Do you find yourself falling somewhere between being anti-Valentine’s Day and plastering your life with red and pink hearts? Maybe curling up with one of these romance-lite movies will do the trick.
Let’s face it, not all of us are super into the holiday, but we aren’t ready to be full on Valentines’ grinches about it either. There has to be some middle ground here, right? You are in luck. I have put together a list of fun movies featuring a little romance, but lots of other things to balance it out.
So go ahead and retire Titanic and The Notebook for this year if you’re just not in the mood. Check out one of these movies and remember that not everything has to be all about love just because it’s February 14.
The best Romance-lite movies to check out:
‘The Edge of Seventeen’
There are definitely some romantic moments in this movie, but rather than being all about teen hookups and love triangles, you’ll see that Nadine has much bigger lessons to learn. I feel like this movie has just the right amount of romance-y stuff without depending on it to be the movie’s heart and soul.
‘Super 8’
For those that would like a little teen angst, but a lot of alien-from-another-planet type drama, I present Super 8. This movie is all about what these kids discover and how they deal with aliens showing up in their hometown, but there is a little bit of teen romance/drama woven in as well.
‘Easy A’
It’s pretty easy to admit I love Emma Stone. This movie is one of her best, as we watch Olive Pendergast live the consequences of a little white lie she told her friend, and how they spiral into a much more serious situation than Olive could have ever predicted. The romance-y part of this film is so unabashedly delightful that it has a permanent spot in my favorite movies list.
‘Juno’
In case you missed the Juno craze that took over when it appeared on the scene in 2007, this movie is more about life than it is about romance, but it also gives a more brutally honest depiction of love and romance and marriage than I had ever seen on film. Not to mention that Juno is funny and wonderful and has a pretty kickass soundtrack.
‘The Princess Diaries’
Looking for something a little more wholesome and maybe want to immerse yourself in the earnestness of first crushes and first loves? Don’t forget about this one. Plus, it has Julie Andrews. I mean, what more could you possibly ask for, am I right?
‘Speed’
When you want a little less teen drama and a few more explosions, Speed is my go-to. I wouldn’t classify it as a romance per-say, but watching Jack and Annie bond over their shared trauma is one of my favorite parts of this movie.
‘The Breakfast Club’
Okay, so this one is not necessarily on my favorite movies list (hold the tomatoes for a second, please), but it does offer a very different look at teen movies. Rather than being all about one couple and their path to either lifelong love or an awful breakup, The Breakfast Club is about seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. It’s definitely a feel good movie, though, with a few romantic moments in there, too, so it’s definitely worth a watch if you want just a little romance this Valentine’s Day.
‘Mean Girls’
Sometimes I forget that there is a little romance in this movie. It’s so focused on the antics of Kady and the Plastics that the romance kind of falls to the wayside, but there is a bit of a happy ever after in this one, too. Not to mention it’s wicked funny and gives you some quality Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as well. Can’t go wrong there.
’50/50′
For a little something different, I present 50/50. This one is a lot more serious, and may bring more than a few tears, but probably not because of the romance. Instead, you’ll be crying over friendship, family, and overcoming the circumstances life throws at you when you least expect them. And then you’ll be cheering when awkwardness wins the day.
‘Pitch Perfect’
This is just a feel good movie. Teensiest bit of romance thrown in for good measure, but ultimately all about a bunch of girls banding together to succeed where no girls group has before. The music in this movie is catchy and fun, giving the perfect soundtrack to Becca learning to be a little less intense and a little more welcome to new experiences. A great pick for those of us who enjoy romance-lite movies!
‘Remember the Titans’
This is super romance-lite movie, but importance and heart-felt goodness heavy. Does that make sense? Most people would probably put this one on a sports movie list or something, but watching this team find a way to fight for each other is downright romantic. Seeing them learn to work together in a time that wanted to rip them apart will definitely fill your heart with warmth and hope, which is all you can ask for in a good Valentine’s Day movie.
‘Mirror Mirror’
And finally, a little something fantastical. I love this movie. It’s pretty and fun and an interesting take on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Rather than focusing on true love’s kiss for most of the movie, this adaptation wants to give Snow White a little more to do. She fights government corruption, teaches bandits not to steal, and saves a good man from a terrible fate. Sounds like the perfect adaptation to me.