i love love!

I love horror films. I watched so (er, maybe too) many last year. But as I rolled into the new year, I needed a break from the spooks and gore. Something more lighthearted, like way more lol.

As much as I am a horror lover, I have an equally soft spot for romantic films (especially romcoms). I grew up watching the classics like My Best Friend’s Wedding, She’s All That, Never Been Kissed, 50 First Dates, and The Wedding Planner. My favorite of all is 13 Going on 30. This movie is a perfect blend of humor, drama, and romance that makes you go awww.

Romance films are, simply put, fun to watch. They don’t ask much of you. Most have happy endings. Some may leave you pondering over your non-existent love life (hah). They’re short, sweet, easy to consume and the perfect palate cleanser after a long horror binge!

So far, I’ve watched Dinner in America, Stay the Night, and Past Lives. Here’s my thoughts about each film:

Dinner in America is a coming-of-age romantic dark comedy. It’s quirky, zany, and unpredictably fun. Simon and Patty, the leads, are an unruly duo that somehow just works. Following their journey from beginning to end was a wild ride. I gotta thank TikTok for introducing me to the film’s iconic song, Watermelon, which then led me to finally watching the film itself.

Stay the Night is a Canadian romantic drama that follows Grace and Carter during one long evening of rejection, love, and revelations. I enjoyed seeing their dynamics play out. It was also refreshing to watch an Asian female lead that wasn’t perfect – she was shy, but also determined, she was funny and honest with herself. Carter was a refreshing portrayal of masculinity too in that he wasn’t driven by lust seeking any girl to spend the night with. He was patient with and genuinely interested in getting to know Grace. The characters are left transformed by this one important evening.

Past Lives is a romantic drama that I should’ve watched during all the hype, but better later than never! Nora and Hae Sung’s relationship plays out more slowly compared to the other two films, but it makes sense for the storyline since it spans a little over two decades. This film gave off a kind of sad sweetness vibe where the characters weren’t afraid to lean into their vulnerabilities while also being realistic about their relationship. The ending isn’t entirely happy, but is reasonable and feels true to the characters and their circumstances.

Honorable Mention:

People We Meet on Vacation is the only true romcom I watched amongst the other three (though I didn’t find it that funny). I didn’t particularly enjoy it. I felt that this film packed too much (or too little in some ways) in a short amount of time and lacked depth for my taste. I saw online that the book that it’s based off of does a better job carving out the main characters’ backstory and peculiar friendship/relationship dynamics. Perhaps I would like the storyline more if I read the book.

I’m ready to continue diving into romantic films as the year goes on – some old, some new, some revisits. Stay tuned for more mini reviews! If you have any recommendations, I would love to hear about them!