The world has too many things in it that are intense, stinky, and just plain wrong. Sometimes, to quote The Beatles, all you need is love.
Always Be My Maybe
A little bit because I like to sing the title and mostly because it’s a pretty good film. Randall Park and Ali Wong star as two close childhood friends in this Netflix original set in San Francisco. The film centers on the classic friends-turned-lovers trope but imbues it with an Asian-American flair and storytelling that gives what could be a formulaic tale with Asian actors what it needs to carve its own place into the rom-com Hall of Fame. Review by Laumata Volavola
The Bodyguard (1992)
“And IIIIIIIIII-IIII-IIIII will always…” Ah, the movie that spawned one of the best cover songs of all time. Whitney Houston shines in her first acting role as a superstar who is being stalked and hires a bodyguard named Frank (Kevin Costner). The two, naturally, fall in love, which complicates their client/bodyguard relationship. It’s kind of cheesy and over-the-top, which is sometimes just what you need. Review by Katie Parker
Brokeback Mountain (2006)
Featuring incredible performances from Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams, Ang Lee’s tearjerker about the relationship between two men in America’s west in the ‘60s through to the ‘80s was not only commercially successful but critically acclaimed when it was released in 2005, winning three Academy Awards. Make sure you watch with tissues handy. Review by Katie Parker
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Based on the book by Andre Aciman, Call Me By Your Name is a languorous and exquisite coming-of-age tale set in Italy in 1983. Timothee Chalamet stuns as Elio, a 17-year-old who falls in love with 24-year-old Oliver (Armie Hammer) when he comes to work for Elio’s father for the summer. There are many scenes that stick with you for a long time after the movie is over – with the final shot (set to Sufjan Stevens’ Visions of Gideon) – a particular gut-punch. Review by Katie Parker
Chocolat (2000)
Chocolat is a whimsical romance set in 1950s France and based on the novel by Joanne Harris. Juliette Binoche stars as Vianne, a chocolatier who turns a quiet French village upside down when she moves in and sets up shop. Johnny Depp plays her love interest Roux, while the supporting cast of Judi Dench, Carrie-Anne Moss, Alfred Molina, Peter Stormare and John Wood bring the quirky townspeople to life. Review by Katie Parker
Dirty Dancing
It’s 1963 and Baby (Jennifer Grey) is on holiday with her parents when she meets the resident hotel dance instructor, Johnny (Patrick Swayze), who moves like a wildcat. Love is in the air! While there’s nothing stunningly original about two dance partners falling in love, the fantastic outfits and sizzling chemistry between Grey and Swayze make this film utterly compelling. Review by Cat Woods
EverAfter
As Danielle, an orphan recruited as a servant by her evil stepmother, Drew Barrymore brings new life to the classic Cinderella fairy-tale. Her love interest is Prince Henry, who’s failing to convince his parents to let him choose his own wife. Naturally, everything comes to a climax at an exuberant masquerade ball. Barrymore is both sweet as pie and a gorgeously tomboyish fairy-tale princess. Review by Cat Woods
The Notebook (2004)
The only Nicholas Sparks adaptation worth considering. This period romance about unrequited longing that follows a rich young woman and a working class man is elevated by the performances of Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, the candid strength of Gena Rowlands and James Garner’s framing roles, and the comparative discipline of Nick Cassavetes’ direction. They make the film work on its own terms. Review by Craig Mathieson
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Billy Wilder’s classic romantic comedy sees Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon star as two musicians who pretend to be women in order to hide from the mob in an all-female jazz band. It’s a very funny movie that has stood the test of time relatively well, all things considered, with Curtis and Lemmon bringing a lot of physical comedy and chemistry to their pairing. Of course, it’s Marilyn Monroe as Curtis’ love interest Sugar who really steals the show. Review by Katie Parker
When We First Met
He isn’t just the acca-annoying guy in Pitch Perfect – Adam Devine is also an endearingly annoying lead in this small twist on the butterfly effect trope of a romantic comedy. Devine plays a guy who thought he’d met his perfect girl and spends the majority of the time trying to get conditions right, with the time-traveling help of a photo booth. Alexandra Daddario is his dream girl and Shelly Hennig helps him on his journey about self-discovery and what the lengths to find “the one” can be, it just involves a time loop. Review by Laumata Volavola
