The other day I found my parents (yes I still live at home) watching the new Harry Styles fan-fiction adaptation, The Idea of You. It’s actually crazy that we’re living in a time where you can let your inner middle school fantasies run wild and get a film made starring Anne Hathaway. It’s even crazier that Harry Styles would get another movie based off him after an entire franchise was created for him (After 2019). I’ve been seeing the buzz around this movie for a while now and could not imagine it being good. It still kind of baffles me that Anne Hathaway took it on, but also she looks hot and she did a really great job.
But yes, I walked in on my parents watching it because they had stumbled upon it organically. You see, the entire romance genre of film has been a staple of our household. We constantly cycle through Hugh Grant’s filmography, watch the Holiday every Christmas, and just watched Crazy Rich Asians yesterday. Romance is a big deal to us and lately…it’s been giving high school production of Romeo and Juliet. I’m not here to shit on movies like The Idea of You or Anyone but You (but like what is with this formula of titles). I think there’s a place for shitty romance movies.
My problem though is that we just can’t keep spewing out mediocre rom-com’s that use that horribly overdone cool-girl/cool-guy banter and call that modern day romance. I need the people at Bridgerton to start making movies because the casting, chemistry, and writing is perfect. I’m still not over Johnathan Bailey’s sexual orientation because his chemistry on and off screen with Simone Ashley was ethereal. They made me feel things that these 10¢ budget films just can’t achieve!
The Idea of You wasn’t bad. It’s probably one of the better I’ve seen in a while. I was, in fact, a directioner in middle school and it kind of repulses me that they’re mimicking that era of One Direction and that’s what keeps me from taking this movie seriously. They really missed an opportunity to recreate Frat Boy Harry. His hair definitely should have been longer, but the concept was really strong. Many women in Hollywood talk about how sad it is that they go from playing the lead to moms and grandmas. Granted, Anne Hathaway is still a mom in this film, but I like that they played with the age gap a little and how a relationship like that would play out.
I did like this movie better than Anyone But You with Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. Anyone But You was set up to succeed and hit all the beats, but the chemistry just wasn’t there. They had more chemistry off screen than they did on-screen. The lines and story weren’t perfect, but most Romance movies don’t always live by the rules of reality. It’s part of the charm, but the reason other romance movies like Sleepless in Seattle or To All The Boys I Loved Before, is that the chemistry and line delivery works together to bring a script to life. Again, that is why season 2 of Bridgerton is GOAT’ed (although I have been following along Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton’s press tour and the sparks are there). Not only do you believe they’re in love, but you FEEL the love.
MY TOP TEN ROMANCE MOVIES OF ALL TIME
Okay, it’s time I stop hating and talk about what I really like. So in no particular order, here are my favorite romance movies of all time:
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
Notting Hill
13 Going on 30
Crazy Rich Asians
Pretty in Pink
Pride and Prejudice
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Me Before You
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
10 Things I Hate About You
BRIDGERTON SAVE US
Yeah everything has basically gone downhill since 2019. To take my hater hat off, we’re going in a good direction. We have the formula, we just need to execute a little better and bring back tear jerking and quirky romances. So now that I’ve given my list, we can think of it as homework, inspiration that will lead us to better times. Execs, producers, please take a page out of Shondaland’s trusted book of romance. Of the 20 seasons of Grey’s scandals and drama, the love triangles always ate, even in the newer (shittier) seasons. And now that much of Shonda Rhimes’s eggs are being placed into the ‘Ton, we can really learn from the way talented directors, writers, actors, and designers come together to create a banger every season. Until then, I will be waiting.
Thank you for reading! Please comment your favorite romance movies or any thoughts you had on this piece. <3