FLICKS THAT MAKE HEARTS BEAT FASTER
If the plan is to have a chill night watching movies for Valentine’s Day by yourself, with your significant other or with your buds after a specially made home-cooked meal (or takeaway), here are a few among many, many selections of films perfect for the occasion. It’ll make you laugh, make you cry, make you want to hold them close, or curl up like a burrito. Either way—hey it’s something to do.
“Notting Hill” (1999)
Funny and charming, apart from the story itself you can’t help but gush over Hugh Grant’s subtle charms and the desire to live in Notting Hill. Oh! and that line: “I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”
“10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
This film is a modernization of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, set in high school. Equal parts sweet and comical, look forward to Heath Ledger singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and the poem.
“Dirty Dancing” (1987)
Girl falls for the dance instructor and has the time of her life. Call it cheesy; you can’t help but love it. The chemistry, the dance, Patrick Swayze—think about it.
“Pretty Woman” (1990)
An escort with a heart of gold charms a wealthy man in search of a companion for just a number of days but in the end, they can’t help but fall in love with each other. This is one of those movies where you wish they would end up together despite the odds—and they do. Julia’s character doesn’t just charm the lead actor but also its viewers.
“500 Days of Summer” (2009)
The love story of a woman who doesn’t believe in love and a man who’s a hopeless romantic—clearly the ending didn’t go where we want it, but that’s part of its charm. It tells an honest story about relationships and how not everything works out but that eventually, it will get better.
“Before Sunrise” (1995)
A must-watch. The movie tells the story of a man and a woman who meet on a train and instantly have this connection and wind up spending one night together in Vienna.
“She’s The Man” (2006)
Viola’s plan was to beat the soccer team of her school who didn’t allow her and her team to join the men’s division, by disguising herself as a man and joining its rival school. But she didn’t plan on falling for her roommate Duke. It’s a mess—but it’s a fun one.
“Love Actually” (2003)
This movie follows the lives of different characters and their love lives. Truly add this to the list. You don’t have to watch this only around Christmas.
“The Notebook” (2004)
If you want to have a tearjerking fest, don’t pass up on this—or any other Nicholas Sparks movie adaptation. To this day, people still talk about this movie, with good reason.
“50 First Dates” (2004)
Forgetful Lucy. Equal parts sad and adorable, the story is about winning a girl’s heart every single day because she has short-term memory loss. Pretty exhausting but amusing to watch.