Illustration by Amal Khan, The Mike Illustrator
Three romantic movies to get you in the lovin’ mood
Andrew Roberts, Staff Writer
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about romantic movies is a cute relationship. Most movies that feature a couple come across as clichéd and repetitive. This Valentine’s Day I do not want to sit at home alone watching two childhood friends rekindle love for each other years later, a football player going out of his way to pick up books that an attractive studious woman has dropped, and I most definitely do not want to watch a three-hour movie about a boat sinking. Here are three movies that refresh the romantic genre by having these seemingly perfect relationships tested, leading to what feels like a more earned display of love compared to clichéd counterparts.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Good Will Hunting is a powerful story about the fear of change. Matt Damon’s character, Will, is in denial about leaving his home in south Boston, but all that seems to change when he meets Skylar, which pushes him to pursue a new life with her. The movie shows how much work and dedication goes into a relationship, and the level of maturity it takes to be able to make that big step into an unforeseeable future. Robin Williams’ performance as Sean is one of cinema’s best and will bring you to tears. Good Will Hunting is a feel-good movie about the trials and tribulations of adulthood and is recommended to all audiences.
Booksmart (2019)
Booksmart is truly the best high school comedy of the last few years. The movie is largely compared to Superbad, another classic, but it does a great job in demonstrating what it’s like to be in high school in 2019. While it does not have a romantic relationship as its key focus, it does tell an entertaining story between two best friends, Amy and Molly, as they feel like they missed out on the party life during high school, so they decide to have one final night out before they graduate. The movie highlights the romantic intricacies of school and how expectations can be easily subverted. There is also a great representation of LGBTQ+ characters in this movie, and it represents them in a very nonchalant manner, which is refreshing because other movies seem to put more emphasis on character’s sexuality than actual development and story.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Eternal Sunshine is the pinnacle of romantic drama; it is an emotional rollercoaster that is captivating from start to finish. The story follows the relationship of Joel and Clementine. After a fight, Clementine decides to wipe her memories of Joel through an operation in her sleep. When Joel finds out about this, he decides to do the same operation out of emotional distress. The movie encompasses the difficulties of trying to establish a lasting relationship. It also reminds us that not all relationships are perfect, and while the rocky points are hard, sometimes the payoff of spending time with your significant other is worth it.
