If you are deciding whether or not to stay in this Valentine’s Day and watch a movie, you may want to consider a film about Valentine’s Day itself. This holiday has a long and storied history that has been showcased in many different films. You can choose one of these films to watch, snuggled up next to your sweetie. Just add your favorite finger foods (cause who wants to be stuck in the kitchen all night); put out a cozy blanket to snuggle under, light a few candles and you’re all set. Best of all this romantic scenario means not having to fight the crowds at an overbooked restaurant. For a memorable time, here are the best movies about Valentine’s Day-
- Valentine’s Day-This 2010 release by famed director Garry Marshall may just be the quintessential movie about the holiday. The movie stars: Julia Roberts, Emma Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel. There are numerous other characters including: a very busy florist (Ashton Kutcher) and his schoolteacher best friend (Jennifer Garner). She’s having an affair with a married doctor (Patrick Dempsey). Meanwhile, a businessman (Bradley Cooper) and a military captain (Julia Roberts) on leave share a long conversation during an international flight. There’s also an elderly couple (Hector Elizondo and Shirley MacLaine) who are caring for their elementary school-age grandson, who is pining for a classmate and missing his mother. The huge cast also include: Jamie Foxx as a local TV personality, Topher Grace, Queen Latifah, and Anne Hathaway. In a cleverly connected series of stories, Los Angeles residents wend their way through the highs and lows of love during a single day. As the holiday unfolds, they experience first dates, longtime commitments, youthful crushes and connections to old flames. The movie cleverly shows the intricacies and expectations of Valentine’s Day.
- Sleepless in Seattle-While Valentine’s Day only figures in at the end of this movie, its symbolism will stay with you long after the movie ends. Sleepless in Seattle, was the 1993 sophomore directorial effort from Nora Ephron. This is a light romantic comedy that was inspired by the 1957 film An Affair to Remember. Tom Hanks stars as widower and single father Sam. When Sam’s son, Jonah (Ross Malinger), calls in to a talk radio program looking for a new mother, Sam ends up getting on the phone and laments about his lost love. Thousands of miles away, Annie (Meg Ryan) hears the program and immediately falls in love with Sam, despite the fact that she has never met him and that she is engaged to humdrum Walter (Bill Pullman). Believing they are meant to be together, Annie sets out for Seattle to meet Sam, who, meanwhile, contends with an onslaught of letters from available women equally touched by his phone call. Rosie O’Donnell, Rita Wilson, and Rob Reiner also star in this movie. The conclusion leads to Sam, Jonah and Annie meeting on the Empire State Building on you guessed it-Valentine’s Day.
- I Hate Valentine’s Day-This 2009 romantic comedy stars Nia Vardalos, John Corbett and Judah Friedlander. Nia Vardalos of My Big Fat Greek Wedding also wrote and directed this film. This lighthearted romantic comedy is set in Manhattan. Vardalos plays a florist who abides by a strict five-date-limit with any man finds herself wanting more with the new restaurateur in town. At the end of the fifth date, Genevieve (Vardalos) typically calls the relationship off. So far, this method has worked like a charm, but when Genevieve meets Greg (Corbett) everything changes. The ensuing romantic complications find the main characters taking a new look at Valentine’s Day.