Valentine’s Day is here. That means its time for romantic films to really shine. Whether it be rom coms, sweeping romantic epics, or those five-tissue romantic dramas.
And when we think about romantic films images of Harry and Sally at the deli, Rose and Jack on the Titanic, and Bridget Jones writing in her diary; all run through our heads. But you know the hallmarks of a romantic movie — there’s the meet cute, the romance, the inevitable break-up, and the inevitable make-up, or the inevitable soul-crushing tragedy.
However, there are movies that remind us of Valentine’s Day or romance that aren’t part of that pantheon of classics. A lot of these aren’t exactly movies you’d show to the kids or grandma Doris. Some are romantic, and some are absolute gore fests. But hey, we’re not judging. In fact, we’re loving it.
Simply put — our staff has come together to present 8 unconventional Valentine’s Day films that will make for perfect holiday viewing. So, don’t expect films like Sleepless in Seattle, 500 Days of Summer, or Pretty Woman on this lists. Except things a little more niche, a little bit weird, and yet still are our favorite Valentine’s classics.
High Fidelity — Matthew Widdis
It’s a reconciliation story based on the eponymous book by the author of Fever Pitch and About a Boy and starring John Cusack (who has pretty much been America’s boyfriend for 30 years.) Sounds pretty conventional for a Valentine’s date movie, doesn’t it? But this is actually a story of one guy’s fight back against his love life by reflecting on messing up, fessing up (to himself,) and getting the girl back as part of that #bestlife.
In the aforementioned monologue in the film’s opening, Cusack as protagonist, Rob Gordon, tells us that parents and psychologists are worried about violence in movies and television but ignore the thousands of songs about rejection, heartbreak, obsession, and frustration over love, longing, and loss. It’s an interesting point because, depending on your generation, you may be thinking of Fleetwood Mac , The Police, or Taylor Swift song after having read that. Like Outkast’s “Hey Ya” and Greenday’s “Good Riddance,” High Fidelity plays a peppy tune as it takes us on a trip through Rob’s past and present but the real story is as The Everly Brothers first told us: “Love Hurts”
The owner of a struggling record store and a perpetual jilted lover, Rob goes down memory lane five a “Top 5” list of his breakups to examine his most recent failing that sees him soaked in the rain more than once pining for his ex, Laura (Danish actress, Iben Hjejle.) He plays the victim in accusing her of “sneaky lawyer tricks” to justify terminating a pregnancy and leaving him for their former neighbor (Tim Robbins.) He tracks down a former lover played by Catherine Zeta-Jones who rips the rose-colored glasses from his face. He has a one night stand with a local musician (Lisa Bonet.) But, mostly, he has imaginary conversations with Bruce Springsteen, engages in inane but funny hypotheticals with his clerks (Todd Louiso and Jack Black,) rearranges his record library.
Rob’s reconciliation with Laura is symbiotic with his personal growth. Without the breakup, he wouldn’t have had to face the truth about himself; that he always wanted love on the terms of his pop culture influences and not on his own needs or his partner’s. Without getting back together, he wouldn’t have been inspired to push forward with turning his fantasies into goals. Those goals are what pull him out of his quasi-mid-life crisis. Rob doesn’t really change. Rob just gets over his middle school girlfriend and starts being Rob correctly. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6snVW3HHqxA
Deadpool — Tom Moore
When thinking of anything that defines the word “unconventional,” does anything really match this word better than Deadpool. His R-rated antics and self-aware personality made him completely fresh to moviegoers that had already had plenty of superhero movies to choose from. So why can’t a violently blood-soaked superhero movie like Deadpool also be considered to be a great and unconventional movie that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day because as the titular merc with a mouth says: “Some of the best love stories start with a murder. And that’s exactly what this is, a love story.”
Now, all self-aware joking and sexual innuendos aside, the love story between Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) and Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) feels very genuine and it’s easy to tell how much they love one another even when things go bad. They treat one another as equals and even relate through their rough childhoods and let’s be real doesn’t everyone just want some who matches their crazy? Not to mention, Deadpool has some similar messages with other films like Beauty and the Beast as their love story is all about what’s on the inside counting over what’s on the outside. Even if Wade looks like Freddy Krueger’s ugly kid, Vanessa doesn’t care and shows that she loves him no matter what.
Frankly, Deadpool really contains everything needed in a solid Valentine’s Day movie: a genuinely loving and hilarious relationship, great messages, and who could deny that George Michaels goes great with any love story.
Blue Valentine — Michael Vacchiano
Countless movies have showcased the power of love in flattering lights, and have done so to varying degrees of success. But while most of them tend to focus on the joys and exhilaration that come with finding love, few films encapsulate the pain and frustration of letting it slip away. With his romantic drama Blue Valentine, writer/director Derek Cianfrance presents us with that dual nature of love, and does so with sweet and heartbreaking effect.
Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams give amazing performances as a young couple experiencing the trials of love, and the highs and lows that come with it. Dean (Gosling) is a high school dropout who works random manual labor jobs, while Cindy (Williams) is a nurse at a medical clinic. Married with a young daughter, their union is clearly strained and ready to combust. The film’s timeline flashes back and forth between this present, and to years earlier of Dean and Cindy’s first meeting and courtship. The leads expertly convey love’s initial smitten thrills along with the tension that comes with a relationship slowly eroding away.
Blue Valentine is not exactly ideal viewing for those looking to fall under Cupid’s spell this holiday season. However, audiences who will appreciate a movie realistically depicting love’s ugly side (as well as the beautiful one) should definitely check it out.
Valentine – Ann Hale
At a sixth grade Valentine’s Day dance, young Jeremy Melton is turned down for a dance by all of the prettiest girls in school. Only one girl, Dorothy, agrees and they end up making out under the bleachers. When they are caught by the school bullies, Dorothy claims she was attacked, which leads to Jeremy getting beat up in front of the entire school.
Several Valentine’s Days later, those pretty girls begin to receive threatening Valentines signed “J.M.” One by one, they begin to be picked off by a killer in a Cupid mask as they search for Jeremy Melton, their number one suspect.
Valentine is a fun little slasher film with all star cast including David Boreanaz, Marley Shelton, Jessica Capshaw, Katherine Heigl and Denise Richards. There are cool deaths, some funny jokes and a few little twists at the end.
All in all, Valentine makes for good Valentine’s Day fun. Pop it in and see who gets hit by Cupid’s arrow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aOyEKK0nBU
My Bloody Valentine – Josh B. Taylor
For the past couple of years now, on Valentines Day, the way I celebrated the holiday, or the movie choice for me on that day was the 1981 slasher horror film, My Bloody Valentine.
It’s such a great slasher flick, taking place in the fictitious mining town of Valentine Bluffs, Mayor Hanniger reinstates the traditional Valentine’s Day dance, which has been suspended for twenty years from the aftermath of Harry Warden murdered two supervisors who left him in the mines on accident, & survived from an explosion in the mines. Now that the dance is back in motion, so are Harry Wardens murder sprees, picking off miners and their dates attending the dance.
I don’t want to give the rest of the plot away, but take it from me, if your looking for something else to watch instead of the typical romance movies on this holiday, then look no further! If I have time in the day, I also like to try to have a double feature, and watch the 2009 remake, or I like to listen to the WaxWork Records release of the original films soundtrack on vinyl (especially for the ballad of Harry Warden).
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Andrew Howie
Valentine’s Day movies are typically an abysmal cesspool of “traditional” tropes and plotlines, designed to play specifically to cultural expectations of what love and affection mean. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, give The Grand Budapest Hotel a shot.
Combining Wes Anderson’s penchant for vivid, pastel colors and meandering storylines with multiple love stories happening simultaneously, the potential is ripe for a non-traditional Valentine’s Day viewing. In addition to the incomparable Ralph Fiennes (at his most delicious as the etiquette-obsessed concierge M. Gustave) providing his “special services” to the hotel’s wealthy, aging clientele, lobby boy Zero Moustafa and his beloved Agatha are the most darling couple this side of a fairy tale; complete with a tragic ending, their story is perfect for those looking for something other than the typical nauseating movie fare on Valentine’s Day.
Aesthetically, the movie could not be more perfect for a holiday designed to sell candy. The treats from Mendl’s bakery in the movie leave you salivating; they look like you can just reach out and grab them and shove them in your face (a favorite holiday activity regardless of relationship status). In addition, the cartoon-postcard-style setting is just delightful in Anderson’s trademark whimsical way, inducing that love-blast feeling in the brain that we all crave.
The different love stories set against the backdrop of war, intrigue, art theft, and decay all swirl together to make The Grand Budapest Hotel not only a visually delightful film, but one of the most appropriate picks for an inappropriate Valentine’s Day film.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall — Rob Crowther IV
Something about Forgetting Sarah Marshall has just always felt genuine to me. Maybe the fact that it’s a tale of a broken heart-ed musician who finds true love in both his new girlfriend and creative passions. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s based heavily on Jason Segel’s actual past relationships. Sure,it’s not your typical love story. But the film is a personal all time favorite.
Break ups are tough. We’ve all been there. But just picture being trapped on an island with your ex and their rock star lover. (Russell Brand) You can really relate to what Peter is going through, but also see Sarah’s (Kristen Bell) side of things. A lot of the plot is circumstantial but all of the relationships throughout feel incredibly real. Peter can’t escape Sarah Marshall, but finds everything he’s ever wanted in Rachel. (Mila Kunis) She understands his Dracula musical and even gets him him to take a leap of faith off a tall cliff into the ocean.
This movie has it all: break ups, rebounds, true love and even… puppets.
With a phenomenal cast, and a very real love story, it will be a long time before I ever forget, Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
This is a must watch for Valentine’s Day.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – Bill Bodkin
‘When you break up with someone this movie will mean so much more to you.’ Those words were uttered to me by my best friend Victor Reyes (now a producer of the Netflix animated series Hilda) as we left the Loews New Brunswick in 2004. At the time, I was in a relationship, but around six or so months later I we broke up, and those words were true — that movie might be one of the most wildly accurate films about relationships.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is not only a fantastical yet sobering look at relationships it is also an absolute visual masterwork. Michel Gondry is at his best here, as is Jim Carrey who gives the performance of his career. This film is one that was absolutely snubbed for Best Picture, Director, Actor and Cinematography. The last category blows my mind — House of Flying Daggers, and Phantom of the Opera over this? Shame.
That aside, this movie is an excellent V-Day watch because at the core of the film, despite Joel (Jim Carrey), and Clementine (Kate Winslet) not making it — it’s still a story about two people who did, for a brief time, truly love each other. It’s romantic, it’s heartbreaking, fantastical, and powerful. Definitely watch it again and bask in its genius.
