The GUYd: Insight into the Male Psyche
It’s rainy, it’s cold, or it’s the week after an exhausting St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Whatever your reasons may be, it can be nice to stay in and watch a movie. If you’re with girls it’s simple: Chick Flicks, chocolates, and tissues, and you’re set. But what if you’re having an at-home date night? Takeout? Check. Cozy blanket? Check. Movie? Uhhhh…
Don’t fret. Surveying over 100 UVa students, I found that there are some “Chick Flicks” that guys can appreciate and some “Man Movies” that girls can appreciate. So while it’s worth noting that girls overwhelmingly enjoyed The Hangover, Superbad, Old School, and American Pie, I’ve included here a list of the Top 20 movies that at least 50% of guys and girls liked – and could more comfortably watch together.
So let’s try this again. Takeout? Check. Cozy blanket? Check. Movie? Check… out the options below, and you can pick one together!
20. 500 Days of Summer
A love story with an unconventional ending. You get romance, and he gets to feel like he’s not watching a Chick Flick.
19. The Shawshank Redemption
Solid movie with a very clever twist.
18. The Princess Bride
Why he likes it: “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Why you’ll like it: “As you wish.”
17. Remember the Titans
Love and Loss. Football and Victory. Everybody wins.
16. Anchorman
I love…desk. I love…lamp. I love…Anchorman.
15. A Knight’s Tale
The Underdog Story.
14. Wedding Crashers
Womanizers… reformed.
13. Spiderman
Noble superhero sacrifices personal satisfaction to save others. My hero!
12. October Sky
The American Dream comes true as a result of male bonding. And Jake Gyllenhaal is one of those males.
11. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
A classic everyone should see.
10. Titanic
For you, it was probably the first time you saw a PG-13 movie. For him, it was probably the first time he saw onscreen boobs. It has a special place in everybody’s hearts (and our hearts will go on and on).
9. Love Actually
British Humor: awkward made funny.
8. Top Gun
Why he likes it? Airplanes. Why you’ll like it? Two words: Volleyball Scene. It’ll take your breath away.
7. Mean Girls
Surprised? Apparently guys can appreciate girl drama… as long as it’s onscreen.
6. Indiana Jones
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance, and Harrison Ford.
5. The Departed
Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon. ‘Nuff said.
4.The Bourne Identity
A great choice for a casual first “sit at home and watch a movie” date. Action-packed adventure plot without too much awkward-to-watch action in the romance plot.
3. The Dark Knight
Why so serious? Because it’s a seriously good movie.
2. Ocean’s Eleven
The modern-day Rat Pack (who happen to be incredibly good looking).
1. Forrest Gump
As grammatically incorrect as this sounds: you can’t not like Forrest Gump. It’s funny; it’s touching; and it’s long, so you’ll have lots of time to cuddle. And if your date is a real go-getter, he’ll use this as the perfect excuse to get you a box of choc’lits.