My Take on Romantic "Chick-Flicks" // The Proposal

Thursday nights are “mommy-nights” for me. Every Thursday after work I head to moms for dinner. She either cooks us a tasty meal or if we aren't too exhausted after work, we venture out for a meal on the town.

I got home from dinner with mom at around 8:30pm this past Thursday. My roomie was home already and was chilling on the couch watching TV. After I unpacked my work bag and put away some laundry, I changed into some comfy PJs and went out to the living room to join her. While we were discussing how our days went and such, she began aimlessly flipping through the channels to find something new, when a most wonderful sight was seen: a glimpse of Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock carrying luggage off of a plane…The Proposal was on!!!

First of all, is there anyone that doesn't like this movie? I personally have not met a soul that doesn’t like this movie in some way, shape, or form. I mean, Ryan Reynolds shirtless + Sandra Bullock “getting low” + cute fluffy puppy appearances + Betty White chanting around a fire = AMAZING entertainment. (a very long equation, but very true nonetheless)

My roomie put the remote right down once we realized that the movie was on. First thing out of my mouth (besides “OMG, would you look at the bod on that fine man”) was “This may literally be the best movie ever”. Now, I think I was just ultra-excited that the movie was on when I said that, because I do think there are other movies out there that can be considered “better” films, BUT there is something about The Proposal, that makes it really stand out. I think it has all of my favorite things rolled up into one hilarious ball of perfect.

In the last scene of the movie, Andrew
(Ryan) turns up at the office to find Margaret (Sandra) to tell her not to go back to Canada because he loves her despite her craziness. After I shed a tear or two, I turned to my roomie saying “Seriously, I miss watching chick-flicks with girls.”  Of course I would watch this movie with Greg (he loves it too), but there is nothing like watching a good, old-fashioned, romantic, chick-flick with one of your girlfriends.

I don’t know about you guys, but when I watch a “chick-flick” with my girlfriends we comment on things we feel led to comment on, we tell stories of stuff that has happened in the past as it relates to a snipet of the movie, and we stay silent together at that, always amazing, “Awwwww” moment at the end.

A classic romantic "Chick-Flick" has the following:

1. Good looking male lead (Matthew M, Channing T, Bradley C, pretty much anyone named Ryan ect.)

2. Pretty female lead (Jennifer (Lopez, Lawrence, or Aniston), Sandra B, Katherine H, ect.)

3. Hilarious drinking or dancing scene (getting low around the fire in The Proposal, “Benny and the Jets” in 27 Dresses, pot brownie in the club scene in Never Been Kissed, ect.)

4. Random funny best friends to both male and female lead (usually cute or dorky in personality)

5. Other female character you love to hate (biotch in 13 Going On 30 -damn her!) OR another male character that you end up feeling a little bad for at the end  (Hot Irish man from Grey's Anatomy (Kevin McKidd) in Made of Honor)

6.  One or more hot kiss/love-making scene (the rain scene in The Notebook....) *cue heart palpitations*

7. At least one cute child or animal that has some odd, yet important role

8. An intense moment about 3/4 of the way into the movie that makes your heart feel as if it is being ripped out of your chest (I believe this is called the climax of the movie)

9.  A chase of some sort back to the other person. (when you cant possibly contain your excitement that the torture of the "climax" is almost over....wait, what? oh never mind)

10. And finally, 9 out of 10 of these movies have some kind of a "happy-ending"

Although most romantic comedies/"chick-flicks" are fairly predictable, and a lot of the time incredibly similar to each other, they never lose their luster to me. I may go through phases where I am not interested in the classic "love story" but they never last long and I am back to wanting to see the newest chick-flick that is set to come out in theaters soon.
Right now, that movie for me is The Best of Me, staring Michelle Monaghan (also in Made of Honor) and James Marsden (also in 27 Dresses). (Some actors are just REALLY good in love stories)

The Best of Me is set to be in theaters this Friday (October 17th). This is the first love story in a while that I have been legitimately excited to go see. I do not think it will disappoint. I suppose my next step will be to warn Greg that there is a tear-jerking, lovey-dovey, "awwww"-moment-filled, movie theater trip in his future. ;)

My Top 10 favorite Romantic "Chick-Flicks" thus far (in order):

10. Never Been Kissed (1999)

9. Titanic (1997)

  

8. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

7. While You Were Sleeping (1995)

6. The Notebook (2004)  

5. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

  

4. Moulin Rouge (2001)

3. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

2. The Proposal (2009)

1. The Wedding Planner (2001) 

Honorable Mentions

 Love Actually ('03), The Ugly Truth ('09), Crazy, Stupid, Love ('11), The Holiday ('06), Just Like Heaven ('05), He's Just Not That Into You ('09), 27 Dresses ('08)

Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading :)
Have a great weekend!!

xo Dana

*all movie photos via imdb.com