene Dunne ruining each other’s new romances while they sit out a 90-day court ruling awaiting their divorce decree? Irene Dunne (masquerading as Grant’s vulgar sister) crashes the fancy party hosted by Grant’s rich fiancee and is screamingly funny, has great one-liners, and even Grant’s character can’t be mad at her wisecracks, because he’s still in love with her as much as she is with him.
posted by Rob on 2-21-2009 at 9:46 pm