You watch them with guilt. You squirm in your seat, struggling to suppress embarrassment. However, you endure them nonetheless.
Yes guys, I am talking about chick flicks. You are bound to watch a few with your significant other this Valentine's Day. But don't worry about turning in your man card just yet. I am here to tell you which films to watch — the ones that will not strip you of your masculinity.
Here are a few films that turn love into a compelling subject rather than Hollywood fluff. Trust me, you will enjoy these. Seriously.
"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (2010) — Told with the kinetic urgency and visual dazzle of a video game, this film is one of the most original love stories ever put to celluloid. More importantly, it addresses a group of people largely ignored within this genre - the nerds. The film is every comic book junkie's fantasy: Geek meets girl and engages in magic battles with her exes to win her affections. The film is as thrilling and suspenseful as love itself.
"Annie Hall" (1977) — All right guys, you want proof that this is a good romantic comedy, one that even the most macho guys can enjoy? Well, "Annie Hall" beat the original "Star Wars" for Best Picture. Yes, "Star Wars." In this film, Woody Allen stars as neurotic comedian Alvy Singer and Diane Keaton is the free spirit with whom he forges an unlikely romance. An affectionate look at the absurdity of love, this movie remains a classic.
"When Harry Met Sally" (1989) — If you treat them like dirt, they will stick to you like mud. This is Harry Burns' philosophy when it comes to women, and sadly, in this film at least, it works. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan star as Harry and Sally, two stuffy New York intellectual-types, who initially hate each other and then grow to love one another (viewers will do the same). Like all of the films on this list, "When Harry Met Sally" is an anti-romantic comedy, a film that pokes fun at the conventions of love rather than blindly embracing them.
"Once" (2007) — OK, fellas, stick with me, we are almost done here. This film is a modern-day musical set in Dublin, Ireland (wait, come back, guys, don't run away). It follows two struggling musicians brought together by their love of music and the emotional catharsis it provides. The film's music is far from a collection of sappy love songs; it is a soundtrack you will want to listen to over and over again.
"Jerry Maguire" (1996) — In this film, Tom Cruise falls in love, but don't worry, he does not jump on any couches. Anyway, Cruise plays a sports agent caught in a tailspin, looking for love and success in all the wrong places. Renee Zellweger plays the woman who gets him back on his feet — and into her heart. (Yikes. Sorry, guys. That was cheesy, but it had to be said).
So, there you have it. You cannot go wrong with any of these films. If you watch them and disagree, feel free to e-mail me and voice your complaint because there is nothing manlier than arguing about romance films, right? After that, don't forget to tell your girlfriend that she completes you and that she had you at "hello." Ladies love that stuff.
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