Romantic comedies...

I consider myself to be as cultured, educated, and refined as the next person. I have a degree in English, Speech, and Drama. I have read (and taught – but that’s a story for another day) a lot of great literature and have seen many great dramatic productions and deep, meaningful films. I have a great appreciation for classic romantic dramas like “Pride and Prejudice” (the BBC/A&E version of course) and “Sense and Sensibility.” However, I have a little confession to make.

SHHH... I love romantic comedies.

I find that, whenever I’m feeling a little bit down, the hubby is working late, or I happen to be home by myself, if I can pop in one of my favorite romantic comedy DVDs, life improves significantly. I also notice that my productivity can dip quickly and drastically if I happen to flip through the channels and find one of those films that I can’t resist. My butt ends up plastered on the couch, no matter how many times I’ve seen the movie in question or how poorly edited it is in its television adaptation.

I know I’m not alone in this. I don’t think it indicates anything lacking in my real life or any defect in my taste or background. There’s just something to be said for the FORMULA when it’s at its best.

1. The “meet cute”
2. The misunderstanding(s)/conflict
3. The unfortunate but inevitable break-up or parting
4. The supportive best friend
5. The epiphany (look that one up kids!)
6. The desperate lengths the characters go through to reunite
7. The happy ending

Here are some of my favorites:

My Gold Medal All-Time Classics That Never Get Old And Cannot Be Resisted:

Bridget Jones’s Diary
I loved the book and may be one of the few people who actually prefer the movie. Renee Zellweger usually drives me insane, but the plump Bridget Jones version does not! Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver. Mr. Safe and Mr. Dangerous. Bottom line – Colin Firth AND Hugh Grant. Enough said.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
The whole Thai prison plot makes this one less appealing to me than the first movie, but Colin Firth and Hugh Grant fighting in a fountain more than makes up for it.

Mamma Mia
Sam, Bill, or Harry? I wonder which one is my father? I have to admit that I have always loved ABBA and this very silly romantic musical comedy just strikes me to the core. It looks like they were having so much fun filming it. Who wouldn't have fun filming on a Greek island for a few months? I know that Pierce Brosnan can't sing, but there are great happy endings all around! (Oh yeah - and Colin Firth again.)

When Harry Met Sally
Enemies become friends, then lovers, then enemies, then soul mates, all with a backdrop of music from a very young, mostly unknown-at-the-time guy named Harry Connick, Jr., setting Meg Ryan up as one of the queens of the genre.

Sleepless in Seattle
Who wouldn’t want to believe that fate is real and that two people who are destined to be together can be pulled in such an impossible way across an entire continent? Add in the whole top of the Empire State Building element from “An Affair to Remember” and you have one of the best “happy ending” scenes ever!

Kate & Leopold
You mean you’ve never seen this one? Hugh Jackman got a Golden Globe nomination for his very non-Wolverine role as the Duke of Albany, transported from the 1800s to current-day New York City. Time travel plus romance?! You’ve got me! I’ll admit that you do have to ignore Meg Ryan’s crazy hairstyle and the plastic surgery that she must have had right before filming, but with Hugh Jackman to look at instead, that’s not too hard to do.

Music and Lyrics
Here’s another one you may have missed. Even my husband likes this one. (Please don't tell him that I told you that!) Aging 80’s pop star (Hugh Grant) meets quirky poet (Drew Barrymore) and they make beautiful music together. One must ignore the fact that the pop star is old enough to be the quirky poet’s father and that Hugh Grant really isn’t aging well. (This actually has a great soundtrack too!)

Love Actually
There are so many great storylines intertwining in this movie, but I mostly just care about Colin Firth learning Portuguese and Hugh Grant dancing on the stairs. I’m shallow that way.

My Silver Medal Finalists That Will Suck Me In If I Stumble Upon Them:

Waitress
This is another one you may not have seen. It’s different - an independent film. Keri Russell (yes – Felicity) and Nathan Fillion (yes – Castle) in a story of a young girl in a terrible marriage who finds herself pregnant by her abusive/obnoxious husband and ends up having an affair with her OB/GYN (Fillion). This one is less formulaic and doesn’t have the typical happy ending, but it does have a very empowering one! (Surprising performance by, of all people, Andy Griffith, too.)

Notting Hill
I’m not really a big Julia Roberts fan (sacrilege?), but I love this fantasy of Everyman Bookstore Owner meeting Movie Star, falling in love, and it ending happily with them together (her very pregnant) on a park bench in London. Um. Hugh Grant. Yeah. There are a couple of patterns here, aren't there?

The Holiday
Jude Law as a romantic lead – well, duh. But Jack Black?! He’s adorable in this. Nice back story about old time Hollywood too.

While you were Sleeping
Of course Sandra Bullock’s character is supposed to be with Bill Pullman’s sweet, quiet, gentle furniture craftsman and not his arrogant brother! When he slips the ring into the token window at the train station with the whole family in tow, it gets me every time.

My Bronze Medal Movies That Will Always Do In A Pinch:

The Wedding Date
I can make myself believe that Debra Messing is a character other than Grace from “Will and Grace” if Dermot Mulroney is there as a gigolo with a heart of gold.

13 Going on 30
In a twisted time-traveling version of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” teenage Jennifer Garner gets to see how her life will turn out if she doesn’t recognize what she has in her chubby, sweet friend who will turn out to be darling Mark Ruffalo.

Never been Kissed
Budding journalist Drew Barrymore pretends to be a high schooler and goes back to school to write an exposé on education, surprisingly finding herself to be one of the “popular kids” during this go-round and falling in love with the English teacher, Michael Vartan. (Who wouldn’t?!)

Fever Pitch
Did you know that this cute movie where Drew Barrymore falls in love with school teacher and ultimate Boston Red Sox fan, Jimmy Fallon, in spite of his obsession with the team, is actually a remake of a British movie of the same title that starred – wait for it – Colin Firth as the school teacher and ultimate fan of the Arsenal soccer team? Yep. You’re right! I’ve just come full circle and ended right back at Colin Firth.

Since I know you’re out there thinking, “I can’t believe she didn’t include _________,” what are your favorite romantic comedies that didn’t make my list?