Love Is In The Air

Five wholesome, classic and intriguing romantic movies to watch during the Valentines Day weekend.

Devin Hung, Contributing Writer

1.Whisper of the Heart: Whenever I get the chance to recommend this movie, I will. This masterpiece from Studio Ghibli may at first seem like a normal teen romance, but starts to unravel itself as something much deeper and more realistic than your average film, while still providing all of the good feelings you want from a romance. Prepare to have Country Roads stuck in your head. Available to stream on HBO Max.


2.
Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner: A landmark film when released in 1967 for its positive portrayal of inter-racial marriage, Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner still remains an equally important and entertaining drama. When a white woman reveals that she plans to marry a black man, her liberal parents need to overcome their own demons in order for the marriage to proceed. It might be a little touchy for some, but I feel that it’s important for people to hear that no matter what you may believe, you’ll never be prepared for what life throws at you. Available to rent on Amazon Prime and on YouTube.

3. The Princess Bride: A classic and a must-watch, plain and simple. All of the cheesiness and oddities of the movie work because it is all just a story told from the most likable grandfather of all time. It’s got fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, and miracles!  Combine that with some of the funniest jokes ever put to screen, and you get one of the best romance movies of all time. Available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.

4.Portrait of a Lady on Fire: A painter is tasked with secretly painting a woman’s portrait for the man she is set to marry in 1770, but a budding romance starts to form between the two. You will find no grand declarations of love or big sequences and plot contrivances, nor is this meant to make people happy. But this is one of the most breathtaking experiences of all time, from the stunning visuals filmed in 8k, to the genuinely perfect performances from the two lead actresses. One of the best movies to be released in the past few years, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is beyond beautiful. Available to stream on Hulu.

5.Wall-E: When you think of romance, Wall-E may not be the first movie that comes to mind. But for my money, the relationship between Wall-E and EVE is incredibly wholesome and romantic, and makes me so happy. Part silent film, part sci-fi epic, and all parts romantic, this is one of Pixar’s best, and easily their most cinematic. It’s a testament to the power of love, not just between individuals, but between all of humankind, and this universal love is something that I think more people need to recognize right now. Available to stream on Disney+.