Ask Anita

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, many of us are (reluctantly) taking stock of our love lives.

Whether you’re in a long-term relationship, just dating, or still looking for that special someone, we could all use some inspiration. So, in an effort to assist you, I’ve taken the liberty of selecting ten of my favorite romantic movies for your viewing pleasure.

If you’re single… feel free to watch them on your own with a big bowl of popcorn and some tissues for the sappy moments.

If you’re an online dater… you should take this opportunity to do some research for your profile! Have a pen and paper handy to jot down some of the cool lines from the films. The more creative and compelling your profile, the better the results… and profile headers with intriguing quotes are definite attention-getters!

If you’re seeing someone… snuggle up on the couch and spend some quality time together. When it comes to Valentine’s Day, even the most diehard “man’s man” will usually succumb to the charms of a “chick flick” if there’s a little something in it for him (wink wink). In fact, a study conducted by Kansas State University Psychology Professor, Richard Harris, revealed that, contrary to the stereotype, many guys do in fact like romantic films (perhaps not as much as women do) but they don’t find them as irksome as you may think.

And no need to wait until February the 14th either. Why not rent a few now and create some ambiance before Cupid makes his appearance on Thursday.

So without further ado… here they are (in no particular order):

1. You’ve Got Mail
Tagline: “Someone you pass on the street may already be the love of your life.”
Plot Line: “Two business rivals hate each other at the office but fall in love over the internet.”
This romantic comedy, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, stripped away many of the taboos associated with internet dating and showed us that it’s entirely possible—and perfectly acceptable—to fall for someone you’ve met online. I’ve seen this film numerous times and I’m not sick of it yet!

2. Sleepless in Seattle
Tagline: “What if someone you never met, someone you never saw, someone you never knew was the only someone for you?”
Plot Line: “A recently-widowed man’s son calls a radio talk show in an attempt to find his father a partner.”
Starring: Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan (again!)
I love this film and cry every time I watch it!

3. The Wedding Singer
Tagline: “He’s gonna party like it’s 1985.”
Plot Outline: “Robbie, the singer, and Julia, the waitress, are both engaged to be married, but to the wrong people. Fortune intervenes to help them discover each other.”
Starring: the delightful Drew Barrymore and perpetual nice guy Adam Sandler
If you love 80’s music as much as I do, you’ll enjoy this film and the soundtrack too!

4. Jerry McGuire
Taglines: “Everybody loved him… Everybody disappeared”; “Show me the money!”
Plot Outline: When sports agent Jerry McGuire has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent. Only two people stay with him as he ventures out on his own: single mother Dorothy Boyd, the staff accountant who’s secretly in love with him, and football player Rod Tidwell.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger, and Cuba Gooding Jr.
I have to admit, I’m not too fond of Tom Cruise these days, but I did like this movie. Renee Zellweger is lovely in it and Cuba Gooding Jr. brings tremendous energy to the film. And of course, who doesn’t remember Zellweger’s famous line: “Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at ‘hello’.” Guys will like this film because of the sports theme.

5. My Best Friend’s Wedding
Tagline: “Julianne fell in love with her best friend the day he decided to marry someone else.”
Plot Outline: “When a woman’s long-time friend says he’s engaged, she realizes she loves him herself… and sets out to get him, with only days before the wedding.”
Starring: Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, and Rupert Everett
One of my favorite scenes is the one at the restaurant, where everyone bursts into song. Check it out here.

6. Sweet Home Alabama
Tagline: “Sometimes what you’re looking for is right where you left it.”
Plot Outline (from amazon.com): “New York fashion designer Melanie Carmichael suddenly finds herself engaged to the city’s most eligible bachelor. But Melanie’s past holds many secrets, including Jake, the redneck husband she married in high school, who refuses to divorce her. Bound and determined to end their contentious relationship once and for all, Melanie sneaks back home to Alabama to confront her past, only to discover that you can take the girl out of the South, but you can never take the South out of the girl.”
Starring: Reece Witherspoon and Josh Lucas
Ah, the chemistry.

7. Titanic
Tagline: “A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets.”
Plot Outline: “Fictional romantic tale of a rich girl and poor boy who meet on the ill-fated voyage of the ‘unsinkable’ ship.”
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet
I never saw this film on the big screen, but thoroughly enjoyed it on DVD. The theme song will haunt you forever (even if you can’t stand Celine Dion!). Highly recommended! (Note: There are several films called “Titanic.” Make sure you select the one released in 1997, directed by James Cameron.)

8. 50 First Dates
Tagline: “Imagine having to win over the girl of your dreams… every friggin’ day.”
Plot Outline: “Henry Roth is a man afraid of commitment up until he meets the beautiful Lucy. They hit it off and Henry thinks he’s finally found the girl of his dreams, until he discovers she has short-term memory loss and forgets him the very next day.”
Starring: Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler—together again.
To be honest, I was expecting this film to be somewhat boring. After all, how many first dates can the same two people go on before the viewer loses interest? But I was pleasantly surprised by the creative plot and the clever, happy ending.

9. I.Q.
Tagline: “Think Love.”
Plot Outline: Auto mechanic Edward Walters falls for the intelligent and beautiful Catherine Boyd, who is engaged to another man. But Catherine’s uncle, Albert Einstein, schemes to make his brainy niece fall in love with Ed, by helping Ed pretend he’s a great physicist.
Starring: Meg Ryan, Tim Robbins, and Walter Matthau
I’d completely forgotten about this film, until I recently saw it on television and remembered how much I loved it! It’s such a sweet story and “Albert Einstein” is simply adorable. A feel-good romantic comedy. Guys will like it too!

10. 9 ½ Weeks
Tagline: “They broke every rule.”
Plot Summary: This cult classic is a kinky, erotic story about an art gallery assistant who begins a whirl-wind affair with a mysterious stock broker. Things get weird, complications arise, and…
Starring: Mickey Rourke (before he destroyed his face) and the, always sexy, Kim Basinger
This film isn’t for everyone, so watch it at your own risk.

Can’t Decide?

For more information, movie trailers, and photos, check out www.imdb.com: the “Earth’s biggest movie database.”

Enjoy!