My fellow gents, what are your 10 favorite rom-com's? - Music and Lyrics (2007) Discussion

[–] Bklyn4ever 15 years ago

I don't mean to sound patronizing. but you need to dig a little deeper into film history (via Netflix or Turner Classics) to see some really good romantic comedies.

Guys I know like:

It Happened One Night
Bringing Up Baby
My Favorite Wife
When Harry Met Sally
The Philadelphia Story
Some Like It Hot
What's New, Pussycat?

There are so many, but that should set you up for starters.

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[–] franscutchy 15 years ago

That wasn't patronizing, you do have a point. Actually, when I made that list, I was having trouble thinking of the ones I enjoy, so I do realize and admit that my list came out a bit.... shallow.

For the record, I adore Hollywood history, so I would've put Casablanca on that list, but it's not really a comedy. And I would've definitely seen When Harry Met Sally, but I don't watch R-rated movies.

I should have left out 10 Things I Hate About You and instead had My Big Fat Greek Wedding on there.

Thanks for the tips! I'll check some of those out.

(I just hate it when they're friggin' predictable and designed mainly for women.)

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[–] Bklyn4ever 15 years ago

I'm female but I try to be sensitive to a guy's tastes, and one thing I find is that if there is a strong male character with whom a guy can identify in a romantic comedy, such as Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Jack Lemon, George Segal, or Jimmy Stewart, then guys will like it as well as ladies.

And, of course, the writing has got to be good.

If you haven't seen the ones I listed above (and you may wish to avoid 'What's New Pussycat' since it is a trifle risqué and is more of a sex comedy than a romantic comedy, but I included it in order to include one written by Woody Allen), you are in for some great viewings to share with your wife (I believe you said you were married). Enjoy!

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[–] studla 15 years ago

Absolutely agree with you. In fact I think Hugh Grant is similar to Cary Grant in their ability to pull of the witty comebacks. I find that so sexy. One of my all time favorite movies is Charade with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Some time watch and compare it to Music and Lyrics for the witty comebacks. Hmm, now there would be a fun project, someone should count all the witty comebacks in each and keep a tally.

I love romantic comedies and don't think they make enough of them anymore. My absolute favorite is the witty, romantic mystery. I like comedy to seem natural so I don't usually like what gets called comedies much. I don't like slapstick or farce much and I still can't believe that they are still making movies where a swear word is funny.

What I loved about Music and Lyrics was that you could actually see why the characters fell for each other. It had nothing to do with a physical attraction. I felt like the we were really watching two people go through the creative process together. I think maybe this is the reason why I can watch it over and over. It's about falling in love not just being attracted to each other. There is nothing wrong with an attraction but it's just so refreshing to see a movie about something more.

From what I've heard about Hugh Grant, he really is that funny and he is very spontaneous. He comes up with the one-liners on the spot and cracks the cast up a lot. I think that shows. I don't think it's easy to play 'witty' if you aren't already.

I'd love for more suggestions on movies like this or old ones as well. I'm always looking for suggestions.

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[–] Bklyn4ever 15 years ago

To my list above
(It Happened One Night,
Bringing Up Baby,
My Favorite Wife,
When Harry Met Sally
The Philadelphia Story,
Some Like It Hot,
What's New, Pussycat?)

I need to add another Cary Grant classic rom-com:

The Awful Truth.

That means half of my recommendations include Cary Grant.
What can you do? He was the most versatile at it.

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[–] ta86 15 years ago

how about Love Actually?

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[–] Bklyn4ever 15 years ago

Oh yes--out of all the very recent rom-com's, LOVE ACTUALLY is just about my favorite.

Hugh Grant is in top form in that one; great dance scene ("Jump").

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[–] SpiltPersonality 11 years ago

oh my GOD I hate that movie.

90% of the time I'm gagging!!!

The writers of that film have NO concept of what love is.

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[–] wmousie 15 years ago

To your list of classic romantic comedies, you simply must add two Barbara Stanwyck films, “The Lady Eve” co-starring Henry Fonda, and “Ball of Fire” co-starring Gary Cooper.

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[–] SpiltPersonality 11 years ago

Ball of Fire - why can't I find it anywhere??? It's a conspiracy!!! I've not seen it since I was around 10 years old.

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[–] MysteryReaderReturns 15 years ago

I know this is old, but I had to say 'You don't watch R-Rated movies?' You're 25 years old.

If you hate Jesus Christ and are 100% proud of it, copy this and make it your signature!

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] MysteryReaderReturns 15 years ago

You don't realize that the R-rating is a bit ambiguous at times? For instance, this NY Times article lays out a basic premise that the reasons behind certain films receiving r-ratings are not univeral & transparent. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/08/opinion/08fri1.html Besides, your using your Bible as an excuse to avoid possibly some of the best made films of the last two decades e.g. 'Schindler's List', 'Saving Private Ryan', 'Rain Man', etc. is a bit shallow. Are you to avoid the indelicate & more brutal aspects of life & instead read your Bible that's filled with violence, rape, slavery, & undoutedly, a lack of a moral concern for nonbelievers? Yours is one of the more laughable posts I've ever read, thank you for it.

Do you treat literature the same way?

If you hate Jesus Christ and are 100% proud of it, copy this and make it your signature!

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] wmousie 14 years ago

Speaking as someone who has grown tired of Christians who give Christians a bad name, I should like to remind you that one of the most basic precepts in the Christian religion is to turn the other cheek when receiving, not strike the other cheek when dishing out.

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[–] Bklyn4ever 14 years ago

You're so right, mousie, about the two Barbara Stanwyck films (Balls of Fire, The Lady Eve).

I've seen them since making my original classic rom-com list and they are extraordinary!

I was heartened to find out that she is a Brooklyn-born gal like me.

I'm staying out of the morality issue, but I do tend to side with mousie. On the other hand, I don't see anything wrong with the OP wishing to avoid R rated movies, and I don't approve of what his antagonist did.

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[–] franscutchy 14 years ago

What a stellar point you make. I too hate it when "Christians" give Christians a bad name. I shouldn't have lashed out so aggressively. As you can see, I deleted the post. Consider the cheek turned.

Now, maybe we can get back to romantic comedies...?

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[–] mrcapra 13 years ago

Age has nothing to do with it - it can be a matter of discretion or taste. I'm 58 and don't watch an "R" rated movie because it usually means sexual content. There are always exceptions one being Schindler's List. A well-made movie doesn't have to have gratuitous sex or crude language (as Frank Capra and other great directors proved).

Therefore adding to the previous list:

Mr Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
The More The Merrier
If You Could Only Cook
Roman Holiday
The Thin Man
(studla mentioned romantic mystery - may be a stretch as a rom-com but plenty of witty dialogue. If you like this one see more of the series)

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[–] crazy_jen123 12 years ago

My favorites are Shallow Hal, While You Were Sleeping, and Penelope.

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[–] lynnwhiner 10 years ago

I also don't watch R rated movies, but I've seen When Harry Met Sally edited, it's great.

Princess Bride is one of the best movies of all time. Every line is a classic.

The Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movies are great.

Cary Grant - Father Goose, House Boat, Walk, Don't Run, Charade

What's Up Doc & The Mirror Has Two Faces (Barbra Strisand)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Hugh Grant - Mickey Blue Eyes, The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain, Does Sense & Sensibility count?

Inner Space

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[–] zenithon 10 years ago

He didn't ask what are the greatest romantic comedies of all time, he asked what are your favorites. He may very well be able to appreciate some of your classic films choices, but they just aren't the ones he loves to watch over and over. That's what I think he is asking for here. That being said I really love your choices, but only two of them made it on my list.

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[–] ta86 15 years ago

why don't you guys give Korean movies a try? So if you're not turned off by having to look at subtitles, there are many interesting and funny romantic comedies that have emerged from Korea throughout these past ten years. Let me suggest you some that I have seen myself.

1. My Sassy Girl (2001) - this is probably one of the most well-known Korean romantic comedies out there. Made me laugh my ass out loud so many times and yet towards the very end it became so touching.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293715/

2. My Little Bride (2004) - this one is also very cute and funny. It's about two couples who are so different that it wouldn't seem likely for them to be together, but have to be together because they have been arranged to marry by their parents. VERY FUNNY.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395140/

3. The Classic (2003) - not really a romantic comedy, more to the dramatic side, but personally one of my favorites.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348568/

hint if you have trouble finding them on DVDs, you can watch the full movie on youtube (with English subtitles).

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[–] franscutchy 15 years ago

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll look into it.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] jack-1132 15 years ago

The rom-com category holds no terrors for me - I have sisters! Some of my favourites are:

Mystic Pizza

Married to the Mob

Notting Hill

The Wedding Singer

The Wedding Date

Four Weddings

Love Actually

Legally Blonde

Groundhog Day

High Fidelity

Working Girl

Bridget Jones

About a Boy

(500) Days of Summer

Pretty In Pink

13 Going On 30

The Proposal

Hope Floats

The Family Stone

Definitely, Maybe

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[–] rooprect 15 years ago

It takes a tough man to admit he likes chick flicks. Kudos to all the manly men who have bared their souls in this thread!!

Mine in no particular order

Music & Lyrics
Required viewing for anyone who grew up on 80s pop.

Singles
Required viewing for anyone who remembers 90s grunge. Tons of hilarious cameos from Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, etc. And if I'm not mistaken, the guy in Music & Lyrics who played the jerk author is the same guy who starred in Singles.

Roxanne
A witty modern update of the 17th century classic "Cyrano de Bergerac".

Impromptu
Hugh Grant on the piano once again. This time he's Frederic Chopin in a 19th century version of House Party (with Franz Liszt, George Sands, etc)

Buffalo '66
The best example of deadpan humour since Catch-22. Vincent Gallo is such a jerk, and Christina Ricci is so adorable you could eat her alive.

My Sassy Girl
Someone beat me to it. But yeah, this Korean flick is a riot. I love the scene where she pukes ramen noodles.

Kamikaze Girls
If you see only 1 Japanese flick in your life, make it this. It's sort of a "romantic comedy" friendship between 2 girls (totally innocent), but it's funny because one girl is a total butch while the other is a creampuff.

Amélie
Artistic, stylish, philosophical & funny as hell.

Cette sacrée gamine (Naughty Girl)
Brigitte Bardot at her cutest!

The Nutty Professor (the 1963 original, make no mistake)
Jerry Lewis + Stella Stevens = the perfect match.

anything with Catherine Hepburn - her wit & timing is impeccable

anything with Cary Grant - same as above

also I didn't mention When Harry Met Sally because that one's a no brainer. Possibly the greatest romantic comedy ever.

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[–] nefjones 14 years ago

You'd love The Holiday.. it has both Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn... One of my favorite Cary Grant Movies is People Will Talk, although it's not a Rom-Com per se.. but it has definite Rom-Com elements... so yea, throw that one in there

I like The Wedding Date, Punch Drunk Love, Spanglish, Breakfast at Tiffany's... Cause I love Audrey Hepburn... so Charade is on my list cause it has Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant

Bend it Like Beckham.. Monsoon Wedding (though it's a little more melodrama, I wouldn't call it a comedy, but isn't the classical definition of Comedy a happy ending) Moonstruck! (one of my FAVORITES!)

So many... I like a good Rom-Com cause they let me just chill out and enjoy, nothing too heavy, not a bunch of thinking, just pure entertainment!

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[–] ricardojbb 14 years ago

I'm 25 as well, and these are some of my favorite.
Not in particular order.

Music & Lyrics
50 First Dates
Along Came Polly
Hitch
I Love You, Man
Knocked Up
Love Actually
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
No Reservations
The Girl Next Door
The Holiday (new)
Yes Man
You've Got Mail

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[–] SeisCinemaSeis 14 years ago

My top 10 would be as follows:

1. Amélie
2. Love Actually
3. Divorce Italian Style
4. Four Weddings and a Funeral
5. Cyrano de Bergerac with Gérard Depardieu (dunno if it counts as a rom-com but it's both romantic and funny)
6. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
7. The Spanish Apartment
8. The Science of Sleep
9. Mostly Martha
10. (500) Days of Summer

'Music and Lyrics' wouldn't be included, however it was better than I expected.

BTW I dunno what's so peculiar about the fact that some straight male could enjoy a romantic comedy? I am male, straight, married with children, etc. which means... Nothing, really. I can enjoy movies from every genre as long as they are interesting and well acted.
I.e. Rom-coms aren't precisely my cup of tea, but neither westerns or war movies, yet I've enjoyed several movies of all those genres. In the other hand, sci-fi, art-house movies and horror flicks are my fav genres, yet there are loads of movies from these genres that I simply loath.

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[–] SexyDirtyTalk 13 years ago

I'm a female and I don't know if I'll have ten but I'll give this list a try.

(In no particular order)
1. Punch-Drunk Love
2. 27 Dresses
3. Me and You and Everyone Else We Know
4. Juno
5. There's Something About Mary
6. Chasing Amy
7. I'm a Cyborg But That's Okay
8. The Wedding Singer
9. Two Weeks' Notice
10. Pretty in Pink

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] SpiltPersonality 11 years ago

Only a few out of your list, but I wouldn't call "The Princess Bride" a romcom - it's got romance AND comedy, but oh, so much more - swashbuckling, pirates, ROUS'... anyone would think you'd lost a bet with a sicillian where DEATHA was on the line to think "the Princess Bride" was a mere RomCom.

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