RIP IT UP MOVIE CLUB: Top 10 Chick Flicks for Guys

August is all wrapped up, which sees winter packing the last of its bags as spring shows the final few rain clouds the door.  Ah spring…that time of year when we catch our first few glimpses of the summer sun, both plants and creatures rediscover life and, as the old adage goes, a young man’s fancy turns to love.

With spring symbolising the season for new romance, cinemas and video stores will be rubbing their hands in anticipation of all the awkward first dates that are going to come wandering through their doors. Now the guy is obviously out to impress his lady companion, so he is likely going to subject himself to whichever flick appeals to her, even if it does include the naked gyrating form of Channing Tatum.

With this in mind, I thought it’d be a good time to check out a few chick flicks you can bust out which will allow you to keep your female friend happy, while avoiding the urge to implant a choctop through your eye socket. So here are the Top 10 Chick Flicks for Guys. 

10. 500 Days of Summer

Directed by Marc Webb, of The Amazing Spiderman fame, this quirky romantic comedy features Joseph Gordon-Levitt at his best as Tom, a hopeless romantic who falls in love with Summer (Zooey Deschanel), a girl who just doesn’t believe in true love. His courtship of the seemingly unachievable will melt hearts, while the realisation that it can’t end well (the film even openly declares that “this is NOT a love story”) really adds a new depth to a genre that suffers from clichés.

Girls will love JGL as the love-bitten lead as he breaks new barriers of adorability as he tries to woo his dream girl. Guys will love the “anti-romance” humour strewn throughout the film, along with some genuinely funny scenes.  

9. 50 First Dates

While it’s in one’s best interests to avoid any of Adam Sandler’s latest offerings, his earlier films were actually pretty damn good. A couple of his best are his two collaborations with Drew Barrymore (50 First Dates & The Wedding Singer); the two leads just have incredible chemistry which really make the romance, the humour and even the story itself that much better. 50 First Dates see Sandler play bachelor Henry on the island of Hawaii who is content meeting tourists for one night flings, until he runs into Lucy (Barrymore), a local who suffers from amnesia.

With Lucy suffering from short-term memory loss, she loses her memory overnight and Henry has to win her over every day. Sean Astin and Rob Schneider are in terrific form as supporting characters. Girls will love Henry’s efforts in charming the oblivious Lucy. Guys will love the comedy provided from Sandler, Schneider, Astin and a walrus called Jocko.

8. Crazy Stupid Love

Starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon & Josh Groban, you’d be forgiven for writing this film off as another dreadful romantic ensemble ala Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve. However, the chemistry and relationships between the characters, combined with a relatively novel narrative and a handful of intertwining subplots, make for one of the better romantic comedies over the past few years.

When Cal’s (Carell) wife files for divorce, he finds himself hopelessly unprepared for the dating scene, but professional bachelor Jacob (Gosling) takes him under his wing and helps guide him through single-dom. Girls will love Ryan Gosling. Enough said really. Guys will love the banter between Cal and Jacob.

7. Bridesmaids

When director Paul Fieg’s (The Office & Arrested Development) chick flick about a group of bridesmaids came out guys couldn’t clamber over each other quick enough to get out of its path. But as word of mouth got around, that the film was actually pretty damn funny, guys started to tentatively pay some interest. As it turns out the film about two competitive women (played by Kristin Wiig and Rose Byrne) who are vying for the coveted maid of honour stands alone as a pretty good comedy…despite the negative connotations that come with such a title (I personally blame terrible bridal flicks such as Bride Wars or 27 Dresses etc).

Girls will love the whole “womance” angle with the girls enjoying themselves as they prepare for Lillian’s (Maya Rudolph) wedding. Guys will love the gross-out comedy that comes rather unexpectedly. The bridal-dress fitting sequence is one of the funniest, if not nastiest, scenes in any chick flick. Sister of the groom Megan (Melissa McCarthy) deserves an honourable mention as she steals almost every scene she’s in.

6. There’s Something About Mary

This quirky comedy from the Farrelly brothers tells the story of a one-time loser, Ted (Ben Stiller), who gets the chance to redeem himself with his dream girl, Mary (Cameron Diaz), after their first date in high school went horrendously wrong.

Of course, with this film falling into the genre of rom-com you know that things aren’t going to go to plan this time either, as Ted faces competition from three unlikely suitors (Matt Dillon, Chris Elliot, Lee Evans) as well as enduring a number of cringe-inducing moments. Girls will love the lengths that these offbeat suitors go to charm the girl of their dreams. Guys will love the [sometimes literally] painful situations Ted finds himself in; if you’ve ever had a bad date, this guy will make your efforts seem Casanova-esque.

5. The Notebook

Nicholas Sparks stories are renowned for being over-the-top sappy affairs that have girls reaching for the tissues and guys running for the exits. No matter how hard the guy is trying to impress you, he’ll be pushing his limits to sit through crud like Nights in Rodanthe or The Last Song. Yet amidst all the Sparks inspired atrocities, sits a nice little gem that will melt the heart of even the burliest of men. The Notebook tells the tale of an older gentleman (James Garner) who reads a story to an old woman (Gena Rowlands) in a nursing home, recounting the romance between two young lovers, Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams), who are driven apart due to social differences.

The story tugs on the heart strings, helped along by the natural chemistry between charming leads Gosling and McAdams. Girls will love Ryan Gosling at his most charming and romance at its finest. Guys will love the stunning Rachel McAdams and the chance to take notes on how he can impress his partner later.

4. Titanic

Okay, if you haven’t seen James Cameron’s epic tale about the doomed voyage of the S.S. Titanic by now, you probably shouldn’t be reading a film column… I mean Titanic was the box office benchmark for over a decade. A staple in any compilation of chick flicks, Titanic focuses on the relationship between two young lovers, from completely opposite ends of the social spectrum, who meet on the ship’s ill-fated journey.

This is the film that launched Leonardo DiCaprio’s star into the stratosphere, as he plays charming drifter Jack, whose live-life-to-the-fullest attitude captures the interest of the protected and restricted Rose (Kate Winslet at her best). Girls will love the romance between Jack and Rose, which is only strengthened by the audience’s knowledge of its likely fate. Guys will love the cool sequences after the boat strikes the fateful iceberg, which sees the ship snap in half, while its passengers scramble for their lives.

3. The Princess Bride

Quite possibly the most under-rated movie of all time, Rob Reiner’s classic fairy tale blends the perfect combination of romance, action, adventure and comedy. The film kicks off with an old man reading his grandson (a young Fred Savage) a bedtime story.

The fable tells the tale of the young maiden Buttercup (Robin Wright) who is kidnapped by the evil Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). Her long-time admirer Westley (Cary Elwes) sets off to rescue her, encountering a number of obstacles along the way including giant rats, carnivorous eels and three hardly-dastardly henchmen. The script is brilliant with the film offering up a multitude of memorable quotes and characters. Rather ironically the young grandson at the start complains that he doesn’t want to hear a girly story, but he is captivated by the story as it unfolds, making this movie an absolute certainty for this list. To miss it out would be inconceivable.

Girls will love the dashing hero Westley as he crosses land and seas in search of his lost love Buttercup. Guys will love the abundance of action and adventure that really makes this film stand out from any other romance flicks.

2. Mean Girls

Don’t let the whole LiLo factor scare you off. This was Lindsay Lohan at her best… though admittedly that’s really not saying much. Tina Fey’s screenplay on the trials and tribulations of high school is an absolute gem. The dialogue is sharp, the humour is consistent and there are countless quotes that will stick in your mind after the closing credits.  The film focuses on new girl Cady (Lohan) who has been home-schooled her entire life.

She befriends two social outcasts, the edgy Janice (Lizzy Caplan) and the “too gay to function” Damien (Daniel Franzese), while also trying to fit in with the popular girls (superbly played by Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert) and vying for the attention of the high school heart throb (Jonathon Bennett). Girls will love the OTT cattiness and drama that follows Cady, as her cringe-worthy journey through high school will allow you to reminisce your own high school days much more fondly. Guys will love the witty dialogue and banter between the characters.   

1. 10 Things I Hate About You

This modern day retelling of The Taming of the Shrew transplants the Shakespeare classic into 90’s high school. Featuring rising stars Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Julia Stiles and David Krumholtz, the film is not only a great chick flick, but is one of the better teen movies since the genre’s peak during the 80’s. JGL plays new kid in school, Cameron, who falls for sophomore Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), but any intentions are thwarted when he finds out that she is not allowed to date until her older sister, the rebellious Kat (Stiles) starts dating.

With Kat scaring away any potential suitors, Cameron enlists the help of social-outcast Patrick (Ledger) to court her, so that he is then free to date her younger sister.  Girls will love the chance to ogle heart-throbs JGL and Heath Ledger before they became Hollywood A-listers. Guys will love the opportunity to see the Joker and Robin befriending each other in high school, years before one Christopher Nolan would cast them in his caped crusader trilogy.    

By Shane Drought

What are your favourite Chick Flicks?