There’s nothing like a great romantic comedy. Flirty, witty and usually filled with great clothes, great quips and great-looking people. What’s not to like?
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been anything like a great romantic comedy out of Hollywood in some time. The rom-com’s that can be found amid all the thrillers and horror films feature random pairings. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew McConaughey? Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore? Sure, they’re all charismatic and easy on the eyes, but they don’t quite click.
Recently released “Waitress” offers hope, at least in a small, independent-film kind of way. “Knocked Up” is also promising, but it’s a broad, romantic comedy hybrid like “Wedding Crashers” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.”
We want, nay, yearn for are those traditional, easy-viewing romantic comedies perfect for date night.
And with a goal of trying to resuscitate these glossy romances, here’s a list of dream pairings:
Will Smith and Halle Berry
A pairing with Berry might pull in the five or so moviegoers who thus far have resisted Smith’s films. Smith could hone the charm he showed in “Hitch,” one of the few romantic comedies of the past few years that worked. And Berry, who was adorable in 1992’s “Boomerang,” could make a movie in which her character isn’t in peril.
Christian Bale and Penelope Cruz
An intense actor who always seems to be hiding a secret, Bale might be the co-star to finally help translate Cruz’s great appeal in Spanish films to America. Cruz could be kooky and play off the stoic Bale. Or he could play a Richard Gere-style straight man a la “Pretty Woman,” but with even better suits and less prostitution.
George Clooney and Virginia Madsen
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People compare Clooney to Cary Grant, but he’s not known for his romantic comedies. But Madsen, who can be very retro-glamorous despite some more recent homely roles, could perfectly complement Clooney’s old-school charm.
Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley
In the second “Pirates of the Caribbean” film, we saw a glimpse of Depp and Knightley sizzling so inappropriately that we wanted more of it. Perhaps they could transfer that heat to a romantic comedy set in a dull insurance office or hospital.
Renee Zellweger and Brad Pitt
A blight on the face of modern romantic comedies, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” showed that Pitt would do better with a more down-to-earth partner than Angelina Jolie on screen, if not in life. And since Jennifer Aniston is probably out of the question, Zellweger will do just fine.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger
Because romantic comedies, unlike “Brokeback Mountain,” have happy endings.