The Rebound (2009)

Director: Bart Freundlich
Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Justin Bartha
Genre: Romantic comedy
Rating: ***

Although it does have the occasional laugh and tear-jerker, there is actually nothing remarkable about this film apart from the charming performance by lead Zeta-Jones. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Bartha - he simply seems a little bland in comparison.

The scenarious are too unlikely for the relationship between the leads to have any real emotional attatchment with the audience. Saying this, The Rebound is actually very enjoyable, and probably the perfect film for a girlie night in. Thankfully, the moment in which the couple break up in the middle of the film is more inventive and an actual reason (however unlikely) than those found in many other romantic comedies.

Overall, enjoyable, but nothing special.

40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)

Director: Michael Lehmann
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, Paulo Costanzo
Genre: romantic comedy
Certificate: 15
Rating: ****

A romantic comedy always follows the same layout - boy meets girl, fall in love, something separates them for awhile, one apologises, finally get together, etc. This is no different, other than that it extends the 'something separates them...' part over three different 'somethings'. This perhaps is unnecessary, but at least it separates this film from all the other romantic comedies out there.

Yes, this film is charming in a sexual, occasionally vulgar way, but it is also laugh-out-loud funny and a relatively realistic display of a couple falling in love. Without the sex. Hartnett's peformance is genius, from his awkwardness to his various states of arousal. The plot is exceptional - using Lent to give up all sexual contact for 40 days, but unfortunately meeting who is most probably 'The One' during that time.

My one main criticism is the CGI - flying over mountains of breasts should look relatively realistic (the flying part - the cartoon-like visuals of the breasts did, for some reason, work pretty well).

What Happens in Vegas (2008)

Director: Tom Vaughan
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Rob Corrdry, Dennis Farina
Genre: romantic comedy
Certificate: 12
Rating: ***

The first thing I will mention is that romantic comedies are highly predictable. But that doesn't mean they can't be good.

What Happens in Vegas is far from the funniest film I have ever seen - however, it does have its moments (one bit I would have to include on my 'Funniest Moments' list, due to it causing tears to prick my eyes).

Kutcher really outdoes himself in this film - he portrays his character brilliantly, from his witty thinking to his laidback lifestyle. And Diaz is nearly always glorious - this is no exception.

Although the cinematography is nothing special, and the script is nowhere near as good as, say, that of Mean Girls, it definitely is something sweet and funny, if not predictable, to watch.

(500) Days Of Summer

Title: (500) Days of Summer
Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
Genre: romantic comedy
Year: 2009
Certificate: 12
Rating: *****

This film is a completely original, brilliant thing. It is told in a non-linear sequence, leaving the viewer piecing together their version of what has happened during events, and then either being proven correct, or incorrect. Also, the comedic side of it is actually funny, whenever it is meant to be, something rarely seen in recent comedies.

Not only is it funny, but it is also a moving and slightly upsetting film, due to it not exactly being about falling in love, more about falling OUT of it, and taking chances. Although the main characters have a very sweet relationship, it obviously will not work out as she is not quite into it enough. Another interesting thing about this film is that it is the girl who doesn't believe in love, whilst the man is a hopeless romantic, which is a pleasant change from the norm. One last interesting point is that the director obviously was not afraid to try something different, due to one scene in which he splits the screen in half, one side being how the protagonist is imagining things to go, the other side in which they actually do go. This scene is slightly out of sync, until the same things happen in both, which makes it less confusing.

This film is, definitely, a new favourite.

There's Something About Mary

Title: There's Something About Mary
Director: Farrelly Brothers
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Chris Elliott, Lee Evans
Genre: romantic comedy
Rating: **** (awesome)

There's Something About Mary starts off funny, continues to be funny, then ends funny. Because it's a funny film. Basically, a man hires a detective to spy on his childhood sweetheart, to determine if she is married etc. However, the detective falls in love with her, causing a battle to win over Mary. What is later revealed to us is that there is another player in the game, and, nearer the end, three more. This film is unpredictable, laugh-out-loud brilliance, and also hilariously embarrassing.

Borat

Title: Borat
Director: Larry Charles
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Peter Baynham, Anthony Hines, Don Mazer, Todd Phillips
Genre: mockumentary, comedy
Rating: ***** (a favourite)

One word: BRILLIANT.

This is such a masterpiece that every single person in the world should go out and buy it immediately. And laugh at everything in it, even if it is insulting you or your beliefs (it insults EVERYBODY'S beliefs). Be good-natured, laugh, have fun, wet yourself. Watch this. Now.

27 Dresses (2008)

Title: 27 Dresses
Director: Anne Fletcher
Starring: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden
Genre: Romantic comedy
Certificate: 12
Rating: ***** (a favourite)

27 Dresses is a delightfully funny romantic comedy, about weddings and romance. When you first start watching it, you are not sure what to expect - the idea is not the best I have come across - but after a little while, something happens. You stop worrying about how likely the situation is, and you just enjoy watching a great rom-com, which will make you laugh and smile the whole of the way through. Katherine Heigl (most known for her role as Izzie Stevens in Grey's Anatomy)'s performance is, as per usual, flawless.

Shallow Hal (2001)

Director: Farrelly Brothers
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jack Black, Jason Alexander
Genre: romantic comedy
Certificate: 12
Rating: *****

From the DVD case, this film looks like it is not going to be too good. Yet if you give it the chance it deserves, and 'don't judge a book by its cover', you will realise how good it actually is. The plot is basically about a man who only judges women from what they look like, before his perceptions are altered, and the beauty within women reflects on their beauty outside. And so, he falls in love with a beautiful woman, who he does not realise is actually fat. Yes, the plot IS cheesy, but it manages to become a beautiful film, when Jack Black's character realises that he loves his obese girlfriend, because of what she is inside. There is a scene in this which almost brought me to tears - after Hal's perceptions are re-altered, he realises that a little girl whom he played The Kissing Game with is actually a burn victim. This scene was beautifully done. Obviously, the message of this film is about seeing the inner beauty of individuals, and Shallow Hal brings it across almost too easily. A must-see.