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By Evan Saathoff September 20, 2011 |
There's always that awkward moment whenever movie night with the girlfriend rolls around. You each have a movie in mind, and rarely are they the same. To avoid arguing, or breaking up, you compromise.
Let's say you made your girlfriend watch Watchmen, and now it's time to pay the price. Luckily, there are many girl films out there that won't leave you rolling your eyes. Next time you're at the video store, skip the new Katherine Heigl, and try out some of these girl movies for guys.
| 11 | Notting Hill |
While Love Actually is often seen as one of the best girl movies for guys, Notting Hill is the one you should rent first. It contains the same magic but in a story that takes less time to tell, doesn't bore you with uninteresting sidestories, and features an interestingly cruel leading lady. Rhys Ifans is hilarious, and Hugh Grant won't bug you that much. You may even fall in love with him yourself.
Yes, it's a sweet movie, but Julia Roberts' casual abusiveness tempers that somewhat. And when Tim McInnerny (you've heard of him, right?) halts a typical 3rd Act race to the airport because he refuses to go without his wheelchair-bound wife, you will know what a real man looks like. Fortunately for us, he's bald.
| 10 | Romancing the Stone |
Perhaps the adventure aspects of this film save it from identification as a girl film, but don't forget that this whole movie is a cheesy Harlequin romance come to life. So while romance novelist Joan Wilder gets sucked into a world of kidnappings, treasure maps, and jungle hijinks, she does so while falling in love with a rugged rogue who could give Fabio a run for his money.
You get Michael Douglas at his most awesome and Kathleen Turner at her most beautiful. She gets Michael Douglas at his most handsome and Kathleen Turner as a reminder that even the most gorgeous women will eventually be humbled by age. On top of that, you can each share equal portions of Danny DeVito.
| 9 | Ghost |
When it comes to girl film imagery, few scenes can match Ghost's "Unchained Melody" pottery scene. It's like the "Do you feel lucky, Punk?" of chick flicks. But don't let that dissuade you from watching because Ghost is actually a pretty good movie.
There are three mathematically tested reasons why men should enjoy Ghost. One, Patrick Swayze is awesome. Two, little shadow demons drag not one, but two bad guys off to Hell. And three, Patrick Swayze is taught how to kick ass by non other than Vincent Schiavelli. Any two of those elements would make a fine film, and Ghost features all three.
| 8 | Thelma & Louise |
Most girl movies are about falling in love with some really handsome, well-to-do guy. Thelma & Louise, on the other hand, is about two best friends who throw off the oppressive shackles of a man's world for the free shackles of a criminal one.
It's both a BFF movie and a crime film. If you're a bad husband/boyfriend, it might make you feel a little guilty, but if you're willing to watch Thelma and Louise just to make your lady happy, you're automatically not the kind of husband/boyfriend the film takes issue with. It might make you feel guilty for not looking like Brad Pitt, though.
| 7 | Terms of Endearment |
James L. Brooks helped bring us The Simpsons, so he is eternally awesome. His actual films, however, are all girl films. Luckily, a few of them are classics that no one should miss. Terms of Endearment, his first film, is certainly worth your time. (Broadcast News, may be worth your second child.)
Girl films come in their own favored genres. Most are just love stories; some are BFF movies. Terms of Endearment is a terminal illness film. I don't know why women like movies about cancer so much, but apparently they do.
As sad as Terms of Endearment gets, most people remember it for how funny it is, particularly when controlling and uptight Shirley MacLaine verbally spars with Jack Nicholson's carefree astronaut. Few guys write female characters as well as James L. Brooks, and Shirley MacLaine's Aurora is one of cinema's great personalities.
