Show of hands for anyone out there looking for a healthy dose of escapism. Statistics show that 29 percent of people globally often or sometimes avoid the news and that 44 percent of those say it is because it could have a negative effect on their mood. It makes sense, really. When the world around you is unrecognizable, sometimes you just need something light-hearted to get your mind off things.
While everyone on Instagram is participating in the #firstphotochallenge, I’m watching people fall in love on screen. My potential meet-cute is on hold for now, so I have been using this time to catch up on old and new classics. The Edit team is full of passionate saps, so here are our hot takes on the best romantic comedy.
Iman Balagam, Writer
I loved Home Again because it flows more like a late coming of age film than a traditional romantic comedy. A recently separated Reese Witherspoon moves back to Los Angeles with her two daughters in order to find herself. In a complicated turn of events, three budding filmmakers end up moving into her guest house. The movie focuses on her relationship with one of the men (will not tell you who) while still giving enough airtime to the other characters. The film is sweet, witty and highlights how unexpected life can be. It is not a saucy romance; rather, it is one of those wholesome movies that you keep going back to in the midst of sadness.
Lauren Hitzhusen, Fact-Checker/Proofreader
I feel like Fever Pitch came out a million years ago, but I still really love it. Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore play a couple who have a great relationship until baseball season starts, and Drew realizes that Jimmy is completely obsessed with the Boston Red Sox. She does her best to try to understand his obsession, but it puts a strain on their overall relationship. It is a fun, feel-good rom-com and it is so funny. There is a great group of side characters that all own the season tickets with seats around Jimmy’s character, and they are a hoot.
Briahna Roberts, PR/Editorial Assistant
Always Be My Maybe is one of those feel-good movies that keeps you laughing and leaves you with a smile. It is a classic love story about how a boy meets a girl, and friendship turns into romance. The childhood besties, Sasha and Marcus, go their separate ways after high school graduation but rekindle their friendship after 15 years when Sasha returns to their hometown. Soon they both realize that maybe, there is something more to their connection than just friendship. There is a tragedy, a breakup and even a public proposal with a tear-jerking speech — the ultimate recipe for the perfect rom-com.
Mylan Torres, Creative Producer + Interim Deputy Editor-in-Chief
I am a sucker for a good soundtrack, a feminist heroine and over the top romantic gestures (only in movies!), and 10 Things I Hate About You delivers on all fronts. Loosely adapted from William Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, 10 Things is set in the late ’90s, where we follow the story of two wildly different sisters. Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), equipped with all of the teen angst and matching grunge attire, is the older sister to Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), the quintessential popular girl whose only dream is to be the first sophomore to attend the senior prom. When their father announces a new house rule — Bianca may only date when Kat does — Bianca thinks her destiny is to be #foreversingle as who will date her abrasive and opinionated older sister? That is, until Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) , fueled by his unrequited love for Bianca, jumps in to help, setting Kat up with mysterious (read: bad boy) newcomer Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) and ridiculousness ensues. I won’t tell you how it ends, but I will tell you that Heath Ledger’s performance of I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You to win over Kat is a thing of magic and should not be missed.
