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From classics to modern adaptations, here are the best films to watch with the girls this Galentine’s day
In recent years, women have been ditching their partners to spend time with their friends on Valentine’s Day. This has been dubbed Galentine’s day, and takes place a day early on February, 13.
It all started with the popular American sitcom Parks and Recreation, where in season two of the show Amy Poehler’s character plans an event for the women in her life. This aired in 2010, and 16 years later it’s still a great opportunity to show appreciation for the women that you love, and to make new and exciting memories with your friends.
Some like to go for a nice meal, a bottomless brunch or maybe just have a movie night at home. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the absolute best romantic comedies to watch with the girlies this Galentine’s Day.
In no particular order, here are seven great options to watch this weekend, For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Starting off with a classic, When Harry Met Sally is one of the most iconic rom coms to date. Almost 37 years old, this film has truly stood the test of time and still resonates with audiences across the world.
The film follows Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan), who meet after graduating from the University of Chicago and share a long drive to New York City. During that drive, they argue about whether men and women can ever truly be just friends, because Harry insists sex always gets in the way and Sally disagrees.
Over the next 12 years, the film revisits them at different stages of their lives. They repeatedly run into each other, gradually becoming close friends while navigating careers, breakups, and the ups and downs of adulthood in New York City.
The film was directed by the late great Rob Reiner, who’s mother even made an appearance and ad-libbed the iconic line, “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Best known for writing some of the most famous romantic comedies, the film was penned by author and journalist Nora Ephron, who is responsible for You’ve Got Mail, Julie & Julia and Sleepless in Seattle. The way she writes about people and communities is not only realistic and relatable, but so funny too.
This has to be one of my favourite films to watch during the autumn/winter period when we have colder evenings, and all you want to do is cwtch up on the sofa.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Now, Legally Blonde inspired me to be a lawyer, and for a long time that was my childhood dream. That went out the window when applying for university, and I changed my mind. Which you may have worked out as you’re reading this article.
On the surface, it’s bright, bubbly, blonde and pink, but underneath, it’s a story about ambition, self-belief, and breaking stereotypes. What, like it’s hard?
Elle Woods (Reece Witherspoon) is a fashionable, sorority-loving student whose life plan revolves around marrying her boyfriend, Warner.
When he dumps her because he thinks she’s “not serious enough” for his future in politics, Elle decides to win him back by doing the unthinkable, she follows him to Harvard Law.
The film looks at feminism, female friendships and proves women can do anything they put their mind to. This is what makes it the perfect Galentine’s movie to watch with your gal pals.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
You could argue that this was one of the films that may have influenced my career in journalism. Don’t we all dream of dating Matthew McConaughey to write an article?
The story follows magazine writer Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) who wants to cover serious topics, but is stuck writing “how-to” dating pieces. For her next assignment, she’s tasked with writing an article titled “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Her mission: start dating a man and deliberately drive him away using classic relationship “mistakes.”
That’s when she meets Ben Barry (Matthew McConaughey), an advertising executive who bets his bosses that he can make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days to win a major diamond campaign.
Unaware that Andie chooses Ben as her subject, he then chooses Andie as his challenge. Both are secretly manipulating the relationship, each trying to “win.”
Kate and Matthew’s chemistry is absolutely unmatched, which you may have already seen in the 2008 film Fool’s Gold where they also played a couple.
They are the perfect comedy duo, bringing the romantic and the funny to the genre.
Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001)
Bridget Jones is the OG when it comes to influencing my generation of women to be journalists.
This has to be one of the most relatable films for women ever made. We’ve all thought to ourselves one time or another that we need to lose some weight, or maybe we’ve accidentally flashed our massive pants to the bloke we fancy, or perhaps we’ve accidentally turned our pot of soup bright blue.
The story follows Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger), a single woman in her early 30s living in London. At the start of the new year, she resolves to take control of her life. This involves losing weight, quitting smoking, drinking less, and of course finding love.
She soon finds herself torn between her charming, flirtatious, but unreliable boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) and a reserved, seemingly judgmental barrister her mother tries to set her up with, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).
Inevitably, what unfolds is a messy, funny, and very human journey through dating disasters, workplace embarrassment, family pressure, and self-doubt all noted in Bridget Jones’ Diary.
A great classic rom com to watch with the girls, and an added challenge would be watch it whilst eating some blue soup. Bonus points if you dress up as a tart or a vicar.
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Always Be My Maybe has to be one of the most underrated romantic comedies. A more recent addition to the list, this film is only seven years old, so perhaps you may have missed it.
The film follows Sasha Tran (Ali Wong) and Marcus Kim (Randall Park), childhood best friends in San Francisco who lose touch after an awkward teenage hookup and a falling out. Fifteen years later, Sasha is a successful, high-profile celebrity chef in Los Angeles and Marcus is still living at home with his dad in San Francisco, playing in a low-key band and feeling somewhat stuck.
When Sasha returns to San Francisco to open a new restaurant, the two reconnect and old chemistry resurfaces.
It’s a typical friends to lovers trope, but one of my favourite elements of the film has to be emphasis on food, specifically Korean food and what that means to the couple. It shows that food can unite people, but also be the most comforting thing that takes you back to happy childhood memories.
Perhaps, you could watch the film with a buffet of Korean food to make the film truly immersive.
The film was also written by the leading actors and comedians Ali and Randall, and you can tell through the level of comedy in the film.
Also, a special mention for Keanu Reeves’, who’s cameo is one of the funniest moments of the film..
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Who doesn’t love a Shakespeare adaptation? Well, this has to be one of the best.
The film is inspired by Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, except instead 10 Things I hate About You is set in a 1990s American high school and blends sharp humor, romance, and a bit of rebellion.
The story centers on sisters Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik) who is popular, outgoing, and eager to date and Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) who is fiercely intelligent, independent, and openly cynical about high school romance.
Their strict father makes a rule that Bianca can’t date until Kat does. Since Kat has no interest in dating (and a reputation for scaring boys off) Bianca’s admirer Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) schemes to find someone willing to date Kat. That’s when we meet the gorgeous Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger), a mysterious, brooding outsider who’s paid to take Kat out.
The movie has several iconic scenes, like Patrick’s serenading of Kat on the football field bleachers, or the heartbreaking moment she reads her 10 Things I Hate About You poem.
For some, an adaptation of a play from 1594 may be quite boring, but for others it’s the perfect modernisation of a classic.
About Time (2013)
It’s fair to say, I’ve left the best until last.
About Time is one of my all time favourite films. It has an incredible soundtrack, a brilliant cast and it blends both romance and comedy efficiently.
The story follows Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson), a shy, awkward young man who learns on his 21st birthday that the men in his family have the ability to travel back in time within their own lives. The catch: they can only revisit moments they’ve personally experienced, and they can’t travel to the future.
At first, Tim uses his ability for typical reasons- mainly to improve his love life. He eventually meets Mary (Rachel McAdams), and much of the film centers on their evolving relationship. Tim uses time travel to fix embarrassing moments, perfect conversations, and try to make their relationship go smoothly.
However, as the film unfolds we discover it’s about family and cherishing the little moments in your life, and making every second count as you make memories with your loved ones.
It’s one of Richard Curtis’ lesser known films, taking a back seat to the likes of Love Actually, Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral. However, I think it tops them all when it comes to the storyline and how the film can make you feel.
I first watched About Time, whilst studying at university. I was feeling a little bit down, and I asked my friend to name a film that would make me cry- we all have one of those days.
She suggested the 2013 rom com, and we sat on my tiny little uni halls bed in Cardiff and watched the film on my laptop. We cried from start to finish, much to the concerns of the rest of the flat.
Now, I will always watch the film when I’m feeling down, or even when I want a feel good film, and of course when I reunite with my university flatmates we have to have a viewing party.
