There’s nothing quite like a good rom-com film to give you a feel-good vibe. Sometimes you’re just not in the mood for a tear-jerker and want something a bit more light-hearted. Here are some of the top rom-coms to watch this year on Netflix and other platforms…
Rom-coms, I think, combine two of the best genres – romance, and comedy. I’ve never been one for horrors or thrillers, and I’ve always enjoyed the warm, fuzzy feeling of a good romance film.
Arguably, they often have a general plot that goes something like this: two people meet, either fall in love instantly, or pretend they don’t have feelings for each other, and then go through a journey before they eventually end up together.
There are usually some trials and tribulations, but love normally prevails in the end and everything ends on a high.
Classics like Friends With Benefits (2011) starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake are generally hard to top, though these new films offer their own stance on the genre. They’re easy watching, upbeat, and exactly what you’ll be looking for when you next have some me-time.
- Marry Me
I can’t say I’ve ever pictured Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson together, though they certainly look charming in Marry Me (2022). Kat Valdez (J.LO) and musician boyfriend Bastian (Maluma) plan to get married in front of thousands of fans after performing her new single ‘Marry Me’. Though in a bizarre twist of fate, she ends up marrying a stranger from the crowd (played by Owen Wilson) after finding out before the concert he’s been cheating on her with her assistant.
Where to watch it: Netflix, Prime
- That’s Amor
After losing her job and coming home to discover her boyfriend cheating on her, Sofia (Riley Dandy) has had a day from hell. To top it all off, she falls down the stairs rushing out of her apartment and ends up on crutches back home with her mother, who enrols them in a couples cooking class to keep her occupied. It’s there she meets the handsome Matias (Isaac Gonzalez Rossi) who teaches her a thing or two about Spanish cuisine, and about real romance.
Where to watch it: Netflix
- Your Place or Mine
Two close friends Debbie (Reece Witherspoon) and Peter (Ashton Kutcher) swap homes for a week. Debbie needs to take an accounting class in New York to help advance her career, leading to old friend Peter coming to LA to look after her son. Peter has recently broken up with his girlfriend, while Debbie has been too focused on being a mother to date. They maintain they’re nothing but friends after a drunken intimate night in high school, though in swapping homes they’ll learn things about each other that feel all too familiar.
Where to watch it: Netflix
- Beautiful Disaster
Based on the 2011 novel by Jamie McGuire, Beautiful Disaster follows the story of freshman Abby (Virginia Gardner), as she is drawn hopelessly to bad boy Travis (Dylan Sprouse). Starting her first year of university, Abby wants to stay focussed on her future and escape the trauma of her past as a child. Though when Travis comes onto the scene staying focussed becomes more difficult than it seems. If you enjoyed watching After, chances are you’ll enjoy this too.
Where to watch it: Amazon, Vudu, and Google Play.
- A Tourist’s Guide To Love
This one might give you some Eat, Pray, Love vibes, as it has that same theme of getting lost in order to find yourself. Amanda Riley (Rachael Leigh Cook), an American travel executive, heads to Vietnam for a work project, after suffering the heartbreak of a five-year relationship ending. It’s there she meets tour guide Sinh Thach (Scott Lý), on a picturesque adventure, where she finds not only beauty, but love, in the totally unexpected.
Where to watch it: Netflix
- Faraway
Zeynep (Naomi Krauss), is sick of being overlooked and undervalued at home in Germany. That’s why she goes off to Croatia, to the island where she has inherited a house after the death of her mother. Though things get off to a rocky start when the previous owner Josip is reluctant to let go of the property, forcing the two closer together than they would’ve liked. It’s a cross-cultural story that puts a refreshing spin on what is a classic romance plot.
Where to watch it: Netflix
Life Lovers Magazine® 