Valentines day is the “ annual festival to celebrate romantic love, friendship, and admiration. Every year on 14 February people celebrate this day by sending messages of love and affection to partners, family, and friends.” (rosesonly.com) Now what would be a better way to celebrate than a night at home with a gourmet meal and the perfect v-day movie?
So I went to the halls of WHS, asking 50 students what their top/go-to romantic comedy for valentines day is. Once the results came in, there was a clear yet unexpected winner of this poll, claiming first by a landslide. That movie was “How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days.” Starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey directed by Donald Petrie tell the story of An advice columnist, Andie Anderson, who writes in her new piece about how to get a man to leave you in 10 days. Her editor loves it, and Andie goes off to find a man she can use for the experiment. Enters executive Ben Berry, is so confident in the romantic prowess that he thinks he can make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days. Andie and Ben then meet having their plans backfire yet create a story of integrity, laughs, and love.
Taking the spot for number two is the classic 90’s film “10 Things I Hate for You”. This Gil Junger-directed young adult romantic comedy is set in Pagua high school, starring Julia Stiles (Kat Stratford), Heath Ledger (Patrick Verona), and Larisa Oleynik (Bianca). Kat is beautiful, smart, and quite abrasive to most of her fellow teens, meaning that she doesn’t attract many boys. Unfortunately for her younger sister, Bianca’s house rules say that she can’t date until Kat has a boyfriend. Soon Kat crosses paths with handsome new arrival Patrick Verona. Will Kat let her guard down enough to fall for the effortlessly charming Patrick? This film is full of iconic comedic moments with relatable scenes making it a movie worth watching.
The movie taking third place in the poll is “When Harry Met Sally.” The movie stars Meg Ryan (Sally Albright) and Billy Crystal (Harry Burns), is directed by Rob Reiner and is set in 1970’s New York City. In 1977, college graduates Harry Burns and Sally Albright shared a car ride from Chicago to New York, during which they argued about whether men and women can ever truly be strictly platonic friends. Ten years later, Harry and Sally meet again at a bookstore. After this meeting, they attempt to stay friends without gender differences becoming an issue between them. This heartthrob is a great watch to get cuddled up on the couch with your significant other or on your own!
The final films are equally as good as the first two which are, “Crazy, Stupid Love” taking fourth, and “The Notebook” taking fifth. Both feature a love story from a different side of the track and star Ryan Gosling. So take a night at home, grab a bowl of popcorn, and enjoy one of these superb movies at Washington High School’s recommendation.