Opinion Battles Round 19
Favourite Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedies have become the go to date movie where we get to see how people go about getting into relationships. We have had some of the most iconic storylines in recent years and decades with people being able to relate to certain characters involved in the films and this is why they are so popular. Today we are going to be picking our favourites out there, so let’s see what we got.
If you want to take part in the next round of Opinion Battles the subject will be Favourite Clive Owen role which I know is a very small selection but we could get some strange choices. The deadline for this choice is 1st October 2016 and email your choices to [email protected].
Darren – Movie Reviews 101
500 Days of Summer
500 Days of Summer is not a love story but a story about love which makes it stand out from the romantic comedy genre we get to see the course of a relationship with the meeting, the good times, the bad times and the end. We get to see both sides of the relationship as well as seeing how both are effected by certain parts. The expectations v reality scene is a stand out role for the whole film and the performance come off natural throughout. You will laugh at moments but you will also feel which is why this is such a stand out romantic comedy.
Kim – Tranquil Dreams
While You Were sleeping
I love romantic comedies so narrowing my choice to one favorite was hard. Audrey Hepburn and Meg Ryan are top contenders with their movies but nothing quite beats the pure joy of watching Bill Pullman and Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping. Not to mention, it can pass as a holiday movie also. Its a little silly and a lot of fun. Its romantic and funny and that is in essence what makes a romantic comedy and While You Were Sleeping embodies a perfect balance of both of those aspects.
Rob – Movie Rob
When Harry Met Sally
Daniel – Dellens 456
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
I love this film. Audrey Hepburn is amazing, it never drags on which is something a lot of rom coms do (I’m looking at you Mamma Mia) and it is so beautifully human. Some may argue that it s racist bug I’ve seen much more racist stuff in my time. Apart from that, this is a beautifully human film that I would watch again in a heartbeat.
The Princess Bride
What’s my favorite romantic comedy? I struggled a bit with this one as I immediately thought of the phrase “rom-com”, which made me think of the kind of thing that Hugh Grant or Kate Hudson would star in. Yuck. That’s not my sort of thing at all! Then the hubby pointed out that one of my favorite movies of all time can be considered a “romantic comedy”. Oh yeah… I guess it is! Silly me. It’s just so damn good that I didn’t even think of it. It defies all genres! It’s not just some “movie”. It’s, like, a best friend or something!😉 So my favorite romantic comedy is The Princess Bride. It’s one of the greatest things in the history of mankind. That’s definitely my answer.🙂
Emma – Emma Explains It All
Love Actually
This is without doubt the only ‘classic’ romantic comedy film I absolutely ADORE. I don’t know what it is about it that makes it shine so much brighter than the rest but it’s so great and so lovely. It makes me laugh and cry every time I watch it.
There’s not a single story in the film I don’t enjoy, though Colin Firth proposing in the Portuguese restaurant is my favorite scene. I love all the characters and their respective plights (though for some outrageous reason I always want to punch Keira Knightley when she’s wearing the floppy, velvet hat. This is irrational and I apologise).
Basically though, Love Actually is like a warm cup of tea – irresistible and comforting and I’ll always enjoy watching it. Fantastic cast as well.
Kevin – The Mental Attic
When Harry Met Sally
I usually hate romcoms, because they’re all the same, but you can’t hate this one. It has something that is missing from most romcoms, the comedy part. It’s genuinely funny and it’s because of the personalities of the characters and the chemistry between actors. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal also do something that I often feel is impossible in romcoms: the romance and relationship feels natural. And the best of it is that it starts from them being friends, building a solid relationship from where more complex feelings evolve. The bickering and chats about their relationships is great, as is the initial discussion of why men and women can’t just be friends.
It’s a wonderfully written and phenomenally performed comedy.
Damien Riley – Riley Central
Say Anything
A favorite romantic comedy of mine is also a coming of age film: ‘SayAnything.’ It has it all: Lloyd is the kickboxing, tragically hip 18year old looking to date Diane Cort, the girl who’s been accepted tomore schools than you can shake a stick at. He feels self-consciouslike he isn’t worthy of her but ultimately, he decides he’s going forit. I love that message. Of course, in real life he might beconsidered to be stalking when he doesn’t give up. Still, it workswell in the story. I love the themes in this film, there are so manyfeelings pulsing through our veins after graduation. This gets themall flying in formation and gives us an underdog Romeo to cheer for.
Rachel – 54 Disney Reviews
You’ve got mail
Favorite romantic comedy is a tough one for me because I love the genre when it is done right. Unfortunately it is so often not done right so the genre has a bad reputation. There are so many I could pick but I am going to go with You’ve Got Mail. I love Nora Ephron’s writing in all of her movies but especially in this one. It’s more than just a cute love story but it is a commentary on all kinds of things from Starbucks to reading to movies and everything else. But its best quality often goes unrecognized- what it says about modern work. Joe and Kathleen have defined themselves by their jobs. It’s who they are but it’s only when they step outside of that role online that they find it’s not really who they are after all. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are so great in the role and New York never looked better. I love the writing with lines like “People do really stupid things in foreign countries. Absolutely. They buy leather jackets for much more than they’re worth. But they don’t fall in love with fascist dictators! Ha but I also love the more heartfelt lines like “Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life – well, valuable, but small – and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven’t been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn’t it be the other way around?”. Such a great movie!
S.G. Liput – Rhyme and Reason
The Princess Bride
I thought long and hard about what to pick here, since I’m dearly in love with Nora Ephron’s masterpieces, When Harry Met Sally… and You’ve Got Mail. I almost went with the latter, but then I remembered The Princess Bride. It may not be the first rom com that comes to mind, but in addition to the “fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles” and more, there’s romance and there’s comedy. It also is exceptional at both. Who could forget the true love between Westley and Buttercup, or the hilarious dialog from Wallace Shawn’s Vizzini and Billy Crystal’s Miracle Max. The Princess Bride embraces the clichés of its genre while keeping them at bay with genuine fun and timeless charm. This fantasy might have quite a bit else going on, but it’s a romantic comedy classic.
J – Film & Nuance
Her
I LOVE HER. It’s one of those movies you sit sobbing through the last 15 minutes and then barely manage the words, ‘F*cking awesome’. I had no doubt that it was one of my favorite films. Joaquin Phoenix makes his character agonizingly relatable while Scarlett Johansson gives a perfect AI projection with just her voice. The connection between the two is so well developed that it speaks so much about so many themes. Our reliance on technology, substitution of real-life relationships with virtual ones, true romance, innocence, happiness, nature and life are all interconnected with each other in ways that make the movie a complex study of relationships. It’s mostly drama but it finds humor in ironic moments and awkward conversations that our protagonist finds himself in. In all honesty, its only because Her is such a nuanced film in style and genre that we’re still able to appreciate the sweet and funny moments despite the depth of its ideas…it’s also why there’s no other romantic-comedy like Her.
Drew – Drew’s Movie Reviews
Hitch
Several movies came to mind when thinking about my favorite romantic comedy film but the one that sticks out the most is Hitch.Hitch leans more on the romance side than comedy side but with comedy powerhouses like Will Smith and Kevin James, there are still plenty of laughs to be had. Smith brings all of his signature suave and charisma to not just charm Sara (Eva Mendes), but the audience as well. James also provides plenty of comedy moments and plays off Smith very well. The girls of the film, Mendes and Amber Valletta, provide the romance quota while the boys provide the comedy. Hitch hits all the right marks, delivering on both romance and comedy.
Richard – The Humpo Show
Love actually
My favorite film of all time. I watch this a few times every Christmas…and probably a few times at other points of the year too! The cast is absolutely incredible. The various storylines are all equally brilliant, but my favorite is Colin Firth’s. The scene in the Portuguese restaurant is just perfect!
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