When it comes to movies, there is nothing I love more than a sweet and simple rom-com. But, considering how many of them I spend my time rewatching now, sometimes I’m convinced I’ve seen them all. So, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, here are some of my favorite underrated love stories for those looking for something new.
“Drive Me Crazy” (1999)
Released in 1999, “Drive Me Crazy” is the epitome of a classic ‘90s rom-com. The films follows next door neighbors and former friends Nicole (Melissa Joan Hart) and Chase (Adrian Grenier) after they concoct a plan to fake date each other in order to make their respective love interests jealous. But in the midst of their scheming, the two realize the love they always wanted was next door all along.
When it comes to rom-coms, the “fake dating” trope has always been one of my favorites, and this movie takes the charm and heart of that trope to a whole new level. While films like “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and “Anyone But You” have made the trope more popular in recent years, “Drive Me Crazy” is available to rent on Amazon and perfect for those looking for a new story about love that starts with a ruse.
“Chasing Liberty” (2004)
A rebellious daughter, a charming British love interest and a once-in-a-lifetime trip through Europe can all be enjoyed in the 2004 film “Chasing Liberty.” The movie follows the first daughter of the United States, Anna Foster (Mandy Moore), as she attempts to evade her security detail and go backpacking across Europe to attend the Love Parade in Berlin, Germany. As she makes her way, Anna meets a handsome British boy named Ben Calder (Matthew Goode) who not only helps her get to Berlin but elude her Secret Service as well. The only problem is that Ben has a secret, and as the two travelers begin to fall more in love the secret threatens to tear them apart.
If this plot sounds vaguely familiar to you, that could be because of the 2004 film “First Daughter,” which follows a similar storyline but instead is set at a fictional university in California. Released just months apart, both films have their own upsides. But if I had to choose between the two, nothing beats “Chasing Liberty.” Not only is Ben one of the most endearing love interests I’ve seen in a rom-com, but the scenery, which was primarily filmed on location, is absolutely stunning. If you want a romance that you can truly escape into, “Chasing Liberty” is available to rent on Amazon.
“Garden State” (2004)
Straight from the mind of Zach Braff comes “Garden State,” a film that explores the adventures and romance that come when actor Andrew Largeman (Braff) returns to his hometown in New Jersey for his mother’s funeral. While there, Andrew meets and reconnects with a whole cast of comedic characters including a compelling compulsive liar named Sam (Natalie Portman), whom he connects with immediately.
While “Garden State” is probably not the most popular film in either Braff or Portman’s filmographies, it’s one that I don’t think gets the recognition it deserves. With cinematography similar to other indie-style films such as “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” or “Adventureland,” not only is “Garden State” a captivating story but visually it’s fun to watch. Currently available to watch on Hulu and Disney+, there’s nothing better than a trip to the “Garden State” this Valentine’s Day.
“The Broken Hearts Gallery” (2020)
While most of the world may know actor Dacre Montgomery as Billy Hargrove in the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things,” my favorite role of his will always be in the 2020 rom-com “The Broken Hearts Gallery” where Montgomery plays the guarded but endearing love interest, Nick.
The film follows Lucy Gulliver (Geraldine Viswanathan), who is left devastated after her boyfriend Max (Utkarsh Ambudkar) breaks up with her. But Max isn’t the first guy to break Lucy’s heart and, as her roommates point out, the relationship's ending isn’t Lucy’s biggest problem; in reality, it’s all that she keeps from them after the relationship is over that leaves her stuck in the past. That begins to change, however, when she meets Nick, a hotelier who helps her create a gallery in an old hotel where people can leave mementos from their past relationships.
My favorite thing about this movie is that it’s just as much about letting go of past relationships as it is about starting new ones, a mindset I think is great to have as we approach Valentine’s Day. If you’re looking to watch “The Broken Hearts Gallery,” the film is currently available on Hulu and Disney+.
