The Top 10 Romantic Comedies

A couple of weeks ago, in my vast internet readings, I came across these list of 10 Top 10s created by the American Film Institute.  Now, I love me a good Top 10 list (let alone 10 of them all grouped together!).  I decided that I would make it my new life's work (or something) to have seen all of the top 10 lists.  So that's 100 movies.  I have no idea how long this will take me.  Some will be easy (like today's, in which I own 5 of the 10) and some will be almost painful (I do not, as a rule, enjoy Westerns) but still, I'm gonna do it!  And you, lucky you, you will get to read all my opinions on these chosen films.




10. Sleepless in Seattle - it's only right that a Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks movie make the list, and this is a fantastic one.  I mean, you do have to sort of overlook the fact that Meg Ryan sort of cheats on her fiance with a guy from the radio and essentially stalks Tom Hanks from across the country, but I like it.



9. Harold and Maude - Now this one I was a little skeptical about.  I hadn't seen it before last weekend and I was afraid of the ick factor (I mean, a 50 year age gap is a big one).  It also makes me think of There's Something About Mary when Cameron Diaz said it was her favorite movie of all time, and if it comes out of Cameron Diaz's mouth, it's already kind of annoying (sorry).  But for whatever reason, this movie totally works.  I especially liked it when Harold turned his brand new Jaguar into a hearse.  That was one determined/deeply troubled kid.



8. Moonstruck - I obviously completely love this movie.  I will never be able to fully dismiss Cher or Nicholas Cage (even though he was by far the worst part of the movie) because of this one.  My favorite lines:

Rose:  What you don't know about women is a lot.

------

Johnny: In time you will see this is the best thing.
Loretta:  In time, you'll drop dead and I'll come to your funeral in a red dress!


I could keep going, but we'd be here all day.



7. Adam's Rib - This is another one I hadn't seen before last weekend.  I liked it, I'm pretty sure I didn't love it.  But I would watch Katharine Hepburn in pretty much anything, and Judy Holliday was pretty fabulous as well (I think this is the first movie of her's that I've seen.  I definitely want to see more - I think next will be Born Yesterday - hold please, while I put it in my queue.  Thanks).




6. When Harry Met Sally... - See, you forget now because she looks like some kind of sea monster (please, stay away from your plastic surgeon and leave your lips alone!), but for like 15 years Meg Ryan WAS romantic comedies.  This is one of my favorite movies, and Billy Crystal's speech at the end convincing Meg Ryan that he really does love her is one of the best ever.  Completely raised my expectations to unrealistic heights and ruined me for how actual relationships work, but that's fine. :)





5. The Philadelphia Story - I'm pretty sure I could watch this movie every day.  I have only good things to say about it.  Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, lots of fiestiness, champagne ("I've never had enough"), it's pretty great.  You're getting a couple more of my favorite lines from this one:



"OHHHH C.K. DEXTER HAVENNNNN!!!!!!" (if you haven't seen this movie, picture Jimmy Stewart drunkenly yelling this out the back window of a car swinging a bottle of champagne, it's awesome.  Then go see this movie.)


"Where's my wandering parakeet?"



4. Roman Holiday - Audrey Hepburn is very sweet, this is a good one.  They;ve remade it enough with different titles that for that reason alone it deserves to be on the Top 10.



3. It Happened One Night - Prior to seeing this, the only thing I had seen Clark Gable in was Gone With the Wind.  Which is obviously not a happy go lucky kind of movie.  And I had my doubts about it, I can tell you that.  But I was wrong, it was very good.  I don't know if it was #3 on this list very good, but it definitely deserves to be on here somewhere.



2. Annie Hall - This may spark some adverse reactions, but I do not like this movie at all.  I'm not a Diane Keaton fan, I'm not a Woody Allen fan, and I just don't think this movie is funny.  Or romantic.  It's completely neurotic, and not in a good way.  I don't think the people in this movie should even know each other, let alone be in a relationship with each other.  It kind of hurts my feelings that it's listed as the #2 romantic comedy of all time.  It hurts my feelings that it's on this list at all.  Ugh.



1. City Lights - I have to admit, I haven't actually seen this movie yet.  It's on its way to me as we speak via the wonder that is Netflix.  I'll let you know.  The #1 movie sort of feels like it should have its own post anyway.  Right?