While there are many amazing movies for hopeless romantics out there, not all are available on Netflix. For example, "10 Things I Hate About You," "Love Actually" and "The Proposal," all of which are personal favorites of mine, sadly are not. Lucky for you, I've compiled a list of those that are (in no particular order):
1. "Grease"
Let's start with the classics. I feel like everyone at this point has seen this movie, but in case you haven't yet, here's a quick rundown. Set in the 1950s, good girl Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) meets in all his leather-glory Danny Zucko (John Travolta), and the two have a nice little summer romance. And of course, Danny just so happens to be what I guess you would call a school bad boy, more specifically a greaser. The problem? Reputation and cliques. Of course.
Oh, and it's a musical.
P.S. Remember ladies and gentleman, you do not need to change for any man or woman. You are incredible just the way you are. But Grease is still a good movie.
2. "Clueless"
Yet another classic. Beverly Hills. Wealth. Popularity. Have a nice, mental image yet? Insert Cher (Alicia Silverstone), the school's popular girl who appears as superficial and vain, but is actually rather amiable and clever. Then there is the college-enlightened, former-stepbrother Josh (Paul Rudd). Add in drama, social hierarchy struggles, love-interest-who-turned-out-to-be-gay, and epiphanies and you have what I believe to be an enjoyable 90s film.
3. "Stuck in Love"
Lily Collins. Nat Wolff. Logan Lerman. Need I say more?
If I do, it's about a successful writer and his two children who are all struggling to figure out the complexity that is love. Good guy Lou (Logan Lerman) strives to show hard-headed Sam (Lily Collins) that not all relationships are destined to end in hurt. Soulful Rusty (Nat Wolff) yearns for classmate Kate (Liana Liberato) who comes with a set of problems of her own, and the dad, Bill (Greg Kinnear) is still hung up over his ex-wife who has already remarried.
Bill, Sam, and Rusty form a family of writers so it is interesting to see the perception with which they view their struggles and deal with them.
4. "50 First Dates"
Henry (Adam Sandler) is a player who feels convinced to change his ways when he meets sweetheart Lucy (Drew Barrymore). The twist? She has short-term memory loss... meaning she doesn't remember him ... like every day. Good luck winning her heart, Henry.
5. "Silver Linings Playbook"
Bipolar Pat (Bradley Cooper) and widow Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who suffer from depression and relationship issues, are a complete and absolute mess. But together they are a kind of a beautiful mess.
6. "A Case of You"
New-Yorker Sam (Justin Long) is smitten with the cute coffee shop girl, Birdie (Evan Rachel Wood). He tries to become her dream man so he does the logical thing and actively stalks her Facebook. What could possibly go wrong, right?
7. "Punch-Drunk Love"
Phone-sex gone wrong threatens the budding relationship between emotionally-abused loner Barry (Adam Sandler) and English manic pixie dream girl, Lena (Emily Watson). Enough said, I think.
8. "Notting Hill"
Boy meets girl except boy is a simple bookshop owner and girl is a world-renowned actress beloved by all. Mixed up gender roles make this movie highly enjoyable, and also the fact that main characters Will and Anna are played by Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Perfect recipe for a romance film.
9. "Chasing Amy"
The one where the guy is in love with a girl but she's a lesbian, yet he still tries. Main characters are played by Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams.
10. "13 Going on 30"
An angsty 13-year-old's wish comes true when she wakes up as an older "thirty, flirty, and thriving" Jenna (Jennifer Garner). She also realizes she's in love with her sweet and cute old best friend she left behind in high school, Matt (Mark Ruffalo). The catch? He's already engaged.
11. "The Prince & Me"
He's a prince. She's a pre-med student. Prince Edvard (Luke Mably) comes to America after seeing a show trailer (set in Wisconsin) displaying girls gone wild thinking all Wisconsin college girls are like that, only to be proven dead wrong by Paige (Julia Stiles). But does that steer him away? Not in the slightest. If anything, he only becomes more intrigued. Regardless, he's royalty and she's not, leading to complications and struggles with the royal family.
12. "Legally Blonde"
This movie may kind of be the anti-romantic comedy, but it is a self-empowering film. She finds herself, realizes she doesn't need that less deserving man, and actually finds someone better along the way. Go Elle Woods. May this be the inspiration to any girl who has gotten talked down to like she isn't the intelligent, powerful woman she is.
13. "Down To You"
She loves me. She loves me not. This is the story of college student, Al (Freddie Prinze Jr.), who loses and wins back the first love of his life, Imogen (Julia Stiles), in what seems to be a constant whirlwind cycle. Really tugs at the heart strings.
Some of these may not have perfect scores according to critics, but sometimes cheesiness and cliches are just what a hopeless romantic wants and needs. Still bummed they removed so many great rom-coms from Netflix, however, my heart will go on.
