Romantic Comedy Marathon
Get your Ben & Jerry's ready, ladies and gents.
1. When Harry Met Sally (Reiner, 1989)
Who hasn't had a best friend they've fantastized about dating, even just a little? Or at least fantastized about having a romantically viable best friend to fantastize about? Reiner's classic film feeds into those fantasies in a clever, intelligent way--thanks mostly to Nora Ephron's fantastic writing. Centered around two people who, for over a decade, cannot see that they're perfect for each other, Reiner and Ephron prove that the romantic comedy genre can be a viable artistic milieu.
2. Sixteen Candles (Hughes, 1984)
John Hughes movies are the undisputed reigning teen romances of the late 20th century. Sixteen Candles is particularly fun and moving. Chronicling a young girl on her sixteenth birthday (which everyone forgets), Hughes crafts a poignant look at teenagerdom and one of the most romantic final scenes in Hollywood history.
3. Annie Hall (Allen, 1977)
Allen's Oscar-winning film spawned a surge in women wearing wide-brimmed hats and androgynous trouser pants, but it has also left a legacy outside of its fashion trends. Annie Hall has become one of the most revered romantic comedies out there--though its romanticism can definitely be called into question. Looking not only at the formation but also at the dissolution of a relationship, Allen's film takes the romcom in a bold direction.
4. The Philadelphia Story (Cukor, 1940)
One of my personal favourites, The Philadelphia Story is chock-full of incredible slapstick comedy, witty repartee, and glamorous star power. A young aristocratic woman who is about to be married to an equally powerful man finds her plans thrown into disarray by the arrival of her ex-husband and a nosy journalist. Starring Katherine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, and Cary Grant, The Philadelphia Story will have you laughing and swooning in equal measure. Not to mention the film has one of the best drunk scenes in film history (a pool is involved).
5. Some Like it Hot (Wilder, 1959)
Wilder's film is an delightful and delicious romp through mistaken identities, song-and-dance numbers, and fast-paced chase scenes. Starring an unbeatable cast, including Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe, Some Like it Hot follows two down-on-their-luck musicians who disguise themselves as women in order to play with an all-female band--all in an effort to flee from the mob.The film features some of Monroe's best scenes, and, like the others on this list, proves that romance need not be sacrificed for quality.
6. The Princess Bride (Reiner, 1985)
Princess Buttercup is about to wed the evil Prince Humperdink, though she loves another--a simple farmboy named Wesley. Little does she know that Wesley is about to prove that love can never die--"it can only be delayed for a little while."
This 1985 classic has something for everything--terrible special effects, awesome sword-fighting, delightfully hokey dialogue, and, of course, true love. Anyone who's seen this movie would be lying if they said that "Aaaaaas youuuuuuu wiiiiiiiiish" isn't the most romantic phrase in the English language.