There’s nothing better than watching a gorgeous, genuine romantic comedy on the day of love. Whether alone, on a date, hanging out with friends or doing whatever your heart desires, a good movie can transform the day, while a tacky one can ruin it.
“We come to this place for magic,” says Nicole Kidman in an AMC commercial, clad in a sparkly striped suit and rocking an impeccable aura. She is correct; movies are an alternate dimension of sorts, where you enter one way and perhaps leave another.
You, my super fabulous readers of the Daily Campus, came to this place for movie recommendations, which I am more than happy to provide. In this unique ranking, you will find my favorite romantic comedies, my least favorite one and a wildcard or two that would be a fabulous watch on the day of love. Enjoy, and please, don’t take this too seriously, as I am aware some are not actually rom-coms.
“10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
We’re starting strong with this modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” It captured the hearts of millions and is thought of by many to be the best romantic comedy ever made. The movie, starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, is compelling, beautifully shot and involves just the right amount of teen angst for everyone to relate to at least one moment.
The music is curated well, with songs ranging from Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” to Sister Hazel’s “Your Winter.” It is one of my all-time favorite movies and one I absolutely recommend for Valentine’s Day.
“But I’m a Cheerleader” (1999)
You can’t go wrong with Natasha Lyonne, who plays Megan, and Clea DuVall, who plays Graham. This satirical romantic comedy does break down more serious topics, such as gender norms, the harm of conversion therapy and feeling like you have to conform to society’s expectations of you, but it also shows that it’s more than okay to be who you are. The theme and colors of true directions, the camp, are overly bright and ring false, and the characters, in the end, discover more about their true identities. It is a wonderful movie for those of us who need a campy cult classic.
“Twilight” (2008)
“But Noa,” you say: “‘Twilight’ is not a rom-com!” which is technically true. However, who says you can’t treat it like one? The faces Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson, makes when Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart, enters his biology lab are priceless. The dialogue also made me laugh harder than some actual comedy films.
I think there’s beauty in a cringe movie, and “Twilight” is absolutely that. And I’m not saying it’s the worst movie ever. In fact, my 18th birthday party was fully themed around “Twilight”: Everyone dressed up as one of the characters — I was Bella — and we had a blast. You, too, can have the day of your dreams with not one, not two, but five sparkly vampire movies.
“Bottoms” (2023)
It’s perfection in a film, honestly. “Bottoms,” starring Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edibiri, is an absurd and raunchy comedy created by the brilliant mind of Emma Seligman, co-written with Sennott. Josie, played by Edibiri, and PJ, played by Sennott, start a fight club to get with their crushes before graduation. The only problem? Well, that’s for you to find out.
While it definitely is not for everyone, it sure was for me. The humor genuinely had me on the floor, and it’s so over the top and unapologetic for its content that you can’t help but fall in love with the movie. From the bottom of my heart, I recommend this movie for today.
“She’s The Man”
Also inspired by Shakespeare — this time, “Twelfth Night,” “She’s The Man” is witty, hilarious and charming. Some say that it is too predictable, but I say that we need to leave space for fun. What happened to comedy? What happened to laughter? Amanda Bynes displays a flair for comedy and can deliver her lines with the utmost skill and precision.
The number of one-liners I quote from this movie daily needs to be studied. Bynes, who plays Viola Hastings, also doubles as her twin brother Sebastian. Her skilled performance as both twins and the movie’s overall plot should be more than enough to convince you to watch this!
All that being said, there is one movie that I truly don’t recommend, which is:
“The Kissing Booth” (2018)
This movie does get a lot of hate, but what I dislike about it is the plot. Elle Evans, played by Joey King, and Lee Flynn, played by Joel Courtney, are childhood friends with a strict list of friendship rules they follow to a T. Of course, one of the rules is that relatives of your bestie are off limits, and unsurprisingly, Evans has a massive crush on Flynn’s brother, Noah, played by Jacob Elordi.
I’m not a fan of how the movie went, and I found it a bit cliche, especially since there didn’t seem to be a point to some of the characters’ decisions. This movie might be for you, but unfortunately, it wasn’t for me!
And my final recommendation, my piece de resistance:
“Nosferatu” (2024)
I genuinely think nothing is better than watching the 2024 adaptation of “Nosferatu” on Valentine’s Day. This movie has it all: an unauthorized rendition of “Dracula,” gorgeous scenery and Willem Defoe. There is much more to be said about the most recent rendition of “Nosferatu,” especially about Lily-Rose Depp’s impeccable performance and Bill Skarsgard’s terrifying Count Orlok.
The hauntingly beautiful scenery, the sickening dread you feel throughout the movie and the realization that you are pulled into something you should not desire to see is horrifying yet fascinating. Robert Eggers dares the viewer to feel a certain way, to feel seduced to something they shouldn’t and to question their beliefs. That, for me, makes it an interesting choice for Valentine’s Day.
Hopefully, you have some ideas for your next watch. Happy Valentine’s Day!