Whether celebrating single, with a significant other or with friends, Valentine’s Day calls for celebration. From rom-coms to tear-jerkers, The Daily Texan compiled a list of films to watch to set the mood on the day of love depending on the Valentine’s movie buddy.
Happily by yourself: “Legally Blonde”
When bubbly sorority girl Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) gets dumped, she works hard to enroll in Harvard Law where her ex-boyfriend attends to win him back. Ultimately, she finds success academically and proves to be more than a pink-obsessed fashionista after winning her first case with her knowledge of hair care. Single viewers can relate to Woods’ story of empowerment, independence and self-worth.
Regretfully by yourself: “La La Land”
“La La Land” follows the bittersweet romance of aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) and struggling jazz musician Sebastian (Ryan Gosling). As the movie-musical plays out in Los Angeles, success endangers their relationship and breaks them up in the end. This film emphasizes dreams and shows viewers that sometimes fulfilling aspirations often requires sacrifices, even if it means losing a relationship.
In a relationship: “50 First Dates”
When womanizer Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) develops a liking for Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore), he finds that she isn’t like other girls — she suffers from short-term memory loss after a car accident, and wakes up thinking every day is Oct. 13. As a result, Henry comes up with creative ways to make Lucy fall in love with him every day until she remembers him. This romantic comedy unconventionally reminds couples to enjoy creating memories and living in the present.
Situationship: “(500) Days of Summer”
“(500) Days of Summer” follows the 500-day relationship between Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a hopeless romantic, and Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel) a non-believer in love. Tom goes through personal growth learning about love and loss while reminiscing over the highs and lows of their relationship. The film depicts the complexities of dating without labels and finding fulfillment in one’s life.
Friends: “No Hard Feelings”
With an irregular relationship, “No Hard Feelings” shows the humorous bond between 32-year-old Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) and 19-year-old Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman) after his parents post a Craigslist ad asking for someone to date him before he goes to college. The film gives viewers a good laugh while showing the growth of Maddie and Percy’s unconventional friendship, proving that love is not always romantic.
Pet: “A Dog’s Purpose”
For viewers who prefer to spend Valentine’s with their furry companion, “A Dog’s Purpose” follows a dog named Bailey (voiced by Josh Gad) learning the purpose of existence with different owners as he gets reincarnated for five decades. Without fail, Bailey develops a bond with each owner. Eventually, Bailey reunites with his first owner, Ethan (Dennis Quaid), showing the never-ending love between an owner and their pet.
