It’s a lazy Thursday night, and you and your roomie are staying in to watch movies, eat popcorn, and cry because it’s only three weeks into the semester and your lives have already fallen into chaos. To ward off the existential dread and constant low-level anxiety, here are ten feel-good rom-coms that I guarantee will give you the warm and fuzzies:
10. Mamma Mia
With the recent release of “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” it’s time to revisit a classic. A star studded cast belts Abba tunes on a Greek island as the best episode of Maury to ever be conceived goes on around them. Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth…What’s not to love?
9. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
As Matthew McConaughey, an arrogant advertising executive, tries to win a woman’s love and devotion in ten days, Kate Hudson, a witty writer, tries to do the opposite. The only problem is, they’re dating each other! I love situational rom-coms that are so convoluted you have to take a deep breath and just go along for the ride. And How To Lose A Guy is a fun ride indeed.
8. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Yeah, I’m putting a historical romance on here. But this one stars Lily James, of “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” fame (do you see the connection here?). She plays an author who travels to Guernsey post-WWII to figure out just what’s going on with that strange and overly long name for a book club.
7. Wild Child
Emma Roberts, a SoCal gal, gets sent to an English boarding school for being a bit of a stuck-up brat. Once she gets there, she finds out there might be more to life than just shopping and being the literal worst. Like Alex Pettyfer. And Alex Pettyfer’s hair. And Alex Pettyfer’s abs. “Wild Child” is a juvenile movie that ends up being pretty entertaining.
6. Leap Year
I have a weakness for Amy Adams. And Irish accents. And although Amy Adams doesn’t have an Irish accent in this movie, she does travel to Ireland to chase after her boyfriend and propose on February 29th, the one day of the year when (according to Irish tradition) women can propose to men. And then things get interesting…
5. The Kissing Booth
Best friends Elle and Lee have known each other practically since birth. But when Lee’s older brother Noah (who’s strictly off limits) shows an interest in Elle, she may have to choose between her best friend and her maybe-boyfriend. If we’re being honest, it’s trashy. It’s cliche. It’s, quite frankly, an unrealistic and offensive portrayal of high school students in general. But gosh if this movie isn’t the gas station donut of rom-coms: extremely tasty at 2 am.
4. Stardust
When the love of his life promises her hand in marriage in exchange for a fallen star, young Tristan Thorn travels across The Wall to a fantasy realm full of kings, witches, and stars that walk and talk and look suspiciously like Claire Danes. This one stars a young Charlie Cox along with Mark Strong and a pre-Man of Steel Henry Cavill that’s just glorious to behold.
Oh, and also cross-dressing Robert De Niro which, honestly, I C O N I C.
3. Another Cinderella Story
This movie came out and suddenly every preteen girl wanted Drew Seeley and wanted to be Selena Gomez. Whether it’s the dance moves or the striped fedoras, something about this movie feels so 2008 it’s almost scary. This is a great throwback to bond over with your roomie, plus “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” is a timeless bop, so…
2. Set it Up
Two assistants decide to set up their bosses to give themselves more free time. The shocking part is, the plan actually works. What now? Time to fall in love for real. If you haven’t noticed, Netflix is single-handedly resurrecting the rom-com. “Set It Up” is just one in a line of adorkable romance movies they’ve dropped in the last sixth months and definitely a favorite of mine.
1. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
You all knew this was coming. I’m not saying anything about the plot. If you haven’t already seen this movie, GO WATCH IT. If you have, you should honestly just watch it again. Enjoy the rush of endorphins that accompanies Peter Kavinsky saying, “There’s no one like you, Covey.” Trust me, after eight rewatches, the effect is still as strong as ever.