Romance is one of the biggest movie genres out there. Everyone knows the big hitters: When Harry Met Sally, 10 Things I Hate About You, Crazy Rich Asians. But what about those rom-coms that fly under the radar? As a rom-com lover, I’m a fan of good romances, whether the movie went big at the box office or had a small audience on Netflix. Since those smaller movies deserve more appreciation, here are four underrated rom-coms I believe all romance lovers should give a watch.
Set It up (2018)
Premise: In desperate need of more free time, two assistants, Charlie and Harper, devise a plan to get their bosses to fall in love with each other. Since they both run their bosses’ schedules, they create a meet-cute and get the ball rolling.
Before people loved Glen Powell in Top Gun: Maverick or Anyone but You, I loved him in Set It Up. Powell and Zoe Deutch have fantastic banter, and both come across as very charming. Deutch is the star of the show with her quirky humor and sincere performance. She portrays the relatable feeling of not being good enough at the thing you want to do most. Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs also crush it as their intimidating and overbearing bosses.
You’ll like this if: you enjoy shenanigans. This movie is classic rom-com antics. They actually trap their bosses in an elevator, and I don’t think it gets more cliché than that. The humor is top-notch (besides a few cringy jokes), and the romance is so sweet. Not picking favorites, but I have definitely watched Set It Up the most of any movie on this list.
Palm Springs (2020)
Premise: Sarah, a wedding guest, gets stuck in a time loop after following another wedding guest, Nyles, into a cave. Nyles has been living in this loop for a long time and is content to stay, while Sarah is adamant about escaping. The two get to know each other as they live the same day over and over.
I’m not sure if Palm Springs is super underrated, but I don’t hear as much praise for it as I should. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti are incredible. I had only seen Milioti in How I Met Your Mother, so seeing her star in a romance/sci-fi movie was a treat. She and Samberg have a great connection and their conflict feels real, contrasted with the bizarre situation they’re in. JK Simmons also plays a supporting character and is off-the-walls in the best way.
You’ll like this if: you’re a fan of Groundhog Day or any other time loop movies. Honestly, even if you don’t like other time loop movies, you might still like this one. Palm Springs stands above the other romance and sci-fi movies out there. The premise of the movie gets you invested, and the plot also goes some places you might not expect. I’ve seen Palm Springs around three times, and I definitely want to rewatch again soon.
Sleeping with other people (2015)
Premise: Jake and Lainey, who lost their virginity to each other in college, meet 13 years later in a sex addicts meeting. They go out to dinner and talk about the relationship and intimacy issues they’ve both developed over the years. Together, they come to the conclusion that they should stay friends and not sleep together. Over time, Jake and Lainey get closer, while also dealing with different relationships and struggles.
This movie toes the line perfectly between humor and drama. Alison Brie is fantastic as a woman struggling with addiction, but specifically an addiction to a person. She doesn’t shy away from the dark aspects of the story, while still keeping the movie light. Jason Sudeikis is great as well, and the two have a strong chemistry that anchors the movie.
You’ll like this if: you’re a fan of raunchy humor, combined with a genuinely touching love story. This movie portrays two people who struggle with all the relationships in their lives, as they try to maintain one pure and unharmed connection. Sleeping With Other People is the friends-to-lovers trope at its best.
I want you back (2022)
Premise: Emma and Peter both get dumped and meet each other while crying in the same stairwell at work. They work together and come up with a way to get their exes back. The plan is to befriend the other person’s ex and get them to dump their current partner. As you might guess, things go awry in the best way.
I Want You Back is similar to Set It Up in its use of shenanigans, but it’s also a bit more wild. The plot does get somewhat convoluted, but it is able to stay fun. I really enjoyed Jenny Slate and Charlie Day in this movie. I hadn’t seen Slate in a leading role previously and thought she carried the movie well. Her performance is complemented by Day’s great comedic timing. This cast is also stacked, with Gina Rodrigeuz, Manny Jacinto, and Scott Eastwood all playing significant parts.
You’ll like this if: you are feeling a little pathetic… sorry, just kidding! This movie does involve two people acting a little pathetic, though, so that might make the viewer feel better about their romantic choices. I Want You Back is great for a fun, light watch. The romance is sweet, the plot is engaging, and it will leave you with a smile on your face.
Romance For the WIn
What do these movies all have in common? First, they all have great lead casting. Not only are all the leads talented as actors, but they also have great chemistry with each other, and a romance movie is nothing without chemistry between the leads. Second, they have a real plot. Some romance movies rely on the banter and chemistry of the leads to carry the story. While there’s nothing wrong with a meandering film, I really enjoy it when romances center on a specific plot, whether that be navigating a time loop or sabotaging exes’ new relationships. These factors, along with many others, make the movies on this list a great watch.
I’ll wrap this up by asking the romance lovers not to discount an underrated rom-com. There are so many reasons a movie could fly under the radar, whether it be an unpopular streaming service, the timing of release, or ineffective marketing. Whatever the reason, discounting these less popular movies could mean missing out on your new favorite. I would recommend a romance lover give any of these movies a watch.