Ah,romantic comedies. We all love them, secretly or very openly, but they are very often our(un)problematic faves that talk about love,romance, self-worth, and happinessin twisted or straightforward ways. And what’s not to love? Rom-coms are feel-good stories that don’t always have to elevate our existence with a message; sometimes, they’re very direct in what they want to say andaren’t afraid to embrace clichésfor that purpose.
The rom-coms ofthe 2000sare the (un)problematic faves of the discussion, as the decade was an interesting time.Using stereotypes for laughs, distorting relationships, and making fun of anything, the formula worked so well that the 2000s spawned the most rom-coms of any decade. Still, some didn’t fully abide by the problematic rules or did but simply went under the radar for the sake of a bigger hit. The most underrated rom-coms of the 2000s are just as good as the most popular ones – if not even better.
10’Catch and Release' (2006)
Directed by Susannah Grant
Catch and Releaseis aJennifer Garnermovie that went under the radar, possibly because ofher previous work onElektra, which collected a lot of buzz fromMarvelfans. Still, Catch and Release, with all of its flaws and virtues, has strong performances from its talented leads and an interesting, even compelling, storyline, leading a woman to discover the secrets of her dead partner. Garner is joined byTimothy Olyphant, who was,arguably, the best-looking romantic lead of the 2000s(and even today, actually).
Catch and Release, with all of its flaws and virtues, has strong performances from its talented leads and an interesting, even compelling, storyline…
Catch and Releasefollows Gray (Garner), who, after the sudden death of her fiancé,starts spending time with his friends and learns more about his past. One of Gray’s fiancé’s friends is Fritz (Olyphant), a promiscuous and laid-back LA director with whom she initially clashes but then begins falling in love. The writer and director of the movie isSusannah Grant, and this was her directorial debut. Shepreviously wroteErin Brockovich, for which she was nominated and won several high accolades.
Catch and Release
9’Prime' (2005)
Directed by Ben Younger
Primeis probably a movie many people haven’t even heard of, and it starsMeryl StreepandUma Thurman. How have you missed Queen Streep’s rom-com drama, you ask? Mixed reviews and a lack of widespread recognition, paired with the release of the highly acclaimedWill Smithrom-comHitchthe same year, could have had something to do with it. MaybeHitchwasn’t the major culprit for the lackluster reception forPrime, but it was a highly popular rom-com that stuck in pop culture for a while. Thurman and Streepare joined by Bryan Greenbergin this heartwarming rom-com.
Prime follows Rafi (Thurman), a 37-year-old divorcee who focuses on her career and has a therapist, Lisa (Streep).Rafi tells Lisa all about her love life, including meeting a 23-year-old painter, David (Greenberg), and their age gap. When Lisa realizes Rafi is talking about her son, she becomes different. Streep’s portrayal of a loving mother andskilled therapist garnered praise, especially for being the comedic force of the movie.Primeis also a coolexploration of age-gap relationshipsand therapy ethics.
8’Just Friends' (2005)
Directed by Roger Kumble
Ryan Reynolds’Just Friendsis a Christmas movie, a romantic comedy, and includes one ofAnna Faris' best roles.Just Friendsis quite funny and endearing because of what it tries to bein its essence and not for the laughs it tries to induce; this is why this movie feels a bit overlooked within the genre.Reynolds was the star of numerous rom-comsduring the 2000s, establishing himself as a rom-com king at the time. He and Faris are joined byAmy SmartandChris Klein, among others.
Just Friendsopens in 1995, where Chris (Reynolds) is in love with his best friend and classmate, Jamie (Smart). After confessing his feelings and her rejecting him, Chris vows to lose weight and become highly successful in the future. His plan is shown to have come true about a decade later, when Chris became a vice president of a music label.Chris, however, has a love epiphany over the course of the movie, especially when he sees Jamie again. Faris plays Samantha James, a pop star Chris' label wants to sign; she adds the quirky charm to the holiday rom-com, making it a lovable love story.
Just Friends
7’The Jane Austen Book Club' (2007)
Directed by Robin Swicord
Emily BluntandHugh Dancyare incredibly charming on their own; together, any movie becomes a hit, or at least a sleeper hit.The Jane Austen Book Clubwas based on the novel of the same name byKaren Joy Fowler, but it also has plots from famousJane Austenbooks.The love letter to the author, adapted to contemporary relationships, didn’t get much attention upon release, but fans of Blunt, Dancy, or both will love this cute rom-com.
The Jane Austen Book Clubfollows six Californians who form a book club to discuss Jane Austen’s novels. The originator of the book club is Bernadette (Kathy Baker), and she starts it after meeting Prudie (Blunt) at a film festival. They attract several other members, including Grigg (Dancy), and their livessuddenly start resembling the lives of the characters they’re analyzing.The Jane Austen Book Clubwill definitely be a fun and lovable watch for the author’s fans, but anyone looking for a cozy night in will enjoy this, too.
The Jane Austen Book Club
6’Penelope' (2006)
Directed by Mark Palansky
Penelopeis a modern fairy tale that didn’t reach a very broad audience upon release, but its unique, kind of whimsical storyline gives it an irresistible charm. StarringChristina Ricci,James McAvoy,Reese Witherspoon, andPeter Dinklage,Penelopeis all about self-acceptance,wrapped in a fantasy storyline. Witherspoon was also the film’s producer, a role she took on frequently during her career.
Penelopestarts with a story of a witch cursing the lineage of a blue blood who betrayed her daughter;the curse is that the family’s next daughter will be born with the face of a pig, and only when she finds the love of someone of “her own kind” will the curse be lifted. After generations of only sons, Penelope (Ricci) is born. Her family thinks that “her own kind” means another blue blood, butPenelope’s major twist gives the movie a more positive message. Overall,Penelopeis an endearing and heavily underrated movie, worth watching.
5’Little Manhattan' (2005)
Directed by Mark Levin
Many people may not know thatThe Hunger Games’Josh Hutchersonstarted his career as a child actor; one of his first major roles was inLittle Manhattan,a heartfelt depiction of first love from a child’s perspective. It’sa coming-of-age storyas much as it is a romance and an endearing comedy, but it remains relatively unknown to this day. Hutcherson was joined byCharlie Rayas his love interest, whileBradley WhitfordandCynthia Nixon portrayed his parents.
Little Manhattanfollows 10-year-old Gabe (Hutcherson) and his first ever romantic experience. He lives in Manhattan with his parents, who have a strained relationship. Gabe meets Rosemary (Ray) in school, and they’re also martial arts partners;they become friends over time and hang out often, with Gabe realizing he’s falling in love.Little Manhattanis a pretty authenticportrayal of childhood emotions, paired with the experiences of a child going through changes in his own home. In many ways, the movie is alsoa love letter to NYC, specifically Manhattan, as Gabe and Rosemary visit its numerous famous places.
4’Down with Love' (2003)
Directed by Peyton Reed
Peyton Reed’sDown with Lovewas not the movie it expected to be; despite its stylish homage to 1960s retro romantic comedies likePillow Talk, commercial success evaded Down with Love like peace evaded the 1960s. Though criticized for being set in the past for no particular reason,it was still praised for being stylistically very close to the era it tried to evoke. It did, successfully, but the romance between the leads– played byRenée ZellwegerandEwan McGregor– feels a bit more modern. It kind of criticizes and celebrates everything a typical rom-com wants to be.
Down with Loveis set in 1962 in NYC and followsfeminist author Barbara Novak (Zellweger), arriving in NYC to promoteher book about women’s freedom and how to renounce love and menfor personal development, but it isn’t well-received by the publishers. To help promote the book, the publishers advise her to consult the playboy journalist Catcher Block (McGregor), who is everything she opposes.Down with Loveis actually sweet in many respects and romantic, largely due to brilliant performances and great chemistry by and between Zellweger and McGregor.
Down with Love
3’Definitely, Maybe' (2008)
Directed by Adam Brooks
Another Ryan Reynolds movie on the list,Definitely, Maybe, is actuallyhis most tender and forgotten performance.Definitely, Maybeis kind ofHow I Met Your Mother, but done within the confines of a runtime of under two hours,removing the fluff and keeping in all the interesting, lovable parts. Another rom-com set in NYC, the movie’s been called thoughtful and clever, and the cast charismatic. This is one of the rare underrated comedies that has received mostly praise from critics and audiences.
Definitely, Maybefollows Will Hayes (Reynolds), a father to 10-year-old Maya (Abigail Breslin), undergoing a divorce from her mother, Sarah.Maya asks Will how he and Sarah met, and Will starts telling her stories of his past romances, changing the names, so Maya can guess which of the women described is her mom. Because of this, the rom-com also has mystery elements, and its non-linear storytelling sets it apart from other movies of that caliber.Definitely, Maybeis definitely worth a watch for its fresh take on the rom-com genre.
Definitely, Maybe
A political consultant tries to explain his impending divorce and past relationships to his 11-year-old daughter.
2’Music and Lyrics' (2007)
Directed by Marc Lawrence
Hugh Grantwas a rom-com king in his most popular years, starringin hits likeNotting Hill,Love Actually, andBridget Jones’s Diary. He would occasionally star in an underrated movie in the genre, too, such asMusic and Lyrics, in which he falls for another rom-com legend,Drew Barrymore.Music and Lyricsfeatures original, catchy songs,but they aren’t the driving force behind the feature. It’s the charming chemistry between Grant and Barrymore, who are both quirky in their own way and good-looking in it.
Music and Lyricsfollows Alex Fletcher (Grant), a former pop star past his prime. Alex is asked by a rising star, Cora Corman (Haley Bennett), to write her a hit song, and, urged by his manager, Alex agrees, hoping to have his career revived. Alex’s weakness is writing lyrics, and he accidentally realizes his gardener,Sophie (Barrymore), has a knackfor writing songs. The two combine their talents and bond over creating music together.Music and Lyricsis a typical rom-com but packed in a unique and quite emotional package; its originality in placing the leads into the musical world makes it stand out from the rest.
Music and Lyrics
1’Waitress' (2007)
Directed by Adrienne Shelly
Waitressis so underrated that chances are high that you haven’t heard of it at all. ThisKeri Russellmovie is a hidden gem in the genre and a great addition to it; Russell, as usual, brings her A-game to a role and is joined byNathan Fillionas a romantic interest.Waitressgarnered critical acclaim but didn’t achieve widespread recognitionupon its release, potentially because of a tragic story behind it. Thewriter and director, Adrienne Shelly, was murdered shortly before the film’s premiere, and the movie was released in limited theaters.
Waitressfollows Jenna Hunterson (Russell), a waitress and pie-making expert trapped in an abusive marriage in a small Southern town. When Jenna finds out she’s pregnant, it motivates her to start afresh, andshe makes pies to collect money and leave her husband. During her visits to the doctor, she meets the likable obstetrician and newcomer, Jim Pomatter (Fillion), with whom she finds a great mutual attraction.Waitressis kind of bittersweet, but it is feel-good in an empowering and confident way, and the romance is a great addition to Jenna’s story. There is alsoa same-name Broadway musical, created in 2015.
