It’s your KF on KND Editor April L. Hamilton here. Valentine’s Day, the bane of the recently and longterm single (like me!), arrives in just three days. For the singletons who could do without all the hearts and flowers on February 14, I present these funny and sometimes bittersweet films.
For The Recently Dumped
The Break-Up (PG-13, 3/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy)
Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn star as a breaking-up couple, neither of whom wants to move out of the home they share together.
Even though the general audience gave it an average review rating of 3/5 stars, for the recently dumped it’ll be very funny and on-point.
For Women Trying To Understand Why It Never Seems To Work Out
He’s Just Not That Into You (PG-13, 3.5/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $6.99 to buy)
Based on the book of the same name.
While this movie does have that typical, happy-shiny sort of tidy ending for the heroine that we’ve come to expect from American romantic comedies, it has so much deep truth and insight, it should be required viewing for all dating-age, single women.
For Men Trying To Understand Why It Never Seems To Work Out
What Women Want (PG-13, 3.5/5 stars, closed captioning enabled, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy)
When a chauvinist executive (Mel Gibson) is suddenly granted the ability to hear the thoughts of all the women around him—an ability he can’t turn off—he gains many insights, and a whole new appreciation of the opposite gender.
If you’re a guy who’s ever wondered, “What the heck is she thinking?!” this is the movie for you.
If Your Ex Had An Unacceptably Short Mourning Period After The Breakup
(500) Days of Summer (PG-13, 4/5 stars, closed captioning enabled, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $8.99 to buy)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as a guy who doesn’t believe in love, but still falls hard for a girl named Summer (Zooey Deschanel).
This is a funny, yet poignant portrait of a love affair that starts off in a very promising way, then heads off in some unexpected (yet realistic) directions.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (unrated, 4/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy) – From IMDB:
Devastated Peter (Jason Segel) takes a Hawaiian vacation in order to deal with recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know Sarah’s traveling to the same resort as her ex … and she’s bringing along her new, rockstar boyfriend (played by British comedian/actor Russell Brand).
The scenes of heartbroken Peter openly wailing and trudging around in the nude because he’s too devastated even to dress himself are not to be missed—especially if you can relate!
You can also take comfort in the scenes that reveal the new boyfriend for the shallow, pretentious twit he is.
For Those Whose Exes Left Them For Trophy Partners
The First Wives Club (PG, 4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent, $9.99 to buy)
This comedy classic based on the bestselling novel of the same name stars Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton as aging wives tossed aside like so much trash by the wealthy cads they’re married to.
First comes the shock and devastation, but the ladies don’t take long to regroup and team up to get their revenge.
For Those At The Beginning Of An Ugly Divorce
The War of the Roses (R, 4.75/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy) – From Amazon:
In this blackest of comedies, a perfect 18-year marriage suddenly becomes unglued and the gleefully evil Barbara (Kathleen Turner) and Oliver (Michael Douglas) Rose single-mindedly inflict as much misery as possible on each other.
Rather than just get divorced, they declare war, fighting to the bitter end over their huge mansion and every possession in it.
For Those Who Still Want To Believe
When Harry Met Sally… (R, 4.75/5 stars, closed captioning enabled, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $5.99 to buy) – From IMDB:
Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) meet when she gives him a ride to New York after they both graduate from the University of Chicago. The film jumps through their lives as they both search for love, but fail, bumping into each other time and time again.
Finally a close friendship blooms between them, and they both like having a friend of the opposite sex. But then they are confronted with the problem: “Can a man and a woman be friends, without sex getting in the way?”
– Written by Greg Bole
Love Actually (PG-13, 4/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy)
This is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I am no fan of romantic comedies in general. Like When Harry Met Sally… and (500) Days of Summer, this is a very unconventional and more realistic portrayal of love, in all its various phases and outcomes.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas in London, interlocking stories give the viewer a peek into love relationships of all kinds (romantic, familial, first love, etc.) among a large network of friends and co-workers.
Here you’ll find crushes, marriages just starting out as well as those affected by death and infidelity, love in the workplace, young love, unrequieted love, lust, familial love between brothers and sisters and parents and children, and love that some people may not yet be ready for.
Just like in real life, not all of the characters’ stories have happy endings. But overall, it’s a very hopeful and happy movie with a lot of comedy.
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