Recommendations for romantic movies

February 13, 2013 8:11 PM

I need some suggestions for romantic movies released in the last 5-6 years. Something evocative of Love Actually or Bridget Jones' Diary would be ideal, although a British setting isn't necessary. Ensemble casts are appreciated. Romantic comedies in general are fine, but explicitly not looking for anything Judd Apatow, Adam Sandler, Steve Carell, or Seth Rogen have any involvement with. Any ideas?
posted by empyrean to media & arts (30 answers total)

Once was pretty terrific.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:13 PM on February 13 [8 favorites]

How about the most recent Pride and Prejudice? The one with Keira Knightley.
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:15 PM on February 13 [1 favorite]

I don't generally like romcoms, but I enjoyed Kate & Leopold. It stars Meg Ryan along with Wolverine and Sabertooth, and it's a little bit sci-fi-y (but only in the way that Somewhere in Time was sci-fi-y.) It definitely breaks the romcom mold, while still keeping what everybody loves about the genre. (I know it's a little older that what you're looking for, but it's still worth checking out.)
posted by nushustu at 8:21 PM on February 13

I liked Paper Heart.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 8:27 PM on February 13 [1 favorite]

Chocolat?
posted by orrnyereg at 8:32 PM on February 13

Oops, forgot to say I also liked Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.

I promise I do not only watch movies starring Michael Cera.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 8:33 PM on February 13 [7 favorites]

Away We Go was lovely. Definitely not the standard Rom Com format, and there are some Apatow acolytes involved (the female lead is the bride from Bridesmaids), but its not an Apatow thing.

Also, Stranger Than Fiction.
posted by dry white toast at 8:35 PM on February 13 [2 favorites]

Friends With Benefits (2011) starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis.
He's Just Not That Into You (2009) starring Jennifer Anniston, Jennifer Connolly, Drew Barrymore.
Definitely, Maybe (2008) with Ryan Reynolds and Rachel Weisz.
Valentine's Day (2010) with Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway and Jamie Foxx.
Love and Other Drugs (2010) with Jake Gyllenhall and Anne Hathaway.
posted by paulsc at 8:44 PM on February 13 [2 favorites]

Crazy, Stupid Love.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:48 PM on February 13 [4 favorites]

I really liked Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day, and I second Definitely, Maybe and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. In A Day is a small quirky movie I would recommend.
posted by gudrun at 9:36 PM on February 13

Just Friends with Ryan Reynolds, Anna Ferris, Amy Smart, and Chris Klein. God what a hilarious, underrated movie.
posted by lovableiago at 10:15 PM on February 13 [1 favorite]

Notting Hill made by same folks who did Love, Actually and Bridget Jones. Pretty good ensemble.

I also liked Fever Pitch (original UK version) with Colin Firth. Based on Nick Hornsby's autobiographical book, with his characteristic bumbling guy and feminist love interest.
posted by chapps at 10:55 PM on February 13

One Day (2011)

Starter for 10 (2006)

Rachel Getting Married (2008) - actually more of a drama, but I really enjoyed it and there's a wedding.
posted by pink_gorilla at 12:17 AM on February 14

"Monsoon Wedding", directed by Mira Nair: definately NOT a singing/dancing Bollywood movie. (An extended middle-class Indian family gathers for a daughter's arranged marriage.)

Seconding Notting Hill, plus try My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
posted by easily confused at 2:27 AM on February 14

Jump Tomorrow.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 2:47 AM on February 14

Older than 6 years, but Four Weddings and a Funeral is even better than Bridget Jones. Even older and you get to Truly, Madly, Deeply.

More recent, I like 27 Dresses and The Devil Wears Prada (possibly not really a romantic movie).

There's a very cute Hong Kong movie called Elixir of Love and a very subtle Japanese one called Shall we Dansu (also older than 6 years).
posted by nevan at 3:14 AM on February 14

Listen, I feel your pain about Adam Sandler, but despite that you might consider the delightful 50 First Dates, which is surprisingly sweet and romantic. It remains the only Sandler film I can watch, and I've seen it more than once.

With the added attraction of seeing Rob Schneider get the crap kicked out of him, which was worth the price of admission as far as I was concerned.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 4:57 AM on February 14 [2 favorites]

The Holiday

And if you're not averse to older, foreign films, Turn Left, Turn Right
posted by kitkatcathy at 6:05 AM on February 14

500 Days of Summer is probably right up your alley

Fever Pitch is a little outside your time window, but I enjoyed it and I think it's close in spirit to the movies you mentioned.

I also want to recommend Zach and Miri Make a Porno - which despite Seth Rogen and the sexually-charged situation, is actually incredibly sweet and fun (It's Kevin Smith, not Judd Apatow, which I think makes the difference). I'm not a fan of raucous sex comedies at all, I was really hesitant when it was recommended to me, but I loved this little movie.

And since everyone else seems to be pitching wide, let me throw an old favorite in too - Crossing Delancey, which is sweet and funny and best of all, grown-up - which you don't seem to see as much anymore.
posted by Mchelly at 6:20 AM on February 14

Moonrise Kingdom
posted by Conductor71 at 7:57 AM on February 14

Seconding: Once, Away We Go, Moonrise Kingdom and Crazy, Stupid, Love.

I also really liked Seeking A Friend for the End of the World and Dan in Real Life. I know that makes 3 Steve Carell movies, but they're all excellent and he's great in all of them.
posted by Vonnegut27 at 8:18 AM on February 14

Do yourself a favor and check out The Secret In Their Eyes, an Argentinian movie released in 2009.
posted by Currer Belfry at 9:31 AM on February 14

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is sweet and quirky with a few different romances going on. It's one of the few screenings I've gone to where people clapped after the movie ended. Plus it has Judi Dench in it.
posted by stray thoughts at 12:49 PM on February 14

Mamma Mia.
posted by hot soup girl at 12:58 PM on February 14 [1 favorite]

Seeking A Friend for the End of the World has Steve Carell but it is not a Steve Carelll type movie. It starts off as a very broad, bleak farce that slowly turns into this very sweet and touching love story. Totally subverted my expectations.
posted by The Whelk at 1:12 PM on February 14

Safety Not Guaranteed was quite romantic, although has a smaller cast and is quirkier/weirder than Bridget Jones.
posted by LobsterMitten at 1:32 PM on February 14 [3 favorites]

Thanks for the suggestions!

This looks like a great list of mostly unfamiliar movies to work through. I'll try to come back and mark a few as favorites or best answers as I watch them. Thanks again.
posted by empyrean at 2:56 PM on February 14

How many actors does it take to make an ensemble? Your Sister's Sister focuses on three main characters and it was just released last year. Very funny, smart, and surprising.
Ruby Sparks was also a good rom-com from last year.
The Jane Austen Book Club is definitely an ensemble piece. Not everyone liked it, but Roger and I did.
And, finally, The Kids Are All Right. Recent, romantic, funny and has an ensemble cast . . . but it's set in California.
posted by kbar1 at 10:29 PM on February 14

I'd definitely second Notting Hill, as someone who generally loathes romantic comedies. It's incredibly well done, and has a surprising amount of depth to it. Several scenes actually manage to transcend the film itself, and will stay with you (the stroll through the seasons, the brownie competition). About a Boy, while not strictly a romantic comedy, is even better, though.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:11 AM on February 15

Do yourself a favor and check out The Secret In Their Eyes, an Argentinian movie released in 2009.

The Secret in Their Eyes is an excellent movie, and it has some romantic elements, but it centres around a very brutal rape and murder case. So, in that way, it is very much not evocative of either Love Actually or Bridget Jones, the two movies you specifically mentioned liking.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:59 PM on February 15