Chick Chat, Group Post

Chick Chat: Favorite Romantic Comedy

Today is Becky’s 39th wedding anniversary, so instead of talking mysteries, we’re talking romance. But because it’s Becky, it’s light on the romance and heavy on the comedy. Weigh in with your favorite RomCom movie. And tell us, do you lean more toward the rom or the com?

Lisa Q. Mathews

I have to admit, my favorite rom-coms will likely always be THE HOLIDAY (2 women recovering from disastrous relationships (Carmen Diaz in an LA mansion and Kate Winslet in a Cotswolds UK cottage switch houses/lives at Christmastime) and YOU’VE GOT MAIL (Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in a gorgeous, literary NYC). But lately I’ve enjoyed newer movies set in other countries/cultures–WEDDING SEASON (fake relationship, India) and CRAZY RICH ASIANS (meet-the-family, Singapore). This very week I’m also looking forward to a new streaming series (Australian, via HBO) called COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS, which features actors who are real-life spouses and an adorable terrier. Warning (because reviewers are warning everyone): Doggie suffers a terrible injury at the beginning, but all is well (the dog is Colin). Can’t wait!

 Ellen Byron

My favorite rom com may not fully qualify as one. It’s Steve Martin’s LA STORY. The movie is so charming and quirky and magical – and funny! I’m a huge Steve Martin fan and I never get tired of this movie – except for one thing. Martin’s then-wife Veronica Tennant, who plays the object of Martin’s affections is terrible. Charmless and unfunny. It’s a tribute to the rest of the movie that she doesn’t drag the whole thing down. Martin must have agreed because they divorced shortly after the movie!

Cynthia Kuhn

Yay! I love Rom Coms so much that I wrote a whole course on them, which I am currently teaching again right now! (Brava on your wonderful descriptions of your faves here, everyone! A+++ ) I cannot pick a single title but will offer a list of what we watch in the class, which is just one potential chronological thread through the genre (and of course it leaves out many other faves but we only have a semester mmkay): It Happened One Night;  His Girl Friday; Pillow Talk; The Graduate; Annie Hall; When Harry Met Sally; Four Weddings and A Funeral; You’ve Got Mail; Bridget Jones’s Diary; Imagine Me and You; I Love You, Man; Think Like a Man; Crazy Rich Asians; Love, Simon; Isn’t It Romantic. ❤️ And happiest anniversary!!

Leslie Karst

RomComs are my favorite genre of movie, so it’s pretty much impossible for me to pick just one. As a result, I’m going with one oldie and one newbie (or at least kind of new). For old, it’s His Girl Friday (1940, dir. Howard Hawks), with Cary Grant as a rascally newspaper editor who’s trying to get back together with is ex, investigative reporter Rosalind Russell, who’s now engaged to a milquetoast insurance agent. Bursting with witty rapid-fire dialogue, it’s a terrific film.

For a more recent pick, that would have to be Something’s Gotta Give (2003), with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Director Nancy Meyers is at her best here, with this hilarious take on romance between folks….well, let’s just say, far closer to my age than in most RomComs (the running gag about reading glasses is worth the price of admission.)

Kathleen Valenti

Oh my GOODNESS. How to choose? Picking my favorite rom-com is akin to choosing a favorite child or Led Zeppelin song. (Impossible.)

If pressed, however, I’d have to say Love Actually. Not only does it have a lovely seasonality that provides a boon to my vitamin D-deprived spirit during Solsticetide, it offers a wonderful glimpse into the trials and tribs of love at different ages and stages without getting too sappy or treacly. I think Mr. Grant, who always does a solid job with the charming English mumble thing, is especially good here, and I appreciate how there’s some dram to go with the rom and the com. My big question is, are we allowed to include our “also-rans” in this list?! Because the only thing I like as much as a mystery is a good rom-com.

(And happy anniversary, Becky!)

Becky Clark

It’s so true that I’m not very romantic, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love a good romantic comedy. I love so many of them, but my all-time favorite is “Sleepless in Seattle” with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I could watch it over and over and over and … well, you get it. I just spent some time in Baltimore where my son, daughter-in-law, and new grandson live. We always walk all over the city and my son knows I have to pay homage to the places where Meg Ryan’s character goes. He’s a good son.

It’s also true that today is my 39th anniversary. Hubs and I don’t really give gifts or do much in the way of acknowledgement, other than a fancy dinner and nice bottle of wine, but if I were to step up my gift-giving game, what should I do? Got any cool ideas? [Oh, this is funny … I just looked up to see what the traditional anniversary gift is for 39 years. It says—I kid you not—laughter. I was hoping it was “blog post” but I’ll settle for laughter. After all, that’s what’s been keeping us going for so long!]

Jennifer Chow

I love a really good rom-com because I’m a sucker for sweet and funny. I particularly like ones with unique premises. My picks? For a classic film, I choose Roman Holiday; my newish pick is Crazy Rich Asians. Also, I tend to lean into quirky ideas, like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (which deals with two people trying to erase memories of each other after they break up—don’t worry, there’s a happy ending).    

Readers, drop us a note in the comments below!

38 thoughts on “Chick Chat: Favorite Romantic Comedy”

  1. I’m not much for comedy movies because my sense of humor is so warped. I like slapstick–think the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges. The Marx Brothers movies count as Rom Coms thought, so lets go with Room Service as my fave, with honorable mention to A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races.

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  2. Happy anniversary, Becky! While You Were Sleeping is one of my favorite rom-coms and also a favorite holiday movie. I haven’t seen most of the newer movies, so my picks are usually from decades ago. You all have me intrigued by these selections though! And a whole rom-com course, Cynthia? Sign me up! — Marla Bradeen

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      1. Vickie: Me, too, Jen! And, Cynthia, I love your rom-com movie list. My all-time favorite rom-com is the classic Bringing Up Baby with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn!

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  3. Happy anniversary, Becky! Rom-coms are always good for the soul. I’m going to go with Notting Hill. High Grant at his rom-coms finest!
    I also want to tip my hat to the Thin Movies. The banter between Nick and Nora is comedic gold!

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  4. I hardly ever watch them, but every once in awhile I look on the Hallmark channel and pick one there. But, Becky, 39, okay. But, Becky, next year is 40! I think there’s a law that you have to do something big for that one. You should start planning. We did a trip to Greece, so there’s the bar if you chose to accept it. -Kaye George

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  5. Happy Anniversary Becky!!!!!!
    I would agree with those who said “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You Got Mail”. But one that I watched many times, was the Hallmark movie, “The Love Letter”. Though not terribly accurate historically, I enjoyed the story, and it left me feeling good at the end.
    Carol

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  6. Hestia here.
    I don’t read romances, but I love a good rom-com. Like Becky (happy anniversary!) I’m more into the com than the rom.
    I have a quirky sense of humor, so my list will be different than most.
    My all time fav? The Bachelor (1999) with Chris O’Donnell. Imagine seeing 500 women (and a few men) in wedding dresses chasing after a single man in a tuxedo around San Francisco!
    But here’s others I will always stop to watch
    Simply Irresistible (1999) is another fav. I truly believe the crab held the magic in that one.
    Coming to America (1988) Eddie Murphy!
    Funny Face (1957) Did you know Audrey was nervous about dancing in front of Fred?
    What’s Up Doc (1972) What a mess!
    10 Things I Hate About You (1999) Heath Ledger at his best
    My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) Gotta love Michael Constantine
    The Apartment (1960) Just eww, but fab
    The Wedding Singer (1998) Adam Sandler and Drew are great together
    27 Dresses (2008) It’s a hoot

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  7. I’ve only seen my two my two favorites on a classic TV station, but whenever they come up, I want to see them again: Bringing Up Baby, a madcap romp with Cary Grant and Kathyrn Hepburn, and It Happened One Night, with Grant and Claudette Colbert.

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  8. Happy anni, Becky! I forgot to wish you a happy in my post. Oops.

    I love all the 1930s and 1940s rom coms people are brining up. Hestia, I’m pretty sure The Bachelor was a remake of a Buster Keaton classic silent, which makes it doubly cool. (And this is Ellen, in case I come up as anonymous)

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    1. Ellen,
      Yes, I know The Bachelor is a remake. But I am having trouble finding the original, to see what the writers did for the story line! I might have to get that for myself for christmas! Hestia

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  9. Happy anni, Becky! I forgot to wish you a happy in my post. Oops.

    I love all the 1930s and 1940s rom coms people are brining up. Hestia, I’m pretty sure The Bachelor was a remake of a Buster Keaton classic silent, which makes it doubly cool. (And this is Ellen, in case I come up as anonymous)

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    1. Thanks, Leslie … I’ve been laughing too because I fell down a rabbit hole and found candid pics of our rehearsal, wedding, and reception. Some really great ones … lots of memories AND laughs!

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  13. Happy Anniversary Becky. We celebrated our 40th in August. We did not do anything special though. So many good rom-coms mentioned above that I love. My favorite of all time are the Thin Man series. I can watch them nonstop anytime. Nick and Nora are a hoot. My Man Godfrey also with William Powell is marvelous. The Philadelphia Story with Cary Grant and James Stewart along with all of the above Cary Grant movies mentioned are favorites. Doris Day and Rock Hudson or James Garner are all great. Bell, Book and Candle with Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart is another. As you can see, so many are classic movies. But I do love more recent movies such as Love Actually, Serendipity, You’ve Got Mail (remake of the Little Shop around the Corner), Sleepless in Seattle, Notting Hill, Sweet Home Alabama, The Replacements, Legally Blonde, Wedding Crashers, Someone Like You, Leopold and Kate, While You Were Sleeping, and so many more. I don’t really like romance novels anymore unless they are mysteries also. I love Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. What is not to like in hot cop Morelli and a dangerous Ranger? Just read Lucy Score’s Riley Thorn series (there are 3) and is Nick Santiago sexy or what? They are just a bit racier than Stephanie Plum but are all laugh out loud funny. Makes me want to go binge watch some now.

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  14. So many great rom coms mentioned! I love so many, but have a soft spot for Sleepless in Seattle & An Affair to Remember. The scene in Sleepless when Sam’s sister gets teary talking about Affair, the the guys mock her by tearing up over Dirty Dozen is the best!

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  15. Restore love with Ex- through…. ( Dr.m ac ) ‘ ‘ y a ho o.,, co m_______________________

    1)Win lost lover back

    2)Stop Divorce.

    3)Save marriage/Relationship

    4)Win ex boyfriend/girlfriend back

    5)Fix any type of relationship/marriage issues

    6)Win Soulmate back.

    7)Enhance your lovers mind and control

    8)Return /reunite with Ex

    9)Reclaim my lover

    10Make Ex husband/wife yours forever  

    11)Make Ex run after you

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