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Valentine's Day movie guide: Romcoms

Carly Mallenbaum
USA TODAY

 

It's almost Feb. 14. Got a romcom ready to watch?

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day?

If your answer is “with romance and laughter," then this guide to our favorite romcoms has your name on it.

(No? We have other lists for that..)

Here are five movies that stick with most of the typical romcom plot points, but have a bit of a twist.

1. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

On Amazon and iTunes

This is the romcom to which all others are compared, and perhaps our favorite Nora Ephron/Meg Ryan collaboration. Ryan's Sally tries to prove to Billy Crystal's Harry that men and women can be friends, and that women fake orgasms.

Harry Burns: There are two kinds of women: high maintenance and low maintenance.

Sally Albright: Which one am I?

Harry Burns: You're the worst kind; you're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance.

2. Something New (2008)

On Amazon and iTunes

Landscaper Brian (Simon Baker) plants careerist Kenya's (Sanaa Lathan) garden, which is a perfect romcommy metaphor. Silly meet-cutes aside, though, Something New is a romantic-comedy that doesn't shy away from discussions of race.

Brian Kelly: I take it you don't do white guys.

Kenya Denise McQueen: I just happen to prefer black men. It's not a prejudice, it's a preference.

Brian Kelly: Sure, it's your preference to be prejudice.

3. Clueless (1995)

On Amazon and iTunes

The clever '90s satire Clueless does count as a romantic-comedy, what with the whole relationship between Valley girl Cher (Alicia Silverstone) and her step-brother Josh (Paul Rudd). You've probably seen it a dozen times, but it's worth a rewatch!

Cher: I want to do something for humanity. 
Josh: How about sterilization? 

4. Celeste & Jesse Forever (2012)

On Amazon and iTunes

Celeste & Jesse Forever is a little different. The film focuses on separated couple Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg), who are best friends. Warning romance fans: there's some bittersweetness ahead. This is the film that got writers Jones and Will McCormack their Toy Story 4 co-writing gig.

Jesse: Nailed that divorce.

5. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

On Amazon and iTunes

This raunchy romcom was way more absurd and hilarious than expected. Peter (Jason Segel, who also wrote the movie) deals with being dumped by Sarah (Kristen Bell) by traveling to a resort... that happens to be where she's staying with her new rockstar boyfriend Aldous (Russell Brand). Stuff you'll see: male nudity, yoga-inspired lovemaking, puppets, Brand's genius improvisation skills on display, Paul Rudd, Mila Kunis and Jonah Hill.

Aldous Snow: Come on tour with me. I'll serenade you every night in front of thousands of women. 
Sarah Marshall: I didn't know you were going on tour. 
Aldous Snow: Yeah, I'm going in two weeks. It's like an 18 month tour, 43 countries, Infant Sorrow, and it's gonna be a massive tour. 
Sarah Marshall: Yeah, I can't come cause I have a job. I'm a working actress. 
Aldous Snow: Not anymore. You're an unemployed actress. Perfect. You could be the queen of the groupies, queen of the Sorrow Suckers. 
Sarah Marshall: The Sorrow Suckers? 
Aldous Snow: Sorrow Suckers. I don't know why they call them that. 

Some honorable mentions that didn't have an equal balance of "rom" and "com" in order to make our list, but are still worth watching:

  • Beyond The Lights (2014)
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
  • I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)

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