Guide to rom-coms
10 Things I Hate About You
A film achieving high status in the rom-com genre is definitely 10 Things I Hate About You. With a cast of dynamic and lovable characters, this 1999 film is a modern classic. Our main character, Kat Stratford, is sharp as a whip, and her classmates are wary of her outspoken activism within the school. As a result, she doesn’t often attract boys secure enough to be with such an abrasive young woman. Until Patrick Verona pursues her—for mixed reasons—but will he fall in love with her in the process? This rom-com is a unique glance at high school relationships and based on the Wind-Up’s February survey, the majority of students at St. Joseph call this one their favorite.
Enchanted
Sometimes we're all in need of a movie to warm the heart in all the right places, and Disney's movie Enchanted is straight out of a fairytale—literally. After being transported from a fairy tale world in Andalasia to the heart of New York City, Princess Giselle is thrown into the action of real life. Soon she realizes that life isn't a fairytale, like it is in Andalasia, and maybe it's better that way. Especially when her real-life Prince Charming helps her take on The Big Apple. But don't fret, this princess doesn't need saving—although her prince might. With a fun-loving main character and music to accompany each scene with ease, Enchanted is a must-see for all audiences.
Notting Hill
As most early 2000s British rom-coms, Notting Hill knocks the romantic comedy tropes out of the park. With crowd favorite Julia Roberts accompanied by some witty humor, Notting Hill is a great example of a well-developed romance movie. The storyline ensues like this: a young movie star discovers a travel bookstore while passing through Notting Hill, a popular neighborhood in Britain. The story is from the perspective of the bookstore’s owner, whose fate is entangled with that of the movie star. With a quirky roommate and awkward personality (on the man's end), against all odds, they fall in love. But is our average Joe set out for a movie star girlfriend? You’ll have to find out for yourself.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Rarely do rom-coms go outside their typical tropes, but every once in a while one goes outside the grain. This one in particular being Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In simpler terms, it's about love and insurmountable loss, but more importantly, it's about what it's like to love someone beyond space and time. At first, this movie gives the impression any other rom-com does: boy meets girl, boy falls in love, memories are made, and so on… but soon we come to find out that their relationship is over, and the damage was collateral. So bad that a procedure to forget each other is pursued by both of them. In short, if you're looking to cry into a box of chocolates on Valentine's Day, this is the movie for you. But definitely do not watch it with a significant other. That's for sure.