Sometimes, we all need those sparkling Christmas lights, the flutters in the heart movies and heartthrobs (read: Ryan Gosling, Jude Law, Richard Gere), hilly roads, pina coladas and summer evenings with the girls on a trip. Ever had one of those drag long weeks where you cannot wait for Friday? Mostly because you want to cancel all those big socialising plans, catch up on binge-worthy movies alone with a girlfriend slumber?
Personally, some of these movies are ones I could watch multiple times right from when I was a teenager to even now, not necessarily when I need to wallow but just feel the pinch of nostalgia, when times were simpler, love easier and connections more serendipitous. Whether it’s the heat bothering you, stressful days works, heartbreak, feeling blah or just want to cave yourself for some ‘me time’ – here are 10 titles of my favourite movies for your marathon, including their summaries, cast and rating (and hey, sometimes even ratings can be harsher, we believe if something touches your heart – it’s yours to keep as a feel good).
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Main cast: Meg Ryan and our personal favourite feel good man Tom Hanks
Summary: With bigger commercial book companies opening up, small book business owners slowly go out of business, Kathleen Kelly (played by Meg Ryan) is a small book business owner, has a loyal set of customers and provides a natural feel to the bookstore. Unfortunately, a big commercial bookstore opens up around the corner which has every book and is looked after by Joe Fox (played by Tom Hanks). As their business rivalry grows, little do they know they have found love online with each other – as both explore solutions to their lonesome lives.
IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 68%
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Main cast: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Gray, Jerry Orbach
Summary: Jennifer Gray (Baby) who plays the lead female role in the museum is a typica youthful young girl and parents who take her with family to a resort. Soulful, she wants to let out the adventure and inadvertently meets the resort’s dance instructor, the ever-charming Patrick Swayze (Johnny). Due to a health complication with his existing partner, Baby volunteers to partake in the dance season competition and gradually fall in love. Baby’s father misunderstands the connection between Johnny and his previous partner and the love story unfolds as he forbids her to spend time with him, confused as she is in love and had promised to finish the dance competition.
It will have you dancing your feet off with songs that have won Oscars and Grammy awards!
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Main cast: Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal
Summary: Low key college graduates Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) share a chance encounter during a car ride from Chicago to New York, disputing all the while whether men and women can be strictly platonic friends. As they part ways, fate would have them meet 10 years later through mutual friends and they attempt friendship, however cupid gets in the way and emotions are ignited.
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Roman Holiday (1953)
Main cast: Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck
Summary: A classic by William Wyler and can be watched several times and could yet never lose its charm! Beautiful European Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) decides to take a night off in Rome as she is overwhelmed by the tiresome schedule. She is found on a park bench as she had earlier taken a sedative for rest. An American reporter Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) finds her and ensures he takes her back to her apartment. Once Joe finds out Ann’s real identity he is keen to get an exclusive tell all interview with her for his editor, however romance soon begins to blossom.
IMDB Rating: 8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 98 % (but forever 10/10 and 100% in our hearts!)
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Main cast: Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz
Summary: Childhood friends Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) and Michael O’Neal (Dermot Mulroney) make a deal to get married to each other if they are still single by the time they are 28. A few days following Julianne’s birthday, Michael decides he is marrying his girlfriend, Kimberly (Cameron Diaz). Juliane realises that she is madly in love with Michael and makes up her mind to stop the wedding at all costs – however, she is made the maid of honour complicating and conflicting matters more.
IMDB Rating: 6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
The Proposal (2009)
Main cast: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds (heartthrob!)
Summary: Margaret (Sandra Bullock), a tyrannical book editor, and Andrew (Ryan Reynolds), her long-suffering assistant. Known on office instant message as the Witch, she terrorizes underlings, fires the man who wants her job and orders Andrew to marry her.How that happens is, she’s a Canadian in danger of being deported — she imperiously ignored the law — and now she figures if she gets married, she’ll get her green card. She and Andrew blackmail each other in their prenuptial hostage negotiations, and fly off to Sitka, Alaska, to meet his folks. Complications arise with both families and between both – however slowly they end up warming up to each other.
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 44%
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Main cast: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal
Summary: Based on Truman Capote’s novel, in between visits to Tiffany’s, New York City’s dazzling jewelry store, and the Sing-Sing prison for mobster Sally Tomato’s weekly “weather report”, Holly Golightly, Manhattan’s elegant socialite, becomes infatuated with her new charming neighbor, Paul Varjak. On the other hand, Paul, a writer in a creative rut who allows himself being kept by a wealthy female benefactor, will soon let himself drawn into Holly’s superficial world, because, little by little, he succumbs to Holly’s beguiling allure. Obviously, the two reluctant lovers have both a past that they keep at bay, nevertheless, will Paul and Holly share a future together after all?
Beautiful song: Moon River – won an academy award! (the movie has one two in total)
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Bridget Jones Diary (2001)
Main cast: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant and Emma Jones
Summary: Bridget Jones is an average woman struggling against her age, her weight, her job, her lack of a man, and her many imperfections. As a New Year’s Resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. The fireworks begin when her charming though disreputable boss takes an interest in the quirky Miss Jones. Thrown into the mix are Bridget’s band of slightly eccentric friends and a rather disagreeable acquaintance who Bridget cannot seem to stop running into or help finding quietly attractive.
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
Main cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Henry Travers
Summary: George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all during Christmas time. As the angels discuss George, we see his life in flashback. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence – who then shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn’t been for all his good deeds over the years. A beautiful movie that allows us to appreciate life and its beauty.
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Vicky Cristina in Barcelona (2008)
Main cast: Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johanson, Javier Bardiem (hunk, hunk, HUNK!)
Summary: Woody Allen directed, Americans Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) arrive in Spain for a summer vacation at a friend’s (Patricia Clarkson) Barcelona home. Visiting an art gallery, they meet seductive painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), who invites them for a weekend of food, art and debauchery. Sparks really ignite when his fiery ex wife (Penélope Cruz) arrives on the scene, making for a very crowded house and more intimacy.
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
