Always Be My Maybe 🥟 / Roman Holiday 🛵 / Moonstruck 🌖
Happy Thursday! Next Monday marks the start of summer — Hot Girl Summer if you will — so here are three romantic comedies about the possibilities of love and connection in the summer heat.
In movie news: Dune, Denis Villeneuve's reboot of the sci-fi classic, will premiere at the Venice Film Festival this fall. In an already crowded Oscar race, this bodes well for the film’s chances. Villeneuve’s Arrival premiered at the festival before going on to receive eight Oscar nominations.
Have a great and safe weekend!
Always Be My Maybe 🥟
15 years after a bad breakup, Sasha (Ali Wong), who is setting up a new restaurant in San Francisco, and Marcus (Randall Park) run into each other. Though a spark still remains, Marcus’ anxieties, Sasha’s career, and Keanu Reeves threaten any potential. Here’s the trailer.
Why you should watch it: Always Be My Maybe isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s like your favorite comfort food — it’s exactly what you expect, but it’s good every time. While Netflix rom-coms have… run amock, director Nahnatchka Khan manages to make something new, heartfelt, and warm out of the formula we know so well — this is basically a modern When Harry Met Sally. Plus, Keanu Reeves wins the award for the greatest movie cameo of all time. And how could you beat Keanu? 101 mins.
Roman Holiday 🛵
▶ Streaming on Prime Video and The Criterion Channel
While on a trip to Rome, Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) takes off on her own after feeling overwhelmed by her royal duties. After she runs into an American reporter (Gregory Peck), she spends her time have a true Roman holiday. But are his intentions as pure as they see? Here’s the trailer.
Why you should watch it: Roman Holiday is perhaps the epitome of an Old Hollywood romantic comedy. Effortlessly delightful with two charismatic lead performances — Hepburn won her only Oscar for the role — the film feels like a warm hug where the stakes are low and romance is high. Its Italian setting, the longing score, and familiar rom-com beats have you falling in love with their characters — especially the radiant Hepburn — before they even know what’s in store for them. A classic for a reason. 119 mins.
Moonstruck 🌖
Loretta Castorini (Cher) is a widowed Italian-American bookkeeper who accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Johnny (Danny Aiello) even though she doesn’t love him. “Good,” her mother Rose (Olympia Dukakis) says, “when you love 'em, they drive you crazy.” However, when Johnny goes away to Italy, Loretta begins to fall for his brother Ronnie (Nicolas Cage). Here’s the trailer.
Why you should watch it: Moonstruck is one of those movies you watch and say, “they don’t make them like that anymore.” From the opening credits set to “That’s Amore” to the perfectly executed conclusion there’s a feeling of warmth and romance that is underscored by the hilarious tongue-in-cheek tone.
However, it’s more than just a few laughs and iconic line readings. The screenplay’s tight structure is hard to not get swept up in and Cher’s magnetic performance tinged with her glowing movie star power makes it clear why she won an Oscar for the role — not to mention Cage’s perfectly chaotic energy. Despite the joy it exudes, there’s also a melancholic but uplifting undercurrent about romance that might just make you believe in love again. 102 mins.
📽 P.S. You can see every movie I’ve ever recommended right here.
🍅 I’m also a Tomatometer-approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes! You can find new movie reviews here and here.