Friday Favorites: Rom Coms

I know, it’s a day late. Also, if you know me, you are wondering if aliens abducted me and replaced me with a clone who likes rom coms—because as a general rule, I do not. But as I was reflecting today on how much I loved Crazy Rich Asians, I realized there were in fact a handful of other romantic movies I genuinely like. NB: not all of them are comedies, and several star Audrey Hepburn. I trauma-bonded to her when I was delirious from chicken pox in high school (pro tip: get it when you’re a kid and have less surface area), and all that seemed to be on was Roman Holiday.

• Crazy Rich Asians: Come for Henry Golding’s abs, stay for the fashion. And Awkwafina! And Michelle Yeoh making dumplings wearing a phat emerald ring! And grandmas playing mahjong! (#goals) The wedding scene is…well, you just have to see it for yourself.
• Roman Holiday: I mean, if Audrey Hepburn in a pixie cut wasn’t enough to get you there, it’s got Gregory Peck in an ascot, for crying outside. And scooter chases and gelato and fabulous kerchiefs and a drunken brawl on a dinner barge during which Audrey puts someone’s head through a guitar. The ending: well, if you have dry eyes at that point, I question whether *you* were abducted by aliens.
• Ladyhawke: Man, if I could only have one movie to watch on a deserted island, this would be a strong contender. I watched it so many times in middle and high school, I broke the VHS tape. Michelle Pfeiffer is at her most ethereal, and I’m pretty sure Rutger Hauer (and his horse) were my first celebrity crushes. My sister and I still quote Father Tiberius every time we cross a sketchy bridge: “Walk on the LEFT side. I’m a monk, not an architect!”
• Sabrina: Humphrey Bogart reminds me SO much of my grandpa in this, and Audrey Hepburn of my grandma. This is when Givenchy started dressing Audrey, and the clothes are on fleek, as the kids say. The soufflé cooking scene at the Paris culinary school is so hilarious: “Much, much too low.”
• Princess Bride: Half of my vocabulary in high school came from this movie. “Rodents of unusual size? Frankly, I don’t believe they exis….AAAGH!” “You use that word so often. I do not think it means what you think it means.” “Be honest; it’s for posterity.” “To the death? No! To the PAIN.” Also, I dare you not to fall in love with Cary Elwes.
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s: I still love the redemption arc here, and Audrey and George Peppard sell the heck out of Truman Capote’s somewhat stock tortured-artist-rescues-lost-girl story. It hasn’t aged well, though. I now find the sexual politics pretty cringy, and you’ll want to fast-forward through Mickey Rooney in yellowface as Holly Golightly’s landlord.
• True Romance: the only one of Quentin Tarrantino’s movies I ever liked. Brad Pitt’s cameo is hilarious.
• Raising Arizona: My favorite of the Coen Brothers movies, and they’ve made so many good ones. I still occasionally say, “The government sure do take a bite, don’t she!” when I see my paycheck. And the Biker of the Apocalypse…. Man, I need to watch this again.
• Legend: I really think you had to be there at that particular time in the 80s to think this movie was any good. But I was there, and Mia Sara was gorgeous. And there were unicorns and fairies and sunlit forests that reminded me of the bosque in May when the cottonwoods scatter their seeds like warm snow flurries. Tim Curry was great as the bad guy. I think the soundtrack by Tangerine Dream is still awesome; it was the second cassette tape I ever bought, after the soundtrack to Labyrinth. And oh right, Tom Cruise is in it (that’s the comedy part).
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Just heart-warming and charming. I think of it every time we clean the mirrors and windows with Windex at the dojo. And every time I make lamb (“Don’t eat no meat?! That’s OK, I make lamb.”)