Top 5 Rom-Coms Since 2000
Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
This movie tops my list for its cast, its humor, and feel-good storyline. The all-star cast is made up of Steve Carell (he/him), Ryan Gosling (he/him), Emma Stone (she/her), Julianne Moore (she/her), and Kevin Bacon (he/him). Crazy, Stupid, Love follows a newly single middle-aged father (Carell), and a player (Gosling) who learns to settle down with the woman of his dreams. When their paths cross, each character grows and learns from each other, all while having great humor as icing on the cake. The plot is deep, character development is substantial, and you truly get invested in each and every character.
The Proposal (2009)
The duo of Sandra Bullock (she/her) and Ryan Reynolds (he/him) will have you in stitches the whole time. It’s the story of a successful business woman (Bullock) who narrowly evades deportation when fake-marrying her assistant (Reynolds). When they visit his family, their sham of a relationship threatens to be revealed. Certainly the most heartwarming on my list, The Proposal has all the ingredients of a great romantic-comedy. The ratio of romance to comedy is perfect, and the storyline is deep and quite effective.
The Break Up (2006)
Easily the most emotional of this list, Vince Vaughn (he/him) and Jennifer Aniston (she/her) are a couple ill-suited for one another in The Break Up. Despite calling it quits, they remain living together. This film deviates from the hallmarks of romantic-comedy, and that’s what makes it so powerful. It seriously details the realities and trials of modern relationships, but still provides much needed comic relief. The top three films could really go in any order for me; they’re all staples in my lineup every V-Day.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (TATBILB) (2018)
Another homage to the fake-dating trope, TATBILB is a textbook rom-com. The hopeless romantic, nerdy girl finds herself fake dating Mr. Popular. A bit cheesy and overdone, but it works. While this won’t have you busting a gut or falling over in your chair, this film is cute, and Lana Condor (she/her) and Noah Centineo (he/him) get the job done. It’s also a series, so there’s two sequels to check out if you like the original.
Couples Retreat (2009)
Couples Retreat is a Vince Vaughn classic. The cast is stacked with co-stars Jason Bateman (he/him), Jon Favreau (he/him), Kristen Bell (she/her), and more. As four couples go on a tropical retreat, the nitty-gritty of their relationships are picked apart and exposed. The humor is great, and this film really goes deep into the comedy of rom-coms. However, the plot is a bit loose, and the romance is sparse. Couples Retreat is good for laughs, but won’t leave you in your feels.
