That dreaded holiday is just around the corner, the one you either get to celebrate or get to sit on the sidelines with contempt as everyone around you shows off how happy and in love they are. That’s right, it’s Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re looking for a movie to cozy up to with your partner, one to laugh at with your best friend, or one to drink wine out of the bottle by yourself to, here’s a list of movies for anyone to watch this V-Day.
For those looking for a classic bestie movie night:
“Someone Great” (2019)
Looking to ignore couples and romance? Search no further and check out “Someone Great,” starring Gina Rodriguez, DeWanda Wise and Brittany Snow. Though the film does start with a breakup, this movie made me want to go out for a night with my girlfriends and appreciate friendship. It’s definitely cheesy, yet viewers will like it enough that they won’t cringe too hard. Keep in mind, it won’t quite bring on the tears if you are looking for a more wholesome movie to watch with your bestie.
“Someone Great” is available to stream on Netflix.
“Language Lessons” (2021)
As one of the most real films of 2021, holding an impressive 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this is the one to tune into if you want to have a good cry. Depicting the relationship between a student and a Spanish teacher as they get to know each other through their lessons and as their friendship evolves, this film fits the bill for a good movie night with friends.
Though the Zoom realism in this film can be a little much, the chemistry between the actors and the platonic love storyline is enough to keep viewers watching until the end. The best part about “Language Lessons” is that it’s truly about friendship, there’s no “the main characters actually fall in love” trope in it, which is a real and raw switch up from the stereotypical movies with this type of angle.
“Language Lessons” is available to watch on Youtube for $1.99.
Looking for something to tune into as you ignore all forms of social media and hate the idea of love? No problem, grab your personal vice and settle in for one of these movies that will make you feel better about rocking the single life:
“Palm Springs” (2020)
Though, yes, two people do technically fall in love in this movie, I found it to be hilarious nonetheless. Taking the main plot point from “Groundhog Day” but giving it a pretty hysterical twist, “Palm Springs” is a movie that will have viewers laughing in between saying “what the f***” until the very end.
As the main characters, Nyles, played by Andy Samberg, and Sarah, played by Cristin Milioti, get stuck in a time loop, they continuously find more creative and stupid ways to pass the time with each other.
The loop takes place during the day of Sarah’s sister Tala’s (Camila Mendes) wedding, and it makes for an interesting turn of events. From putting a fake bomb in the cake to over-the-top, nonsensical speeches, this movie will definitely give you a good laugh if you need it on the dreaded V-Day.
“Palm Springs” is available to stream on Hulu.
“Shiva Baby” (2021)
This movie seems to be entirely different than one has seen before, and it has rave reviews, including many referring to it as 2021’s best comedy and crazy funny. Though we see our main character Danielle (Rachel Sennott) run into both her ex and her sugar daddy at a shiva she’s attending with her parents, I promise there is no gross romance in it for the viewers who want to stay away from it.
For those looking for a good laugh and also seeking a feeling similar to “well at least this isn’t me…” make sure to tune into this movie.
“Shiva Baby” is available to stream on HBO Max.
Want something amorous and romantic to chill to with your partner? Check out these rom-coms. From award-worthy to just a little too cheesy, there will be a film for you:
“Destination Wedding” (2018)
For couples in search of an over-the-top rom-com to watch in order to have a more classic Valentines celebration, “Destination Wedding,” starring Hollywood A-listers Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder, looks just bearable enough to do the trick.
Though it seems to have the stereotypical jokes and scriptwriting, the storyline has a fun twist that hasn’t been too overdone.
In this movie, two “intolerable” people fall in love. They hate the bride, the groom, themselves and each other. Though the enemies to lovers trope is cliche, the spin the movie does on this trend is just different enough to keep it interesting. So, if you and your significant other are looking for some light-hearted fun, cuddle up and throw this movie on.
“Destination Wedding” is available to stream on Netflix.
“The Man with the Answers” (2021)
Yes, the premise of this film does admittedly scream “Call Me by Your Name” rip off, even down to the iconic dance scene. That being said, the movie has a plethora of good reviews and looks just different enough from its inspiration to be enjoyable. If couples are looking for a less cheesy, more indie movie to hold each other to on Valentine’s Day, this one’s for you.
The premise of this film is that a former Greek diving champion and an eccentric German student journey from Bari to Bavaria on a road trip of discovery and unexpected adventures.
“The Man with the Answers” is available to stream on Prime Video.
There you have it: whether you’re in a relationship, you’re flying solo, or you’re having a good ol’ best friend hang out, there’s at least one movie on this list for you to tune into this Valentine’s Day.
Follow Abby on Twitter @astreabbs
