The romance genre is full of different stories that flutter your heart in different ways. Although it’s not saturated yet, there’s something about watching an old rom-com that brings back the nostalgia and makes you fall in love once again. The different tropes have been done to death but there’s still something warm and happy about such movies that make you keep on watching over and over. The way such movies can cater to the harshest of critics is truly mesmerising and they can always put a smile on your face with their relatable situations and beautiful character arcs that are not just watchable but also inspirational.
Thus, this Valentine’s Day, let’s take a page out of these beautiful romantic Hollywood movies that are not just sweet and effective throughout the runtime, but also leave us with a happy ending. Don’t worry, these movies are not going to break your heart – you are definitely going to end the movie with a huge smile on your face and your heart will continue to flutter long after the movie is over.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
“No one puts Baby in the corner” – probably one of the most well-known dialogues to have ever been spoken on a rom-com and boy is this one a rom-com! Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, this entertaining and inspirational movie is every bit watchable in every sense of the term. Following Frances “Baby” Houseman, who, on a trip to Kellerman’s, comes across a whole new world when she meets dance instructor Johnny Castle and transforms her whole life in a while that she could never have imagined.
The movie showcases a person growing up into an adult and opening her eyes to the world away from her sheltered life. However, the romance in this movie is gradual and feels organic and flows like waves. There is an electricity in the air and the leads’ phenomenal chemistry is so magnetic that you won’t be able to look away. Plus, there are some phenomenal songs in the movie and, with Swayze in the mix, you also get great choreography to make things even more watchable. Plus, it brings forth some very important discussions surrounding important topics that are relevant in the world even today and showcases them through a sympathetic lens.
Pretty Woman (1990)
Previously intended to be a cautionary tale, this romantic-comedy movie stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, and follows the budding relationship between Hollywood escort Vivian Ward and businessman Edward Lewis against societal expectations and their personal hiccups. The movie is light, and warm and has that rewatchability factor that makes it oh-so swoonworthy. There are moments in the film that will make your heart go flying out of your chest, more so because the chemistry between Gere and Roberts is truly electrifying.
Roberts, in fact, plays such a vivid and lovely character with so much heart and soul and grounded in reality that you won’t be able to look away from her bright smile and childish antics. Of course, there is the poor girl falling for the rich businessman trope and the power imbalance issues that will invariably crop up later on that we can think about. But hey, romantic movies are meant to forget the day-to-day woes of our life and get lost in simpler times when things all magically go great and no one is unhappy for very long.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks play a journalist and an architect respectively in this warm and gooey romantic comedy where a newly engaged Annie Reed finds herself enamoured with Sam Baldwin when his son calls in on a radio show to find a partner for his grieving father. Even though the leads spend almost the entirety of the movie apart, their chemistry, the way the characters are written and the palpable feeling of “soulmates” hangs heavy in every scene. Plus, the chemistry between Hanks and Ross Malinger is both funny and heartfelt and makes for a dynamic duo.
It’s the search for “the one” that makes this movie such a catch. It radiates warmth in every scene and makes you long for a simpler time when romance didn’t need to be too complicated and there was a sense of charm and innocence among the characters and the situations. Plus, the dialogues are funny and witty and make for a great watch.
Notting Hill (1999)
Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant make for a charismatic couple in this sweet rom-com where a famous actress falls in love with a British bookkeeper. It’s a love story well told and every scene will make your heart flutter as you watch two strangers come across one another and fall in love. The endearing moments and the memorable characters make it stand out against its contemporaries and the light and quirky storytelling just add to the watchability of the movie.
Notting Hill isn’t also like anything else and is a fresh addition to the genre. It showcases how love can be found against all odds and its likeable characters are very hard to not fall in love with. You root for them every step of the way and will not be able to look away even if you try. If you’re feeling heartbroken and need a little pick me up this Valentine’s Day, this one will be the pick me up you need.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
In spite of being a teen rom-com movie, its clever screenplay and quirky dialogues, coupled with great acting by Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, make it anything but a teen movie. Following new student Cameron’s attempts at dating popular girl Bianca, he cooks up a plan to make resident bad boy Patrick date Bianca’s sister Kat to circumvent their father’s strict rules on dating. This very witty movie is easy and light to watch and is hilarious in every scene. Plus, it’s also relatable and the teenage life showcased in the movie feels almost familiar in one way or another.
The chemistry between Stiles and Ledger is disarming in every scene as their relationship blossoms from indifferent to passionate and sweet. Moreover, Ledger’s charm is infectious and Stiles is a great antisocial character with depth and warmth under the surface. On the other hand, Gordon-Levitt, playing Cameron, is just so cute that it’s difficult to ignore him. When the movie, thus, ends, you have a big smile on your face as love wins and everything falls into place!
Which of these classic Hollywood romantic movies is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
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