10 Things I Hate About You
It’s unhealthy how many times I have watched this movie. I can quote it from beginning to end, including all the soundtrack lyrics. It’s set in a high school, which makes it all the more relatable and hilarious. This movie has it all. Enemies to lovers, high school cliches, sister drama, and a fair amount of backstabbing to keep you on the edge of your seat.
The main character, Kat Stratford, is my role model with her quick retorts and witty sarcasm. I look up to her, but in the loosest sense, considering she is called “The Shrew,” by her classmates. Patrick Verona on the other hand, has more layers. Let’s be honest, a rom-com isn’t worth the watch without a heartthrob, and Pat definitely checks all the boxes. He is portrayed as a “bad boy” at the beginning of the movie, but as the plot continues, you get to know the sweet guy underneath the thick skin. I mean he has an Australian accent for heaven sakes, what more could you want?
At first, Patrick is paid to go out with Kat, and he has trouble cracking her icy persona. The couple starts off with some playful banter, which eventually leads to real feelings and complications. Their dynamic is absolutely adorable and will have you invested in the ‘will they, won’t they.’
Overall, this rom-com will help you forget all of your high school drama, by instead providing you with its own.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
This movie has Matthew McConaughey, need I say more? Set in New York, where all the greatest movies are, Benjamin Barry and Andie Anderson are both focused on their careers.
Andie is best known for her column that teaches readers how to do something specific. In this case, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” She is determined to find the perfect guy and drive him away by testing different levels of crazy. That way, women could recognize when they had gone too far in their own relationships.
Benjamin Barry on the other hand, a successful businessman in advertising, hopes to land a deal with a jewelry company. In order to prove his dedication, he is tasked with making a selected woman fall in love with him. Unfortunately for him, the lucky lady happens to be Andie.
The two of them are both working behind the scenes for their own ulterior motives while trying to remain discreet. Andie becomes a complete wack job, and Ben just smiles and treats her like a princess.
After days of fake smiles and over-the-top gestures, the two decide to take a trip together where real feelings begin to come into play. Of course, because no love story is ever straightforward and they want you to lose sleep, Ben and Andie’s relationship becomes a twisted mess.
Why do your homework when you can watch two people deceive each other and eventually end up in love?
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Laura Jean Covey-Song is a romantic. When she has a crush, she writes letters to the recipient of her feelings. However, these letters are never supposed to leave the box they are stored in. Fortunately for us, they get mailed by the genius little sister, and Laura-Jean’s life implodes.
The letters were addressed to: A few inconsequential people from Laura-Jean’s past, Josh Sanderson and Peter Kavinsky. Josh is Laura-Jean’s older sister’s ex-boyfriend. You can imagine why that letter was supposed to stay in the box. Peter, though a viable option, is caught up in his recent breakup with Genevieve, the stereotypical mean girl. Unfortunately, every movie has to have a character you want to strangle. Gen will have you screaming at your TV, which I encourage for the best watching experience.
When Josh comes with several questions, Laura-Jean evades them with grace, by tackling Peter on the track and kissing him to stop Josh’s advance. Good thing Laura-Jean is incapable of making good decisions because this movie becomes all the more interesting. Peter, trying to make his ex jealous, proposes the two fake a relationship for their own benefits.
Peter is too charming for his own good, and eventually has Laura-Jean gone for him. Happens to the best of us. She has to overcome her fear of commitment and confess her feelings.
This is another high school romance that is sure to get you invested.
The Princess Diaries 2
Royalty and romance make for a fantastic movie. If you only watched the first of this series, you were robbed. As Mia Thermopolis navigates becoming princess of Genovia, she is also tasked with finding a husband so she can advance to the throne.
Mia feels that she could rule just as efficiently without a husband, but fortunately for us, the search begins for an eligible bachelor. Lord Nicholas Deverau, the nephew of an evil viscount, was tasked with winning over the princess to attain the throne. He shamelessly flirts with Mia, while she threatens him. Mia fights to remain cold-hearted towards Nicholas, while he begins to fall for her first.
Mia finds the perfect match for the throne, Andrew Jacoby, who is decidedly not Nicholas Deverau. Thankfully, Mia becomes conflicted between paying it safe with Andrew or allowing her heart to choose Nicholas.
While you struggle to keep up with Mia’s feelings, you are sure to fall in love with this movie.
Crazy Rich Asians
Rachel Chu, a Chinese-American raised by a single mother in New York, is dating Nicholas Young, seemingly a nobody as well. When Nicholas invites Rachel to visit his hometown in Taiwan for a wedding, Rachel discovers that he is certainly a somebody.
Nick’s family, the Youngs, owns the biggest real estate company in Taiwan, making them “crazy rich.” The couple flies first class on a private jet to meet up with the bride and groom. Upon arrival, Rachel is bombarded with questions and comments about how she will never measure up to Young status. Nick’s mother, the ringmaster of all the criticism, makes Rachel’s life miserable throughout the trip. She reminds Rachel of her humble beginnings and essentially compares her to the scum on the bottom of her stiletto heels.
As Rachel tries to remain strong, people come at her from every angle. Bashing her looks, her job, and even going as far as leaving a dead fish on her pillow. Why are these people psychotic? They’re the Youngs, they can pay you off if you can see through the mirage of perfection.
Rachel, ever-poised, has to figure out how to dodge all of the drama, while figuring out if Nick is worth all the commotion. Their love story is worth the watch.
