Story by Grant Dillard, Staff writer
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
Valentine’s Day is here, so of course millions will want to watch a romance film or a regular chick-flick with their significant other. For those looking for movies that girls will love and boys won’t hate or be bored of, here’s a couple suggestions that everyone can enjoy.
“Everything, Everything”: Starting off this list is a film which came out last year that not many people saw, but really does need to be looked at. This film focuses on a girl named Maddy (Amanda Stenberg) who can’t leave her house due to a rare disease that makes her deathly allergic to nearly everything outside. Things start to get interesting when a boy named Olly (Nick Robinson) moves in next door. As the two continue to talk and slowly fall in love, the more Maddy realizes that she isn’t really living. What follows is a sweet, charming adventure which succeeds thanks to good writing and chemistry between the two leads.
“Casino Royale”: The James Bond series is certainly known for its many femme fatales, but Daniel Craig’s first go-around as 007 is certainly the strongest in that department. The relationship between Bond and Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) is the most well-defined, developed and genuine relationship of all the movies, which female viewers should be very pleased with. Already one of the best Bond films thanks to a grittier tone, fantastic action scenes, a menacing villain and Daniel Craig’s performance, “Casino Royale” also serves as great entertainment for a date night that both parties will greatly enjoy.
“Hitch”: This is a film that wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable had it not have been for a great cast. Will Smith plays Alex “Hitch” Hitchens who has a talent for helping men land dates, garnering him the nickname of “The Date Doctor.” While helping his client Albert (Kevin James) win the heart of a woman he loves, Hitch finds himself having dating troubles of his own when his tactics don’t seem to work on tabloid reporter Sara Melas (Eva Mendes.) The clever story and well-timed comedy are good enough, but the main actors are what elevate this movie above most other romance films. Smith is a perfect choice for the smooth talking “date doctor,” James works as the comic foil who wants to date out of his league and Mendes is great as someone who can be sweet but doesn’t take nonsense from anybody. Definitely a must-see for those looking for a romantic comedy with good humor and Smith’s natural charm.
“The Hunger Games”: Of all the countless film adaptations of young adult novels to be released throughout the early to mid 2010’s, only “The Hunger Games” managed to stand out amongst a sea of mediocrity. What makes this film, as well as the whole series, better than the usual romance/sci-fi movie adaptations is that along with the tone being more dark and serious, the story and characters are much more memorable and better written. There’s no groan inducing dialogue or over-the-top romantic moments between Katniss and Peeta, as the scenes between them feel very natural and believable. It’s a straightforward story of kill or be killed with a great female protagonist and a fantastic supporting cast. The sequel, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” may technically be a better movie, but the first installment of the successful franchise is the best film to check out for those not wanting to worry about being confused by previous continuity or for couples wanting to get into the series for the first time.
“Beauty and the Beast” (The 90s Disney Original): Considered to be one of the greatest, if not THE greatest of the Disney animated films, of course this would be a wonderful movie to watch on the day of love. The romance between Belle and the Beast is easily the most genuine and realistic of all the other relationships in Disney movies. It’s not like “Cinderella” or “Snow White” where the guy and the girl get to know each other briefly and then they’re married later on. Here, the two leads actually take their time to get to know each other until they eventually fall in love. On top of that, the visuals are stunning, the musical pieces are catchy and Gaston makes for one of the best Disney antagonists. There’s also the option of the live action remake that came out last year, but that’s only recommended for couples who enjoy Emma Watson’s auto tuned singing. Otherwise, just stick to the original.
“Black Panther”: This isn’t exactly a romance film. But since it comes out on Valentine’s Day weekend this year, it deserves an honorable mention. The character of Black Panther already wowed audiences in “Captain America: Civil War,” but his upcoming standalone film looks to be even better. Even for moviegoers who aren’t hardcore fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they should no doubt be interested in a film from “Creed” director Ryan Coogler which features a fantastic cast including Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’O, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and Andy Serkis. It may not be the most romantic movie of the year, but it’s destined to be one of the best moviegoing experiences of the year. Even if that’s not the case, there’s still the option of dinner afterwards.