True Love vs Bad Romance

With Valentine’s Day is just around the corner here are eight movies that either define #relationshipgoals or make you happy to be single.

MOVIES FOR TRUE LOVE

1. Music and Lyrics: Drew Barry­more and Hugh Grant star in this sweet romantic comedy, which follows Grant’s Alex Fletcher, a washed up ‘80s popstar, as he attempts to make a comeback. Barrymore plays Sophie Fisher, a woman with a knack for writ­ing lyrics, but not for watering plants. Grant’s dry British humor plays well with Barrymore’s bubbly outlook and passionate attitude. The chemistry between the stars is unmistakable and the spoofs of the ‘80s music scene is on key, making this a rare romcom that delivers both strong romance and strong laughs. Rated PG-13.

2. Sliding Doors: Ever wonder how your life would be different with just one little change? Sliding Doors is the romance for you! Gwyneth Paltrow plays Helen Quilley, a woman who in one universe catches a train and thus catches her boyfriend cheating, and in another misses the train and con­tinues her life with him. It shows how much little; everyday decisions can change the course of a life. It’s an in­triguing premise, filled with romance, drama, and comedy. Rated R.

3. Ever After: The Cinderella story has been retold approximately a tril­lion times, so why pick this one? Be­cause Drew Barrymore as Danielle is a great heroine, spirited and deter­mined to change her own life, Dou­gray Scott is a brooding and passion­ate prince, and together they make a compelling couple. There’s no magic in this retelling, as it’s set in the “real” world, but it doesn’t need it, as the characters are vibrant enough to make up for it. And if that doesn’t interest you, Anjelica Huston plays the wick­ed stepmother, a role she was born to play. Rated PG-13.

4. The Princess Bride: If you’ve seen it, then you know it deserves to be on this list, and if you haven’t, you need to watch this immediately. Cary Elwes and Robin Wright star as Westley and Buttercup, who find true love in each other but become separated, and But­tercup, believing Westley dead, agrees to marry another. But plotting awaits, Buttercup is kidnapped, and who is that mysterious pirate who comes to find her? The Princess Bride has some­thing for everyone—action, adven­ture, romance, comedy, drama—mak­ing it a must-watch. Rated PG.

MOVIES ABOUT BAD ROMANCE

1. A Perfect Murder: What do you do when you find out your wealthy wife is cheating on you? If you’re Mi­chael Douglas’ Steven Taylor, you decide to murder her. But of course, there’s nothing simple about the per­fect murder, even if it goes as planned. Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow as the adulterous wife and Viggo Mortensen as her lover. A dark, sexy, entirely unromantic movie, which is com­pletely worth a watch. Rated R.

2. What Lies Beneath: Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford star in this moody thriller about a woman who starts seeing things after her daughter leaves for college. Is there a ghost try­ing to communicate with her? Or is she going crazy? Is her husband trying to make her better or worse? Will they all make it out alive? It’ll keep you guessing, and its stars deliver spell­binding performances. Rated PG-13.

3. Fear: Ah, young love. There’s nothing quite like it. Reese Wither­spoon and Mark Wahlberg, both early in their careers, play teenagers Nicole and David, who meet and are instantly attracted to each other. They start dating, her dad thinks he’s a bad boy and doesn’t approve, and then David starts going off the rails. Mark Wahlberg plays a great obsessed lover, and Reese Witherspoon feels genuine as the girl who doesn’t know what she’s gotten herself into. Rated R.

4. Fatal Attraction: This is it, the quintessential sex-gone-wrong mov­ie. Michael Douglas plays Dan Gal­lagher, a married man who has a fling with Alex Forrest, played by Glenn Close. After it ends, he’s ready to move on with his life, but Alex is not ready to let him go. She becomes increas­ingly deranged, doing whatever she can to keep Dan’s attention. It’s excit­ing, suspenseful, and the complete opposite of romantic. Rated R.