A lot of us claim to be '90s kids, but are we really? What do we actually know about the '90s? A lot of us in college right now barely, if at all, remember anything from the '90s, let alone the pop culture of the time. So why not educate ourselves about the '90s with the history of an age old trope that really took hold during the decade: the Romantic Comedy.
1. "Sleepless in Seattle"
A classic to start us off: Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in a cross-country romance, centering around a single father and his matchmaker son living in Seattle and a fascinated and lovestruck reporter living in Baltimore. What happens when the single father calls into a "Delilah"-esque radio show? Watch it to find out! This one was a huge deal and inspired the Hanks and Ryan reunion: You've Got Mail.
2. "She's All That"
*queue Sixpence None The Richer's "Kiss Me"*
A classic nerd-to-queen make over story starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinz. Junior Laney Boggs is the school's resident art nerd until popular jock Zach Siler decides to take her under his wing. This is an iconic one and also guest stars Usher.
3. "Pretty Woman"
The beginning of the "tart with the heart" trope, the classic pairing of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Julia Roberts stars as a prostitute in L.A. and Richard Gere stars a rich, yet lonely, bachelor. What will happen when he invites her into his friends car? This one is especially famous because of the strange jewelry laugh scene.
4. "Never Been Kissed"
Never Been Kissed is the charming story of a nerdy and sweet reporter going undercover to discover what life is really like as a high schooler in the '90s. Too bad she has the hots for a teacher. This one stars Drew Barrymore, David Arquette and Michael Vartan. It'll make you cringe, but it's so heartwarming, you'll melt anyway.
5. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
Toula Portokalos has been told her entire life to marry a good Greek boy and make beautiful Greek babies. However, sweet and WASP-y Ian Miller might just cause her to stray from that. This may be biased, as this one is a personal favorite of the writer.
6. "The Wedding Singer"
Pretty hard to picture Adam Sandler as a romantic lead, but he does it with beauty and grace as Robbie Hart, the cool and charismatic wedding singer. But when he meets Julia, the engaged waitress, things start going to hell. This one is hilarious and is known for Robbie's famous angry song, "Somebody Kill Me."
7. "Clueless"
This is one that nearly everyone has seen, but it wouldn't be a real '90s rom-com list without it. "Clueless" is the Austen-inspired story of self-absorbed matchmaker, Cher, finally finding her true match. Totally comedic and a perfect snapshot of the '90s.
