Films that are all about the romance.

One of the classic dates will always be dinner and a movie. However, choosing the wrong flick can ruin an otherwise promising evening. If you’re trying to conjure up some cinematic magic, here are some possibilities.

Pure Romance
Here are two go-to movies, guaranteed to induce a swoon or two.

Moonstruck (1987)
Cher won an Oscar for her portrayal of Loretta Castorini, a widowed Italian woman who dutifully works in the family business and plans a loveless but practical marriage to Johnny Cammareri. Along the way, she discovers hair dye, the seductive power of the moon, and the charms of Johnny’s estranged brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage). Favorite moment: Loretta’s response to Ronny’s declaration of love — “Snap out of it!” — accompanied by a slap across the face.

Chocolat (2001)
Juliette Binoche is dazzling as Vianne, a woman who opens up a chocolate shop in a small French village and ends up winning over the disapproving townsfolk with her charm and her delicious confections. Best viewed with a large box of truffles close at hand. (For a Binoche double feature, rent Dan in Real Life.)

The Meg Files
Meg Ryan is one of the undisputed queens of romantic comedy. Try Kate and Leopold, French Kiss, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and When Harry Met Sally.

The Fairy Tales
In reality your life might be more cold-pizza-and-flannel-pajamas, but that’s precisely why you need pure escapist fantasy to get you through.

Pretty Woman (1990)
It doesn’t matter whether you believe a freewheeling hooker and a buttoned-down executive would ever connect in real life — this is a movie designed for unplugging your brain and passing the popcorn. Julia Roberts and Richard Gere have great chemistry together. (See also: 1999’s Runaway Bride.) For more vintage Julia, watch My Best Friend’s Wedding or Notting Hill.

Enchanted (2007)
Amy Adams is simply adorable, and not just because she hails from Castle Rock. In this frothy bit of whimsy, she plays Giselle with wide-eyed perfection. Yes, I know she has serious acting skills (see: Doubt), but her playful side is much more fun. Bonus film: Check out the charming Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

The Weepers
If your definition of the perfect romance calls for a box of tissues, there are several movies that fit the bill. Dig back in the vault for 1957’s An Affair to Remember. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr make a pact to meet on a certain date, but their plans are thwarted by tragedy. (If they’d only had cell phones and email back then...) Go further back to 1939’s Gone with the Wind, where Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett O’Hara pines for Clark Gable’s Rhett Butler, giving us one of the best movie lines ever. For more star-

crossed lovers, try Casablanca, Love Story, and The English Patient.

Funny Business
If crying or getting all misty isn’t your style, you’ll want a movie with a serious comic streak. The bonus: These are films that seem to appeal equally to men and women.

Roxanne (1987)
Steve Martin and Darryl Hannah are at their best in this retelling of the classic story of Cyrano de Bergerac. Martin has the sensitivity and the flowery words that women adore, but he also sports a seriously oversized schnozz. Watching him compete with a hunky but empty-headed firefighter for Hannah’s affections makes for great, witty fun.

While You Were Sleeping (1995)
This is the film that cemented Sandra Bullock’s spot in the pantheon of romantic comedy’s leading ladies. As Lucy Eleanor Moderatz, she spends her days collecting train tokens and admiring a handsome commuter from afar. When they finally meet, there are just two problems: He’s in a coma, and his family believes they’re engaged. She goes along with the mistake, but then there’s the small matter of his brother...and her besotted neighbor, Joe Fusco, Jr., who keeps trying to get a date when he’s not trying on her shoes. It’s kooky and sweet and thoroughly watchable.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey engage in the ultimate battle of the sexes. Each tries to win a bet — he’s determined to win her over in 10 days, while her goal is to drive him away in the same time frame.

Teen Scene
There’s nothing quite as intense as your first love. In Dirty Dancing, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey remind us how awkward and amazing coming of age can be. For quirky teen angst, Molly Ringwald is still the reigning queen, with Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles. For updated versions of the classics, you can’t beat Alicia Silverstone in Clueless and Julia Stiles in 10 Things I Hate About You.

by Barrett Gray