Best Romantic Movies

It’s only fair that if I crack on the worst romantic movies of all time, I have to cough up a list of the best. Presented for your approval, my selected list. For now. I know there’s something I’ve left off.

• Notting Hill – Just about pitch perfect. How can you not love a soundtrack that starts off with Elvis Costello? Hugh Grant is at his stammering best as William, the owner of an unsuccessful travel bookshop, and Julia Roberts plays the most famous actress in the world (for once, not a stretch for her). Great chemistry, fun screenplay, excellent secondary characters. Run go get it.
• Dave – Kevin Kline showing off his amazing comic gifts and Sigourney Weaver playing the straight woman with a terrible voice. Plus, Ving Rhames and his impeccable one-liner timing. I love love and I love politics, so this one is great fun.
• The American President – This is a terrific screenplay chock full of great lines (check the memorable quotes on IMDb–too many to list here; I could go on all day)–thank you, Aaron Sorkin! Michael Douglas and Annette Bening are the Chief Executive and his new girlfiend. Let’s just say sleepovers are a completely different thing when you’re talking about the President’s bedroom.
• Amélie – Magical realism meets true love. Audrey Tatou is adorable as a matchmaking café waitress who yearns for a love of her own. This is also the inspiration for Travelocity’s gnome, but don’t worry–it’s cute.
• When Harry Met Sally – Yes, you can be friends, and no, the sex doesn’t have to ruin things. Director Rob Reiner’s mom utters the most classic line: “I’ll have what she’s having.” The gold standard for 80s romantic comedies.
• Romancing the Stone – Normally I loathe the term “bodice-ripper,” but it’s okay here–this is a bodice-ripper with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Kathleen Turner is Joan Wilder, a romance novelist who’s scared of her own shadow. Then the disappearance of her sister forces her into a plotline worthy of her bestselling, pot-boiling books. Michael Douglas is the cad who turns out to be a hero. A favorite of most romance writers for so many reasons.
• The Notebook – Giving credit where it’s due, this man-romance by Nicholas Sparks is a wonderful tale about the healing and transformative power of love. James Garner walks into a hospital room and begins telling a tale of true love to Gena Rowlands. Have that box of tissues ready.
• Love, Actually – Love in its many messy forms. Lust, marriage, family, unrequited, porn (trust me, there’s love there), first crushes, finding a new love after heartbreak. Plus, the Prime Minister dancing around to the Pointer Sisters. Fabulous.
• Must Love Dogs – A love story for grownups! New love can bloom even if you’re over 40 and have your quirks. Like a 150-lb. Newfoundland. John Cusack is still the guy we swoon over (I could put Say Anything and High Fidelity on the list, too), Diane Lane the luminous fortysomething we women of a certain age aspire to be.
• Pride and Prejudice – Watch the A&E version for fidelity and the new Joe Wright film for the swoon factor. Colin Firth is the ultimate Mr. Darcy, but Matthew MacFadyen in the new film does a beautiful job showing his uncontrollable reaction to the inimitable Elizabeth Bennet. The ladies (Jennifer Ehle and Kiera Knightley) aren’t bad, either.
• Chocolat – Johnny Depp. France. Seduction. Chocolate. Anything more you need to know?
• Music and Lyrics – Hilarious if you grew up in the 80s, and charming and sweet even if you didn’t. Hugh Grant plays the forgotten member of a superstar 80s group (think Andrew Ridgeley of Wham!) who’s been picked by the tartlet du jour to pen her a hit song. Trouble is, he’s a terrible lyricist. Enter Drew Barrymore, cute, flaky, and a genius with pop lyrics. Great soundtrack of singable tunes. Adorable!
• The Princess Bride – I just realized I have three Rob Reiner films on the list, and this is the best of a very good bunch (he also directed The American President and When Harry Met Sally). “Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles…” That, and the kiss that leaves them all behind. Everyone at my house adores this movie.

I know I’ve left a multitude of classics out, like It Happened One Night and My Man Godfrey and The African Queen and Casablanca and Sabrina and Roman Holiday and The Philadelphia Story and and and…but this is a limited, off the top of my head list. (Thanks to cigi and the Puffs for their suggestions!) So, which ones did I forget?