Well, fellas, Valentine’s Day is here and if you don’t already have plans for you and your sweetie… then I pity you, you stupid, stupid man. Regardless, one of the longest standing Valentine’s Day traditions is seeing a romantic film to celebrate the Day of Love. It’s a tradition that’s been around as long as the movies have been around. If you’re lucky, you might get off relatively easy with a romantic comedy, nowadays called a “romcom” for short or referred to as chick flicks.
Let’s be honest though, there are a lot of bad romcoms out there. I know, because I have seen a lot of them. But every few years, a diamond in the rough emerges as a film that both you and your special lady can appreciate. I’ve taken the liberty of listing five of my favorites below, so tonight and this weekend could be the perfect chance to rent one of these great films that is sure to be enjoyable for both you and her.
5. So I Married an Axe Murderer
Don’t worry, she’s a butcher… but of what?
A lesser-known title from the early 90s draws upon the comedy of former Saturday Night Live funny man Mike Myers as Charlie MacKenzie in this quirky tale of a San Francisco poet who thinks he’s found and married the perfect woman, but she’s hiding a dark secret.
Why she’ll love it: She’ll eat up Charlie’s romantic gestures as he tries to convince Harriet to marry him and then embrace the challenges of being a newlywed couple.
Why he’ll love it: Because Mike Myers delivers a dynamite performance during his prime years (think Wayne’s World) to keep the 90s SNL-style humor strong throughout the entire film while playing multiple roles in this tale of love and … murder.
4. Just Friends
Yes, that is Ryan Reynolds in fat suit.
It’s a tale that so many of us have lived though: Guy and girl are best friends. Guy secretly loves girl. Girl only thinks of guy as a close friend. But in this Ryan Reynolds romcom, Chris Brander (Reynolds) gets the chance to revisit his old love interest and best friend on a trip back to his small town home, 10 years after he moved away to become a big shot in Los Angeles. Will he win her heart?
Why she’ll love it: As mentioned above, it’s a romance story that we’ve all been in or at least know someone who has. Chicks love a romantic story that they can relate to.
Why he’ll love it: Chris Brander’s transformation from overweight, sensitive nerd, to calloused ladies man, and then back again to sensitive gentleman is filled with hilariously, disastrous effects as he tries to prove to his former best friend that they should be together.
Take a trip back to the 1980s in this romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Robbie Hart (Sandler) is a hopeless romantic wedding singer, that is until his fiancee ditches him at the altar. But despite this heartbreak, he finds himself taking a liking to his new friend, Julia (Barrymore); however, she is already engaged.
Why she’ll love it: Can true love overcome crushing heartbreak, miscommunication, bad relationships, and wild 80s hairstyles? She’ll enjoy finding out when watching this romcom.
Why he’ll love it: It’s Adam Sandler back when Adam Sandler movies were great. Plus the film covers some awesome 80s rock music!
It’s one of the most classic romantic comedies of all time and for good reason. When Harry Met Sally chronicles the life and relationship of two people whose paths keep randomly crossing every few years until they become good friends. But as their lives continue to change, they realize they’re feelings might be a little more complicated.
Why she’ll love it: Like all romance films, this one tells the charming (and many times frustrating) story of how two opposite people come together to find true love.
Why he’ll love it: Relationship struggles and Billy Crystal comedy at its finest. One of the reasons this has been labeled as a classic since 1989 is because men and women both can enjoy the relationship nuances presented in this film. This film also contains the famous “I’ll have what she’s having scene.”
1. Hitch
“Don’t need no pizza. Got plenty of food there.”
Will Smith and Kevin James team up in this brilliant 2006 film about a secret “love consultant (Smith)” who helps an awkward accountant woo his rich and beautiful client.
Why she’ll love it: Hitch is chock full of classic romance film fanfare from the impossibly awesome date, sappy one-liners, and the dreaded relationship misunderstanding that leads to a couple’s falling out. But she needn’t worry too much, it is a chick flick after all.
Why he’ll love it: Smith and James are an incredibly hilarious odd-couple duo whenever they are on screen together. It’s pretty funny seeing super-suave Will Smith coach awkward Kevin James on how to be “cooler” and impress women.
What other movies would you add to this list as great chick flicks for guys?
The Watch
The Campaign
Magic Mike
