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Happy Valentine’s Day. I can’t offer you chocolate or flowers or a love note from a Hemsworth brother. But I can offer you a swath of escapist movies to suit or soothe your mood. Take two of these and tweet me in the morning.
Your mood: So sappy, sentimental and Hallmark-y, you could cry
Your movie: A Walk to Remember (2002)
Yeeeears before Mandy Moore made you cry on a weekly basis in This Is Us, she starred in Nicholas Sparks‘ first five-hanky adapation. (And she was a teen pop star. But that’s a story for another holiday.) Recap: A high school punk (Shane West) falls for a bookish student (Moore) who has a penchant for artistry and overalls. So far, so cute, right? Then she reveals she has leukemia. (Pause to wipe eyes with tissue). Though the cry-fest is shamelessly overwrought, the two actors nicely underplay their performances. Now when can we expect a Westaissance?
Alternates: The Fault in Our Stars, Me Before You, The Notebook (obvs), Ghost, Up, Titanic
Your mood: Truly, un-ironically feeling hopeful about finding your special someone
Your movie: Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
“That’s your problem,” bellows Rosie O’Donnell to Meg Ryan. “You don’t want to be in love…you want to be in love in a movie!” Yes, please. And this movie, preferably. The late, great Nora Ephron’s witty ode to soulmate searching features all the chick flick hallmarks, from an irresistible premise (Ryan’s Baltimore journalist connects with Tom Hanks‘ Seattle-based widow after hearing him wax on the radio) to an unabashedly schmaltzy climax atop the Empire State Building — and on Valentine’s Day, but of course. Hanks’ real-life wife Rita Wilson also pops up to deliver a hilariously weepy monologue about her favorite romantic movie, An Affair to Remember. A quarter-century (gulp) later, who wouldn’t do the same for this classic?
Alternates: Notting Hill, Hitch, Pretty Woman, 50 First Dates, You’ve Got Mail, Bridget Jones’ Diary
Your mood: Desperate for a hearty, escapist laugh
Your movie: There’s Something About Mary (1998)
Need a comic tonic? When in doubt, reach for the infamous scene in which a game Cameron Diaz uses extra-sticky hair gel on a date. Or Matt Dillon — Diaz’ real-life boyfriend at the time — doing mouth-to-mouth on a sedated terrier. Or Ben Stiller being mistaken for a serial killer hitchhiker. Or a tiny appearance from The Shape of Water Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins. Or Bret Fah-vre. In fact, this staunchly R-rated comedy — about two guys’ fight to land their ultimate dream girl — features more yuks-per-minute and yucks-per-minute than any flick in recent history. And…shhh…the Farrelly brothers even threw in a sweet happy ending to build you up (buttercup).
Alternates: American Pie, The Hangover (but not the sequels), Old School, Clueless (or any Paul Rudd movie), Mean Girls
Your mood: Nostalgic for the mega-joys and mega-angst of teen love
Your movie: Say Anything… (1989)
Here’s what we really want: A sensitive someone who will point out broken glass on the ground and give instructions on how to drive a stick-shift. In short, we want Lloyd Dobler. In this beauty, the soulful kickboxer (John Cusack) puts his insecurities on the line to ask out the striking yet introverted valedictorian, Diane Court (Ione Skye). No dumb jocularity here: Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire) laces their timid courtship with poignant and achingly genuine moments. And, of course, he creates an indelible — and not at all stalker-y — image when Lloyd raises a boombox over his head and plays “In Your Eyes” to woo back his girl. Nope, can’t compete with that.
Alternates: Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, The Edge of Seventeen, She’s All That, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Save the Last Dance
Your mood: Confident that Ryan Gosling missed out on you
Your movie: La La Land (2016)
Your favorite leading man has never been more irresistible than as a struggling jazz musician in this dazzling 2016 Best Picture Oscar winner. (One year after Oscar Envelope-gate, and I’m still in denial). The talented former child star of the New Mickey Mouse Club on the Disney Channel sings and dances — and, most impressively, plays piano — during his yearlong courtship with an aspiring actress (Emma Stone). This was the pair’s third outing together and their give-and-take chemistry lights up the screen. Indeed, their lovely, slightly off-key little duet “City of Stars” is a low-key highlight. Gosling cut his teeth in deadly serious movie such as Blue Valentine and Drive. But it’s clear his true calling is channeling his inner- Hanks.
Alternates: Crazy, Stupid Love, Blue Valentine, Drive, The Big Short, The Ides of March — basically, anything other than Gangster Squad
Your mood: Hatred at the evil marketing genius known as Cupid
Your movie: Kill Bill, Vol. 1 & 2 (2003 & 2004)
Five years ago, I would have included this Quentin Tarantino freewheeling bloody epic because the warmest love affair was between Uma Thuman’s vengeful Bride character and her Samarai sword. But in light of Thurman’s true-life horror tales of the production — in which she detailed how she almost died driving a stunt car at high speeds and claimed that the writer/director spit on her for effect — the films have significant new meaning. Thurman is just one of the Hollywood #metoo survivors who have come forward with allegations of abuse and assault at the hands of Harvey Weinstein. (The film mogul has denied any wrongdoing.) So now let’s take in the films and appreciate it for Thurman’s real strength, as well as her that of her peers. Remember you know it, Valentine’s Day will be over and we’ll be into March. Otherwise known as Women’s History Month.
Alternates: Thelma & Louise, Wonder Woman, Pitch Perfect, Lady Bird (now on iTunes!)
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