Valentine’s Day is here, which means it is time for cheesy gifts and romance with your significant other. Or if you are part of the single group, it is still a perfect time to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. Whatever the case, it is always a good time to enhance your film knowledge. So whether you are watching them with a friend, a significant other, or you are going it alone, here are five films to watch to get you in the Valentine’s Day mood.
(All movies featured are rated PG-13 unless otherwise specified)
5. You’ve Got Mail (1998)
On the surface, You’ve Got Mail (PG) tells the story of two business rivals. Tom Hanks’ character Joe Fox opens a new storefront for the bookstore chain Fox Books. It just so happens that Meg Ryan’s Kathleen Kelly runs a small bookstore not too far from there. Meanwhile, they each talk online to strangers they know nothing about. Little do they know, they’re actually talking to each other. The suspense caused by dramatic irony carries the story all the way through. You’ve Got Mail is available to watch on Apple TV.
4. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
Kate Hudson plays a writer for the magazine Composure. Though she would like to write about more pressing matters, her editor is not hearing it. She decides to start dating a man and write an article homonymous with the movie. Meanwhile, advertising executive Benjamin Barry (played by Matthew McConaughey) makes a bet that he could win any girl’s heart in the same amount of time. The only problem is, they both choose each other as their partners. The question is…which bet will win? How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is available to watch on Paramount Plus.
3. Gone With The Wind (1939/1940)
Old? Yes? Still Good? Yes. Gone With The Wind (G) is the highest-grossing film of all time (adjusting for inflation). You don’t make that much money without being worth the 3 hours and 42 minutes. This historical romance is set in the American South against the backdrop of the Civil War. It tells the story of Scarlett O’Hara (played by the late Vivien Leigh) in her pursuit of Ashley Wilkes (played by the late Leslie Howard). The film ages poorly in some aspects, but it is still an extremely important part of film history, and entertaining to those willing to put up with it’s colossal runtime. Gone With The Wind is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
2. La La Land (2016)
La La Land is a musical romance film starring the wonderful Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Ryan plays Sebastian, a struggling jazz pianist. Emma plays Mia, an aspiring actress. They meet and fall in love while pursuing their passions in Hollywood. Both of them struggle to find a balance between their lives together and the lives they truly want. In the end, they have to make an unfortunate sacrifice. La La Land is one of the best films of recent years and is available to rent on Apple TV, Google Play Movies and Vudu.
1. Juno (2007)
Juno has arguably the best script ever written for a film and is one of the most entertaining movies you’ll ever watch. Juno is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film starring Elliot Page (who performed as a female during the production) as Juno and Michael Cera as Bleeker. It’s a film about teen pregnancy, making it even more relevant than it was during its original 2007 run. Elliot is a stand-out performance, alongside the rest of the star-studded cast. With a smooth 96-minute runtime, it is absolutely worth your time, and you won’t regret giving it a shot.
Genevieve Ellis • Mar 13, 2024 at 2:50 PM
I really enjoyed reading this article. I’ll make sure to watch some of these!