Mens Movie Guide: Romances

March 27, 2010, By Craig J. Heimbuch 2 comments

Craig J. Heimbuch

Most women are suckers for tear-jerkers, but the only time you cry during movies is at the end of a great fight scene. If you have to be dragged to see a romantic movie, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of romantic movies that won’t kill your man rep. Your gal may be reaching for the tissue box, but you’ll still be able to face the guys the next day after watching these bro-mances.

Casablanca (1942) — "If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life."

It’s an all-time classic for a reason. Casablanca is a tale of danger and lost love with Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical expatriate, who comes into the possession of valuable documents. He can use the documents to get his lost love and her husband to safety or he can sell them to the highest bidder. What will he choose?

When Harry Met Sally (1989) — "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

Can men and women be "just friends" or does sex ruin everything? Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) have a classic love-hate relationship and their friendship survives countless failed relationships. But when they realize the perfect person has been by their side all along, what do they do?

Ghost (1990) — " The love inside, you take it with you."

A young love is tragically cut short, but even death couldn’t keep them apart. After he’s killed, Sam (Patrick Swayze) elicits some psychedelic help to communicate with his girlfriend (Demi Moore) who he thinks is in danger. Even in the afterlife, men are protective. If the pottery scene doesn’t get you excited, the comedy of Whoopi Goldberg is sure to get you psyched.

Jerry Maguire (1996) — "You had me at hello."

See Tom Cruise get passionate, minus the couch jumping. Cruise plays Jerry Maguire, a career-obsessed sports agent who has an epiphany that gets him canned. With a head-over-heels single mother and one loyal sports star by his side, Maguire tries to make sense of his life. It’s a man’s view on life and love. Plus, there’s enough sports action to keep you glued.

Titanic (1997) — "A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets."

It’s a classic love story. Rose (Kate Winslet) is an engaged aristocrat and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a penniless artist, but it’s not their social circumstances that spell doom for these lovers. It’s the boat itself. Although the fate of the Titanic is sealed in the history books, the fate of the two lovers isn’t. Will their love survive the calamity or will it sink with the ship?

High Fidelity (2000) — "All my romantic stories are a scrambled version of that first one."

When his girlfriend dumps him, Rob Gordon (John Cusack) contacts his former flames in an attempt to figure out what went wrong. As a record store owner, Gordon finds solace in music and mix tapes as he tries to win back his recently lost love. Jack Black is one of his side kicks. Need we say more?

Serendipity (2001) — "Life is not merely a series of meaningless accidents or coincidences. But rather, it’s a tapestry of events that culminate in an exquisite, sublime plan."

Sometimes a chance encounter turns out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to you, as is the case for John Cusack’s character, Jonathan Trager. While Christmas shopping for his girlfriend, Trager meets and falls for a mystery woman (Kate Beckinsale). They test fate to see if they’re meant to be. Is this true love? Do they find each other again? Watch and find out.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) — "I guess that's what happens in the end, you start thinking about the beginning."

It’s the movie that started the "Brangelina" phenomenon. Even killers have a wife and a nice home in the suburbs to come home to. But when your wife is an assassin, too, the fight between work and home can get rather messy. Starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, this action romance is right on target. You’ll both have someone to stare at.

Wedding Crashers (2005) — "The person I love the most is standing right here and I'm not ready to lose you yet."

Where others find love, two friends (Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson) find booty calls. The pair crash weddings expecting to find women, but what they don’t expect is to find love. When they charm their way to the estate of the Secretary of the Treasury, havoc and comedy ensues.

Atonement (2007) — "I will return. Find you, love you, marry you and live without shame."

Based on a British novel, a little misunderstanding and a big lie turn the world of Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) and Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightly) upside down. It’s a story of enduring love in the face of separation and war with a surprise twist. If the story doesn’t get you, the British accents will.

Watching romantic movies doesn’t have to be a painful experience. Find the flick with the right mix of mushy love and manly appeal with our list of bro-mantic movies. Then, cuddle up with your sweetie for a movie night for all.

Craig Heimbuch is the Editor-in-Chief of ManoftheHouse.com and the author of "Chasing Oliver Hazard Perry." He is a Barefoot Proximity employee.