Love may be in the air, but it’s not on the big screen

With Valentine’s Day swiftly approaching (read: it’s this Sunday), plenty of my female friends have made plans to take their beaus to the latest romantic comedies at the box office. When in Rome premiered two weeks ago (we reviewed it last week), Dear John hit theaters last Friday and Valentine’s Day is set to come out on, well, Valentine’s Day.
But who are we kidding? We’re college students, right? Which one of us actually has the dough to spend at the theater to see a crappy film? We can’t say much for Valentine’s Day, considering it has yet to be released…though with the way things have been going with the rom-com industry as of late, let’s just say there aren’t very high expectations. So save yourself some cash and spend the night in with these awesome tried-and-true films.

For the individual that just got out of a relationship

500 Days of Summer

Don’t you worry, Mr. or Mrs. I-just-broke-up-with-the-love-of-my-life-and-Valentine’s-Day-sucks. We didn’t forget about you. And what better way to spend your night in with Ben and Jerry’s than to watch a great film that is not your typical love story? Actually, I don’t think it can even be classified as a love story, considering it’s more of a breakup-and-move-on story. Whether you view relationships like Tom or Summer, this is the one to watch to get that dose of reality out of all the unrealistic rom-com fabrications out there.

For the best friends turned romantically involved

When Harry Met Sally

No one can forget Meg Ryan’s classic orgasmic food moment in this one, and for good reason. If you haven’t seen this film and have no idea what I’m talking about, then this is your chance to laugh it up with your main bestie-turned-squeeze while you watch Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) follow down a similar path. It’s the film that brought up the question of whether men and women can ever truly be “just friends.”

For the artistically-sophisticated new couple

Amélie

For you elitist I’m-so-much-better-than-all-of-those-other-films types, this brilliant foreign film will definitely quell your cinematographic desires. Since it’s French, there’s plenty of nudity without it being raunchy, and while the romantic story is idealized, it strays from the usual boy-meets-girl variety.

For those that have been together since before dinosaurs were extinct

Some Like It Hot

Oh you. You’re the couple that has been together for pretty much ever. You’ve done Valentine’s Day with the same person more than anyone you know. You think you’re better at figuring out how to spend your night than I am. Well, let’s face it, you’re probably right. But I’ll be darned if I don’t go down without a fight.
For you, I suggest this classic 1959 film starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Why, you ask? Simple: If you had been alive before its release date, you’d surely have been together then too. Aside from that, there’s also the hilarity of Curtis and Lemmon cross-dressing to escape from the mob after they witness the Valentine’s Day Massacre. Seems fitting, does it not?

If none of these films really rocks your socks, then you might consider Love Actually, Sleepless in Seattle, Pretty Woman or Notting Hill.