Must watch rom-coms this season of love

BY DREW FLEMING / Associate Producer

Romantic comedies are the warm-hearted gift we could all use this month of love. If you want a romantic relationship you can count on, turn on any of these rom-coms and you’ll be guaranteed to believe in love again. As a hopeless romantic, and self proclaimed rom-com expert, here are my top 10 go-to rom-coms that never fail to leave me believing in love again.  

1. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days 

Andie (Kate Hudson) is a journalist writing an article on how long it takes a woman to drive men away. Opposite Andie is Ben (Matthew McConaughey) an advertisement executive that makes a bet that he can make a woman fall in love with him within 10 days. Simultaneously, Andie and Ben find each other at the end of each other's bets without knowing it.

It is so naturally entertaining to watch Andie intentionally trying to drive Ben away by being a “crazy girlfriend.” On the other hand Ben is trying his hardest to win her over even through her wild shenanigans. In this well-known rom-com, all these insane circumstances together make a hilarious watch. 

2. 10 Things I Hate About You 

High school sisters from opposite social norms try to navigate high school with an overprotective father. Kat (Julia Stiles) is edgy and couldn’t care less about what people think. Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) is popular and boy-crazy, which is hard because she isn’t allowed to date unless Kat does. Similar to "She's All That," the story follows bad-boy Patrick (Heath Ledger) hired by Bianca’s suitor to seduce Kat so he can win Bianca over.  This complicated yet cute storyline will keep you on your toes and unexpectedly make you believe in love again. 

3. When Harry Met Sally 

Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) are two people who meet while sharing a ride from Chicago to New York. At first, they appear to be opposites and not interested in being anything more than acquaintances. However, this elaborate storyline follows the two as they navigate years of friendship in New York and help each other through relationships and divorces.

It’s an emotional rollercoaster that will have you thinking, “right person, wrong time.” This movie can turn even the most cynical views into hopeless romantics.  

4. Crazy Stupid Love 

Newly divorced Cal (Steve Carrell) learns the ropes of dating again after his marriage of 25 years with Emily (Julianne Moore) comes to an end. Cal enlists the help of young playboy Jacob (Ryan Gosling) to help navigate women in the dating world. With the help of Jacob, Cal starts learning how to become a “player” himself.

Jacob begins falling for Hannah (Emma Stone), a woman not up to playing the games Jacob is used to. At the same time, Cal and Emily’s teenage son Robbie ( Jonah Bobo) is in love with his baby-sitter, Jessica (Lio Tipton), who happens to be in love with Cal.

It’s all a hilarious tangled web of laugh-out-loud moments and a heart-warming romantic storyline. 

5. Crazy Rich Asians 

Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), a New York City professor travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) to attend his friend's wedding, only to be blindsided and discover that Nick is from one of Asia's wealthiest families.

Rachel is thrown into a world of “crazy rich” people and intense scrutiny from his judgmental mother, Elenor (Michelle Yeoh). Rachel is comforted by her college roommate Peik Lin (Awkwafina) who helps her and Nick navigate this difficult but eventful trip. 

Crazy Rich Asians will crack you up with its modern comedy and enrich viewers with the glimpses into Chinese culture. The chemistry between characters is electric on screen, and sure to leave this movie in your all-time favorite romantic comedies. And it’s a fascinating peek into the traditions and language of the elite class of Chinese Singaporeans. 

6. Sixteen Candles 

This beloved 80’s classic features Samantha (Molly Ringwald), a freshly sixteen-year-old with a crush on the most popular boy in her high school, Jake (Michael Schoeffling). Meanwhile, a freshman nicknamed, “the geek,” played by Anthony Michael Hall, has a crush on Samantha. During the midst of her sister's wedding, her family forgets about Samantha’s sixteenth birthday.

The mix of high school stereotypes, the chemistry between characters, and the memorable scenes that make this movie a classic will leave you smiling and happy to say you have seen this iconic film. 

7. Anyone But You 

Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell), are two people who hit it off at first, then become at odds after an interaction gone wrong. In a turn of events, the two end up being tangled into the same wedding party in Australia.

Bea and Ben have to awkwardly make-up for their families sake and even end up fake dating to hide their hatred. Things get more complicated when in-laws and exes get involved in the drama.

This is the newest must-watch rom-com and will hook you with its unexpected twists and relationships you’ll never see coming. 

8. Love, Rosie 

Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) have been best friends since childhood and their story follows them to college, career, marriages and kids. Through major life events they never fail to be there for one another and at times come close to being more than friends. 

Similar to “When Harry Met Sally,” this movie studies the theme of “right person, wrong time.” It is an all-time favorite, it will have you crying with laughter and leave you contemplating what true love looks like. 

9. He’s Just Not That Into You 

"He's Just Not That Into You" follows a friend group navigating the new age of dating, focusing on the way women often misinterpret men's actions and look into every little detail when dating. Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin) is taught by Alex (Justin Long) to figure out when guys simply just don’t care.

This movie teaches the audience to find significant others that value you and show you that they care. There are other couples in this film that through connected storylines show different kinds of relationships and the difficulties they face all connect in the end.

Other stars in this movie that prove that it is a must-watch include: Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck and Drew Barrymore. 

10. Definitely Maybe 

Will (Ryan Reynolds) is a recently divorced father that throughout the film tells his curious daughter, Maya (Abigail Breslin) the complicated story of how he met her mother. Will tells Maya about all three of his romantic adventures and leaves her to figure out which one is her mother.

This movie is full of ups and downs and everything in between. Through laughter and witty-banter, this love story will constantly keep you guessing until the very end. 

While these movies may sometimes be cringe or a tad unrealistic, what makes them so enjoyable is their dedication to making their viewers feel the love, no matter if they were made 30 years ago or just last year.  

Regardless of what stage of life you are in or how you’re spending this Valentine's Day, these movies will always be here to remind us of a universal feeling we all need more of: love. So wrap up in your favorite blanket, put on a face-mask and enjoy a dependable romantic comedy sure to make you feel all the feels.