HaVy Nguyen Mrs. Hou Newspaper: Arts & Entertainment Section Article, draft 1A 12 January 2015 Perfect Valentine’s Day Movies By HaVy Nguyen With not a lot of romantic movie options in theaters on Valentine’s Day weekend (unless you’re daring enough to brave the trauma that is 50 Shades of Grey), you might find yourself spending the night watching movies at home with your date or your other single friends. Here are some movies great for either situation. Love Actually: This classic, Christmasthemed romantic comedy doubles as the perfect film for a night in on Valentine's Day and for snuggling up in front of the TV on Christmas Eve. Set in London, the separate story lines of couples preparing for the holidays show the many different types and stages of love. The interwoven stories and romantic setting make this movie great for date night, not to mention the dreamy British accents. Crazy, Stupid Love: It may not be as much of a classic as The Notebook, but this movie is a refreshing combination of heartfelt romance and the dry humor so associated with two of its stars, Steve Carell and Emma Stone. The rest of the starstudded cast includes Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, and Kevin Bacon. The film also features that style so common to romantic comedies/dramas, with characters whose lives and stories are tangled with each other and an ending in which all of the separate plots and characters converge. When Harry Met Sally: Harry and Sally's dilemma poses the everpresent question, "Can a man and a woman ever be just friends without wanting something more?" While it may seem cliche, this movie is the original. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan combine their talents for great onscreen chemistry and deliver heartmelting quotes without fault. This film is a must for hopeless romantics, whether it be for impressing a date with your excellent taste in movies or for spending Valentine's Day alone with your feelings. He’s Just Not That Into You: This dramatic comedy might be better for a girls’ night, with its themes of feminism and selfempowerment, but who knows? Guys can be into that stuff, too. Another movie with converging plotlines, He’s Just Not That Into You boasts yet another allstar cast, including but not limited to Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, Drew Barrymore, and Scarlett Johansson.
Can’t Buy Me Love: If you’re into “retro” movies, this one is definitely for you. This film features a young, Patrick Dempsey, better known for his role as “McDreamy” on Grey’s Anatomy, as an awkward nerd that pays the most popular girl in school, played by Amanda Peterson, to be his girlfriend for a month. The plot seems kind of corny, but seeing Dempsey in all his gawky, late1980s glory definitely makes it worth seeing. It’s also something of a classic, among the likes of Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club.