If your boyfriend is anything like mine, he is the ultra-nerd of all mega-nerds. And he will take that as a compliment. Problem: all he wants to do is sit around on his 3DS and play video games designed for a child. Solution: peel his precious game away from him and say, “Darling, would you like to watch a superhero movie with me?” At first, he might stare at you in awe. No need to worry, this is natural. He’s just wondering how much money he has saved up so he can buy you a diamond ring ASAP. Snapping back to reality, he wanders over to his Green Lantern Power Ring-shaped movie shelf and asks, “Which one?” Here’s how to answer that question:
4. Thor
Thor is a great movie and all, but I’m not 100% sold on the relationship between superhero and heroine. I love how Jane Foster, the leading lady, is smart and spunky, but she is skeptical about Thor being a superhero. Um, helloooooo, wake up Sleeping Beauty! He just threw a coffee mug on the ground and demanded for “another.” Clearly, he is from another world. Where do superheroes come from? Other worlds. All she’s focused on is getting Thor out of her hair so she can go back to her mind-numbing job as an astrophysicist. Lucky for her, Thor tries his hardest to woo Jane over during their time together on Earth. Since Thor got kicked out of his hometown, somewhere in the realm of Asgard, he is emotionally unstable right now, fueling some sweet love talk between the two. It’s not until the very end of the film that Jane realizes she needs Thor in her life. Fair warning: it is THE Chris Hemsworth. Try and keep your drooling to a minimum around your date.
See also: Thor: The Dark World
3. Man of Steel
Henry Cavill and Amy Adams? Count me in! Adams’s feisty “Anna” from Leap Year moments return in her rendition of the fiery journalist Lois Lane. I love me some Amy Adams and she totally nails this role, flawlessly combining nerve for her job with passion for the mysterious Superman. The two rapidly fall in love, much like the speed at which Superman saves Lois’s life by pulling her out of a flaming cockpit at the last second before it explodes on the ground, using his own body to shield her from the flames *sigh.* Just another day’s work for Mr. Superman. Your boyfriend will love the action-packed scenes and fights in this movie, but you will adore the captivating relationship so much that you forget it’s taking place on a screen framed by superhero bobble head dolls. Also, Russell Crowe’s performance in this movie earns him my forgiveness for doing a mediocre job in Les Miz.
2. Iron Man
You know what I love about Pepper Potts? She stands by her man no matter what kind of shenanigans he gets himself into. And Tony Stark does a lot of stupid things. Fortunately for him, Pepper can’t even imagine leaving, although she does threaten it. The banter that goes back and forth between these two is equal parts hilarious and cute. Eventually, Tony gives up his promiscuous bachelor life for her proving that he IS one of the most sensitive superheroes when it comes to his one true love. I would seriously recommend watching the other two Iron Man movies if you, like me, can’t get enough of this relationship. The first Iron Man really introduces Tony and Pepper, but their love only grows in the next two. Oh yeah, and Pepper does some extreme fighting to protect Tony in the third one. It’s a total badass scene. You’ll probably love it just as much as your man will.
See also: Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3
1. Captain America: The First Avenger
This has got to be my favorite superhero movie yet. First of all, it’s set in the 1940’s, arguably the best era ever. Second of all, it’s a story about the underdog, and who doesn’t like to root for a good (and hot) underdog? Most important of all, the love story in this movie is super cute. Steve Rodgers, a.k.a. Captain America, takes a liking for the high-ranking American officer Peggy Carter. Miss Peggy Carter is tough and is not charmed easily by any ordinary man under her watch. Well, Captain American isn’t any ordinary man, is he? He wins her over with his bravery and selflessness, which were loveable qualities he had long before he became a superhero with a fancy shield. Plus, Cap’s last line in the movie is sure to win “Most Romantic Closing Line in a Movie in the Existence of Most Romantic Closing Lines in Movies.” Just as soon as that becomes a thing.
See also: Captain America: The Winter Soldier in theaters April 4, 2014. I’M SO PUMPED for this movie. Keep an eye out for that impeccable Cleveland scenery!
Bonus points for an extra smooch or two: Mention how Stan Lee, creator of most Marvel characters, makes a cameo in all Marvel movies.
Happy Watching!