Comforting Films, Vol. 4: Another Valentine’s Day Roundup

That’s right — she’s back and she’s got a whole ‘nother stack of roms and coms for this beloved commercial holiday of ours.* It never ends, and so too, will never end my love of disastrously hopeless people accidentally spilling coffee on each other, reaching for the same obscure novel in an indie bookshop, or any other outlandish meet-cute rolling around in the imagination of today’s budding young filmmakers. If you’re reading this and make films: call me — I have a whole list of ways I want to see people meet and reluctantly fall in love on screens as big as my house. If you’re looking to meet-cute, I’ll be at the local bookshop from 4 until closing reaching for that First Edition copy of Emma in the Rare Books room. Your move.

Valentine’s Day for me over the years has become a surprising joy, if not for the traditional reasons, but for the sake of reminding myself it’s okay to love a little. Myself, my friends, random strangers who hold doors open for me... I honestly don’t take enough time to express myself and a good calendar reminder never hurt anybody. Of course I celebrate with the classics — a good outfit, a stiff drink... dessert acquired from under the counter like they do on tv... and if I don’t spend at least my fair share of the cold season with a good portion of this entire film series, you can rest assured I spend the entirety of February wrapped up in these comforts, awaiting that most sugary confection of a day upon which lies for many the great rush of anticipation, but for more likely a greater portion of us some sense of crashing dread or inadequacy. It doesn’t have to be that way, at least not because some random calendar told us so.

In reality, complete happiness is a myth but it is also anywhere or in any moment we want to seek it, and I for one am a romantic. So buy yourself the flowers, bake yourself the sugar cookies. Watch the cheesy movie. Kiss your friends (with their permission), flirt with your enemies, fall in love for thirty seconds and do it all again tomorrow. Spend the day with your discomfort and then take it out on a big romantic date. Because therein lies that wonder of the romantic comedy as we all know it — it’s not a happy ending if our leads haven't suffered at least a little, but they will always find some happiness in the end. Take the example and run with it.

In a way, that brings me to this year’s list. While I started out with something larger and more general, what I’ve concluded with here is a most cherished list for that very specific angle. True, they have their comedy and their heartwarming moments, but what they have that wrings my heart most of all is a touch of bravery. Whether changing a life altogether or simply getting that one little nerve to finally show some vulnerability, I’m not only envious of these characters for their perfectly coiled waves and Nancy Meyers-esque apartments, I’m honestly just in awe of them. It’s a hard world, for hope, for happiness, for love; but the romantic comedy, and its earnest belief in the best of all of us, will never let me down.

So go forth, dear reader! And find love, or whatever else you will, this mysterious and wondrous season.

Plus One (2019)

This wedding-centric tale follows the inimitable Maya Erskine and Jack Quaid** as the last single friends standing among all of their paired off acquaintances — reluctantly thrown together as each other’s dates to an endless parade of events — and while they initially agree to help each other find prospective romance, find themselves falling for each other; terrified of everything that entails but ultimately choosing to dive in completely and see what happens. A sweet story of will they or won’t they, right until the very end.

This Beautiful Fantastic (2016)

This Beautiful Fantastic is less comedy than romance, but still a wonderful delight to watch. Set in a quaint London neighborhood and filled with magical touches straight out of fairy tale, it stars Jessica Brown Findlay as Bella, a reclusive bookworm and wannabe writer, working in a library when she one day stumbles upon an artist who sweeps her off her feet. But the real story lies in her garden, where her fears run rampant and where with the friendship of her neighbors (including Andrew Scott in his most loveable role ever — yes, that one included) she finally learns to cultivate beauty in nature, and rejoin the outside world. A bonus if you’re looking for aesthetic, as the costume and production are straight out of Wes Anderson, if he were instead the type to produce poetic British drama centering female characters, instead of his usual bright comedic fare.

The Year of Spectacular Men (2017)

It’d be impossible to choose a favorite on this list, but The Year of Spectacular Men would come pretty close. A family affair, it stars sisters Zoey and Madelyn Deutch as sisters Sabrina and Izzy, while they make their way in love and work over the course of a year in their twenties. Written by Madelyn and directed by their mother Lea Thompson (who also co-stars as the pair’s mother; Zoey and their father Howard Deutch produced, with Madelyn also providing an original soundtrack for the film), the story might seem to wink at satire or biography, with Sabrina’s burgeoning eccentric starlet serving as foil to Izzy’s struggling emotional writer. Still, that doesn’t get in the way, and in fact provides a deeper connection to the characters and their paths. The entire cast plays off each other in ways that make you root for their happiness despite everything, and rewards realistically in the end.

Juliet, Naked (2018)

In my last list, I mentioned the masterpiece that is the Before trilogy, starring, among others, Ethan Hawke in a rare romantic role. Juliet, Naked would be my first suggestion for anyone interested in following that with another endearing Hawke lead. Playing a washed up musician turned stay-at-home father, we meet his character about a third into the film, after following Rose Byrne’s female lead in the humdrum life that leads her to (in a moment of frustration) publicly eviscerate his most recent album release. Responding to her critique in surprising agreement, the two strike up a friendly online correspondence that leads to a deep and meaningful connection, and inspires them both to pursue the things in life they both wish for dearly.

Destination Wedding (2018)

Destination Wedding is perhaps the most comedic of all romantic comedies, in a very unromantic and ironic way. What I mean by that is, there is a meet-cute, it goes horribly wrong; our leads are drawn to each other, but only because they see in each other their own futile bitterness and misery; and finally, when they fall in love, both completely refuse to admit it. But we wouldn’t be here, if things didn’t turn out alright for our curmudgeonly pair, and it is the shining chemistry and vulnerability of Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves that keep us hooked until the very end. Full of some perfect combination of sarcasm and hope, I found myself laughing out loud every single time Ryder waxed, “What if we’re falling in love?” to which Reeves consistently replied, “DON’T.”

Austenland (2013)

With all things Jane Austen on our minds this month, Austenland is the perfect lead up to next week’s release of Emma. In this modern day take on Pride and Prejudice, we meet Jane, our quiet heroine who spends her entire savings to attend an English Austen-inspired theme park and live out her romantic fantasy. Cast aside in favor of wealthier resort attendants, Jane is left to assert her dreams and create a tale of her own. Although initially clashing with the brooding “resident Darcy,” you know where the story goes...

Emma (2020)

I hesitated for a moment with Emma, as it has not been released yet, however as my most anticipated film of the month — if not year — based on one of my favorite novels ever, I couldn’t resist. We all know this story: the girl spends her life meddling in the lives of others in order to avoid confronting the thing she wants, until it is all but taken away from her, and she has to pluck up the courage to let everything else go and admit to her own feelings at the risk of rejection. I love Autumn De Wilde, and Eleanor Catton, and Anya Taylor-Joy, and Johnny Flynn, and I still cannot believe my lucky stars this combination of people exist and came together to create the delectable treat that I have no doubt this film will be.

Honorable Mention: I put this one at the top of my list last year, and I’d be remiss not to bring it up again given the theme. For all of its whimsically glamorous trappings (no pun intended) and search of blue blood husbands, at its core Penelope is nothing if not the quintessential fairy tale of quiet courage and vulnerability, and I will keep recommending it to all of you forever.

*Y’all I have so many saved you’ll probably get at least one of these a year until the end of time. Likewise, if you’ve got any favorites we haven't featured, share them below and give this poor single girl some more unrealistic expectations!

**Still not over that Frances Valentine campaign. Never over that Frances Valentine campaign.

[For reference, at the time of this publishing: Within the US; Plus One and The Year of Spectacular Men are streaming on Hulu. This Beautiful Fantastic is on YouTube, Hulu, and Vudu. Juliet, Naked is on Hulu and Amazon Prime, and Destination Wedding is on Amazon Prime exclusively. Austenland is on Crackle, and Penelope is on Vudu and Tubi, though it also circulates on all of the usual suspects at various times of the year. This article is not sponsored by any of these entities, so consider this information my valentine to all of you.]

Raquel Reyes is Creative Director at The Attic on Eighth. She enjoys styling photo shoots, dramatic hair accessories, and old fashioned cocktails.