Valentine Movies That Dont Suck

Down with Valentines Day. Actually, I dont mean that. What I do mean is down with Valentines Day films. Whenever someone asks me what movie they should watch on V-Day, I always feel Im expected to come up with titles that, in the words of Oscar Wilde, reek of more than usually revolting sentimentality.

Come on, a date movie doesnt have to be Beaches or The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood. And guys, a double feature of Hostel movies wont cut it either.

If youre looking to go out to a new movie, take a chance on the at least bearable Definitely, Maybe, and not the wretched Fools Gold, which only a fool would suffer gladly. With Maybe you get the definite pleasure of watching Ryan Reynolds hit on three gorgeous and intelligent women Elizabeth Banks, Isla Fisher and my fave Rachel Weisz.

As a lead in to next weeks Oscars, you might want to catch up with one of the five nominees for Best Picture. Youll get the sweet in Juno and the hot in Atonement. From No Country for Old Men, Michael Clayton and There Will Be Blood youll gets bubkas in terms of romance.

If youre looking for a DVD, you could go with Blockbusters list of the most popular choices:

1. 50 First Dates

2. Casablanca

3. When Harry Met Sally

4. Wedding Crashers

5. The Princess Bride

6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding

7. Jerry Maguire

8. Theres Something About Mary

9. Bull Durham

10. The Wedding Singer

If it must be an Adam Sandler movie, make it The Wedding Singer and not the sugary 50 First Dates, though Drew Barrymore is adorable in both.

Id go off the beaten track with lesser known movies that are a good deal spicier.

Hardly anyone saw Out of Sight, and George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez are out of sight sexy in it, especially that scene in the trunk of a car where they discuss the sparks that fly between Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway in Three Days of the Condor (catch that one too, why dont you?)

Nothing against Cameron Crowes Jerry Maguire, but Id go with his underrated Say Anything, featuring John Cusack, who holds a boombox over his head outside Ione Skyes window and lets Peter Gabriels In Your Eyes speak for him. Works every time.

And remember that fun doesnt kill the mood. Id rather watch Bill Murray hit on Andie MacDowell over and over in Groundhog Day than watch Ryan Gosling get moony over a sex doll even once in Lars and the Real Girl.

For gay passion, go with Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain or vampire Catherine Deneuve sinking her teeth into Susan Sarandon in The Hunger, with David Bowie thrown in for bi-sexuals.

If you must have high-toned British romance, theres nothing in The English Patient that can touch the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice in which Colin Firth the ladies love him with his shirt dripping wet finally confesses his feelings to Jennifer Ehle, You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. That Jane Austen was some tease.

Happy Valentines Day