What’s Your Favorite Romance Movie?❤️

I got inspired to write this post after I saw the promotion for The Photograph, a movie about a young Black couple navigating love. (I had hoped to see this movie but my male friend has been incognito. Sigh.) When I go to the movies I usually see an action flick but the trailer from The Photograph grabbed my attention. It is hard to make an authentic, interesting and exciting romance film. Love is often shown in looks and gestures too small to really depict on screen.

The romance movies that have caught my attention have several key things in common. They are chemistry between the leads, a compelling and believable storyline, and great pacing (I hate for things to drag out that is why I don’t watch soap operas.).

The first thing I notice is the chemistry between the characters. I want to see the love smothering onscreen. I want to see something believable storyline that draws me in. Action films can be weak in the storyline department because the viewer is usually enthralled at seeing the fight between the evil character(s) and the good guys. Basically that is the plot for every action film. The special effects, settings and a few subplots keep me and millions of others sitting in our seats for an action film.

A love story doesn’t have that kind of action to distract you. The audience has to love the main characters and want to see them together. This getting cannot drag on too long and that is why pacing is an important factor in how I judge a good romance movie. I can’t tell you how many time I have been in a romantic flick where I have said to myself “Get on with it already.” That’s a tall order and sad to say many films fall short but there are a few that met the mark.

Please continue reading for my top picks.

#1 Love and Basketball (2000)

I love basketball and this romance is not a typical story. The characters Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) meet as children, initially don’ t get along. In college they become a couple until a tragic development in Quincy’s family pulls them apart. I like this story because it shows the stages of love. I really wanted Quincy and Monica the two main characters to get back together. Viewers aren’t sure until the end how the characters or if they will come together.

#2 Drumline 2002

This is another college romance story but the setting is a historical black college and the two main characters are in the band. The chemistry between Devon (Nick Cannon) and Laila (Zoe Saldana) practically smothers not he screen. You believe these two young people will be together. There are problems that most of can relate to when it comes to young love especially the maturity of the man. I love the background of the band with the dancing, music and the stepping of the black sororities and fraternities.

#3 Love Jones (1997)

This steamy romance takes place in Chicago among up and coming creative Black people. I am writing a romance in Chicago because I loved the environment when I visited. The romance starts fast as the couple has sex on the first date. There are so many obstacles along the way as Nina (Nia Long) and Darius (Larenz Tate) have careers, past relationships and quite frankly have sex on the first date.

#4 Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

When we first see the heroine Helen (Kimberly Elise) she is going through soothing fierce with her husband Charles (Steve Harris). She meets Orlando (Shemar Moore) in the midst of that fight. She is mean and angry but over time begins to soften up to his gently advances. I loved how this movie ends, I love the crazy antics of Madea (Tyler Perry who also plays Joe, wrote the script and co-wrote the music.) The fight Madea has with the hoochie in the closet is especially memorable. Looking at that tall, fine, and sexy Shemar Moore always makes my pulse race.

#5 The Notebook (2004)

This movie pulled at my heartstrings because Alzheimer’s is a disease that has touched my life personally. The main character, Allie )Rachel McAdams), is losing her memory of her adoring husband Noah (Ryan Gosling) and writes down their love story so it can be read to her. it is so terrible to lose the memory for those you love. This was a fast-paced movie that is not often seen in love stories and kept my attention to the end.

#6 Jumping the Broom (2011)

I liked this story because it showed romance in the Black elite, a subject not often seen on the silver screen. Jason (Laz Alonzo) a successful business man meets Sabrina (Paula Patton) and it is almost love at first site. Another good thing about this movie is the characters wait to get married before sex. Secrets abound in the family and when mama (Loretta Divine) spills the bean her son Jason gently and firmly put her in her place. I also love the setting of Martha’s Vineyard a beautiful place.Most of the movies takes places on Martha’s Vineyard and I loved that place.

#7 The Best Man (1999)

This movie is the first of a series and starts of with an intriguing question. What would you do if you found out that your best friend has slept with your fiancé? Lance (Morris Chestnut) is about to marry Nina (Monica Calhoun) when it is discovered his best friend Harper (Tase Diggs) had a fling with his woman. I had a friend that found out her husband had sex with her best friend years before they’d married. The two were in college and my friend wasn’t dating her husband yet. Nobody said anything because it was so awkward. I forgot how she found out but when she did, many years later, you know what hit the fan.

#8 Jason’s Lyric (1994)

This love story starts off sad Jason (Allen Payne), has a terrible secret that he hides from his girl Lyric (Jada Pinkett). The consequence of this secret almost cost him and Lytic their lives. I liked the male lead, Jason because he was so strong yet sweet. He is different from all the other guys .

#9 When Harry Met Sally (1989)

This movie drew me in because two different people get together after being friends for more than a decade. When Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) first met they take a long car ride debating whether men and women can be friends. Ten year later they meet again when Harry’s marriage is on the rocks and Meg is dumped by her boyfriend. They become friends and there is a underlining attraction and they are both single but still not interested in being with each other until the very end. I loved the anecdotes of the other couples sharing their stories that are peppered throughout the film.

#10 Think Like A Man (2012)

This movie is based on a book written by comedienne Steve Harvey and focuses on multiple couples trying to find their way through love. Kevin Hart, Jenifer Lewis, Regina Hall and Michael Early are some of he lead characters. I laughed through most of this movie. I liked the book a lot and all of the practical rules Steve gives about dating. This movie is told from the male perspective while giving advice to women on how to understand men

Would love to hear about our favorite love story. 🙂

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