Top Ten Movies of the Decade: Romantic Comedy

Not a single one of us can free ourselves completely of the incessant responsibilities of life; the endless work days, debilitating traffic, health care reform, bailouts, the woes of the world. But, if at the end of the day we find ourselves surrounded by love and laughter, no amount of stress or responsibility can keep us down. That is the magic and not-so-secret formula behind the classic romantic comedy. "Love is all we need"....and laughter makes it that much better.

The beauty of a romantic comedy film is that no matter how ridiculous the storyline, it still manages to make our hearts flutter and our eyes sparkle with dreams of love. With hundreds of movies to choose from, I painstakingly narrowed the selection down to a concise list of the top ten romantic comedies of the past decade. See if you agree.

10: Little Manhattan is the story of a young boy's first love. Yes, I know. How typical, right? But this one is a true gem. Maybe it's the combination of successful casting and witty writing. Whatever the reason, Little Manhattan manages to bring you back, way back, to your very first crush, circa Fourth Grade. As you watch, you can completely relate to eleven year old Gabe's angst because you remember exactly how mortifying that sickening yet awesome love-struck feeling was. This film is chockfull of cooties, embarrassing mom moments and the first signs of changing hormones. Most of all, Little Manhattan remains charming from start to finish, puts endearing moments in all the right places and holds steadfastly to the innocence of first love.

9: Serendipity comes in at number nine. This movie made the list for two reasons. The first is its theme of destiny and the second, John Cusack. Say Anything­ has earned him the right to be on this list. The story begins in New York during the madness of the holiday season. Two people accidentally meet in a crowded department store as they reach for the same and last pair of gloves. They are clearly smitten with one another and are both predictably unavailable. Nonetheless, they end up spending the dreamy evening together. As their night comes to an end, they go their separate ways even though Cusack's character doesn't want to. The female principal played by Kate Beckinsale, insists on putting complete faith into the greater powers that be. The antics that occur throughout the film are all intended to tempt fate and destiny. It is clear that both characters have gotten under each others skin and found permanent places in each others hearts. Now all they have to do is let the universe bring them back to one another. We've all wondered if destiny truly exists. Can it somehow bring soul mates together, no matter what the obstacles just because it is so written? Whether or not you believe in it, this film will at least make you wonder.....sigh.

8: Okay. Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl- an odd pair they are but oh how they complement each other in Knocked Up! The premise isn't necessarily funny. These days, it's not uncommon for two very drunk people to meet in a bar, go home together with an eventual walk of shame to follow. That is exactly what happens in Knocked Up except, you guessed it, the girl, Alison (Heigl) gets knocked up. Here's the catch, she decides to keep the baby. The movie evolves as her one-night stand, Ben (Rogen), a pothead who is searching for direction in life decides to take responsibility for his actions. An unlikely yet adorable relationship develops between Alison and Ben. Throw Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann in the mix along with Judd Apatow's direction and you've got yourself a refreshingly hilarious, happy ending kind of romantic comedy.

7: Just Friends comes in at number seven. Yes, maybe the premise of the movie has some shallow undertones, but the love story is uplifting with plenty of laugh out loud moments. In Just Friends, Ryan Reynolds plays an obese teenager who is secretly in love with his beautiful best female friend played by Amy Smart. Years down the line, Reynolds' character slims down and becomes a successful, studly music mogul who lives in LA. When an unlikely accident caused by the hilarious Anna Faris strands Reynolds back in his New Jersey home town, old feelings of love and resentment resurface. The reunion between best friends is awkward but funny. This film is by far no work of genius but it is a satisfying blend of teen insecurities and high school insensitivity that eventually manifest into a sense of comfort in one's own skin. Just Friends also addresses that awkward "friend zone" that we've all found ourselves in at one time or another. Most importantly, it is a great blend of romance and laughter.

6: Taking the number six spot is the Will Smith flick known as Hitch. It's likely that you've seen this movie and just as likely that you enjoyed it. The plot goes something like this. Smith plays Hitch, a very elusive, successful love coach who helps shy, insecure yet wonderful men respectably get the girls of their dreams. More than a dating service, Hitch is the man behind the man, the hidden persona that he believes can woo a woman into giving her heart. The story really takes off when Hich gets hired by a clumsy, endearing Albert, played by Kevin James. Hitch helps Albert get the love of his life, the very high profile Allegra Cole, played by Amber Valletta. In the meantime, the Love Doctor finds himself in the clutches of arresting love as Eva Mendes entrances him with her brains and beauty. These two major events come together, bring about a slew of embarrassing and funny moments and eventually expose Hitch in, of course, a negative light. After a little devastation and temporarily broken hearts, misunderstandings are worked out, all the broken things get fixed and there you have it, yet another funny and romantic happily ever after.

5: Number five goes to Something's Gotta Give. This movie is quite different from the previous five. First, the love that brews is between Erica and Harry, characters played by the legendary Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Clearly, their love is not young and innocent but it most certainly is fresh. They are brought together by very unlikely circumstances. You see, Harry is dating the much younger and very beautiful daughter of Erika named Marin, portrayed by Amanda Peet. While Marin and Harry are visiting Erica, he suffers cardiac arrest, survives, and ends up recovering at his girlfriend's mom's house. This inadvertently leads to a blossoming friendship between Diane Keaton and Mr. Nicholson. Marin sees and supports the relationship and breaks up with Harry. Eventually, their friendship leads to intimacy. But when Harry's health improves, he moves back home and picks up right where he left off- dating much younger women. This blows up in his face when months later, everyone ends up in the same restaurant, Harry with a twenty something year old girl and Erica with Marin and a small dinner party. Erica takes what she can from the experience and uses it to fuel her writing. She also starts seeing a much younger doctor (Keanu Reeves). Neither of the two can forget each other, though. Some time later, they both realize they are in love, run back into each other's arms and the rest is history. Happily ever after seems to be the theme here, doesn't it?

4: There is no way Love Actually would not make the list. Here it is in spot number four. With a fantastic cast and a montage of bittersweet love stories, this movie is a perfect choice for that Friday night after a long work week. With actors like Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth and Emma Thompson the formula is perfect for some quality romance and chuckles along the way. This British film is set in London during the holiday season. The story revolves around eight characters, four love stories and countless trials and tribulations of love. There are sprouting romances, troubled ones, those destined for success and those that are doomed. At the end of this movie you are left with a final message: we are surrounded by love every single moment of our lives. Whether we choose to see it or ignore it makes no difference. Love cannot be destroyed. It is the single thread that keeps us all connected. Love deeply and laugh while you're at it.

3: Forgetting Sarah Marshall was almost left off of the list until I watched it again and realized that it is an absolutely brilliant romantic comedy. If you haven't seen it, do so as soon as you're in the movie mood. Prepare to squirm from embarrassment and smile from ear to ear when love brews. But know that you'll laugh hard enough to shoot milk out of your nose because yes, it is that funny. Peter (Jason Segel) and Sarah (Kristen Bell) have been dating for five years. Peter is a composer for a bad TV show that Sarah acts in. It is quite clear that Sarah is unhappy in the relationship. She feels that Peter is lazy, unmotivated and needs a mommy more than he needs a girlfriend. She breaks up with him and he is distraught. He doesn't know how to pick himself up and survive so a good friend suggests he take a vacation. Peter goes off to Hawaii where, ironically, he come face to face with Sarah and the man she has been cheating on him with. The hotel receptionist Rachel played by Mila Kunis sees what is transpiring in the hotel lobby and helps Peter out by giving him a luxury suite. As you can imagine, a relationship begins to blossom between him and Rachel while Sarah's relationship with her quirky and eccentric British rock star (Russell Brand) falls to pieces. The vacation ends, Peter feels better because Rachel has helped rejuvenate him, Sarah and her boyfriend break up and everyone goes their separate ways. Peter and Rachel have a falling out because he tells her he shared a moment with Sarah. Rachel gets upset. Peter returns to the mainland and begins working on his music and dream of writing a puppet show opera. He succeeds and invites Rachel. She shows up at the premiere and they are able to pick up where they left off.

2: Maybe it's because this movie made me feel better at a time when I was feeling low. Maybe it's the likable cast or maybe it's the fun storyline. There is good reason that The Holiday has been given spot number two on the top ten list. Two women both deeply burned by love desperately need to leave their realities for a while. They need to regroup, decompress and get their heads on straight. So, Kate Winslet who plays Iris, a British columnist and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) a highly successful movie trailer editor find each other online and spontaneously decide to do a house/vacation swap. Amanda finds herself in a cozy but small cottage located in a quaint English town while Iris is giddy with excitement to realize she will be staying in a grand, completely hooked up Hollywood mansion. During their respective vacation swaps, Amanda meets Iris's handsome brother played by Jude Law. They are immediately inseparable. Meanwhile, Iris meets Miles played by Jack Black. He is a movie music composer and a friend of Amanda's soon to be ex-husband. They hit it off and become friends. Of course, love blossoms simultaneously for these two women from opposite sides of the world. But not before Amanda finds out that her new found love is a highly sensitive widower with two little girls and certainly not before Iris finally finds closure and gets rid of the man who has been careless with her heart and a pro at mind games. Eventually, these two ladies become friends bringing themselves and their new partners together to do what? That's right, welcome the New Year. There you have it, yet another happily ever after with laughs to boot.

1: We are finally at what I believe to be the number one romantic comedy of the last decade. You've probably noticed that the previous nine movies share similar characteristics: cute characters, typical storylines, romantic and awkward situations, problem found, problem solved and everyone is happy, for the most part. ­Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind falls outside of this list of qualities. This is a dark comedy embedded in intense, passionate love. Some love stories play out like fairytales, others can be so painful that we spend our lives trying to forget them, trying to recover from the scars of love. This is the very premise of the Michael Gondry directed film. Kate Winslet plays Clementine, the girlfriend of Joel portrayed by Jim Cary. Their relationship is one of immense intensity and unbearable fights. One day, Clementine decides that she can no longer endure the pain that this relationship brings her no matter how in love she is with Joel. So, she goes to Lacuna, a company that can erase parts of your memory, and has all memories of the relationship removed from her mind. When Joel finds out, he cannot bear to live with what Clementine has done or with the memories they've made and goes to Lacuna for the same procedure. It is at that point that he realizes how much he needs those memories, loves Clementine and wants nothing more than to be with her. The movie is filled with flashbacks and the lovers trying to rekindle their relationship with a clean slate. The entire film seems like a dream. You want Joel and Clementine to be together. You want them to forget the past but you also want them to remember. As you watch, you can understand their inner struggles and their frustrations. You laugh and you feel with them. Unfortunately and quite realistically there is no happily every after solution. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is beautiful on so many levels. It has earned the number one spot.