Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and while it is a great holiday for all couples, single people often get forgotten on this “pink hearts and boxes of chocolates” day. So this week, I am dedicating the conversation to the best movies to watch when you are single (and maybe a little sad about it) on Valentine’s Day.
Though this list may sound very anti-relationship, it is not. There are quite a few romantic films in which the protagonist has a sense of individuality that is not broken by their need to be in a relationship. In “Mamma Mia,” Sophie explains that her mother Donna raised her on her own. Though the movie focuses on Sophie’s wedding and her attempt to find her father, it is more of a mother-daughter film.
“10 Things I Hate About You” is a romantic comedy with an extremely independent protagonist. Though she does find love at the end of the film, the heroine Kat never sacrifices who she is for her love interest.
For anti-romantic comedies, one of the best is “Legally Blonde.” The audience believes the protagonist Elle Woods will get the man she chases to Harvard Law School but instead, she goes her own way and the film teaches us about loving yourself and following your own dreams.
“The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” is a wonderful film to watch in general, but it’s message is powerful. At the beginning of the film, the main character Mia Thermopolis is told she has to find a husband in order to become Queen of Genovia. Reluctantly, Mia does her best to find a husband while others around her attempt to steal the throne from her. Obviously, I won’t spoil the ending, but Mia makes an important decision as Princess of Genovia before her wedding.
“Gone Girl,” which is a great single-and-sad movie, comes from a different genre than the other films I have mentioned so far. The film centers around the murder of a woman where her husband is the prime suspect. Unfortunately, I can’t say why it is fits well into this week’s conversation as that would give away major plot points, but the movie is definitely worth the watch.
All of these movies are great to watch with a group of friends, curled up in blankets and maybe with some popcorn and soda. Valentine’s Day might have its own cohort of sappy couples movies, but there are so many out there that are just as fun and entertaining for those of us out there that are single.
Calista Giroux is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at calista.giroux@gmail.com.