Top 20 Underrated Romantic Comedies

Known as both "The F-Word" and “What If” depending on the country of release, this rom com gave us Daniel Radcliffe in one of his first post-Potter roles. Radcliffe plays Wallace, a guy who drops out of med school after finding out his girlfriend is cheating on him. He befriends Chantry, who is dating some else at the time, but the boundaries of their relationship become more and more blurry as the story goes on. It’s a great portrayal of the modern dating scene that will inevitably feel relatable to most viewers.

You wouldn’t think that an unintended pregnancy and subsequent abortion would be the fodder for a romantic comedy, but somehow “Obvious Child” manages to make it work. Donna is a stand up comedian who gets dumped by her boyfriend and ends up having a one night stand with a stranger and getting pregnant. As she awaits her scheduled abortion, she starts to form a bond with the man responsible for her pregnancy, despite the fact that she’s trying to keep him at arm’s length. We won’t tell you how this one ends, but it’s a sweet (if very unconventional) love story that we can see becoming considered a classic.

Most romantic comedies show us the beginnings of relationships, but this one kicks off as a marriage is coming to a close. Celeste and Jesse got married when they were young but as the years have gone by, their differences have become more and more pronounced, with her being more ambitious, and him being something of a slacker. The chemistry between the two characters, though, makes it obvious that there’s still something special there. They try to stay close friends, which of course presents a whole new set of challenges. This story is a poignant one that will definitely ring true to anyone who has ended a relationship with someone they still love.

This charming movie was an awards-season darling despite the fact that it wasn’t a particularling high-grossing film at the time. Based on the true story of its writers, the film follows Kumail, a Pakistani-American Uber driver who falls for a white girl despite his parents wanting to set him up with someone with the same background as him. He starts dating Emily anyway, but the two break up when she finds out that he’s not sure how long it can last. Things really ramp up though, when a health crisis finds Emily in a coma and Kumail bonding with her family as she recovers.

Inspired by the trend of visitors to Verona leaving letters to Juliet Capulet, William Shakespeare’s famed fictional romantic heroine, this movie features a lush Italian setting and a sweet and memorable love story. Amanda Seyfried plays Sophie, a woman on her pre-honeymoon in Italy, who becomes enamored with those letters that people write to Juliet. She tracks down one of the letter writers to help her find her lost love, and in the process, unexpectedly finds a new romance of her own. This movie may not have been a financial success, but despite the poor box office showing, it’s definitely worth a watch.

We love a good time travel love story, and “Kate & Leopold” definitely fits the bill. Physicist Stuart Besser mistakenly brings one of his ancestors, His Grace Leopold Alexis Elijah Walker Thomas Gareth Mountbatten, 3rd Duke of Albany, from the 19th century to modern day New York. Sparks fly however when Leopold meets Stuart’s ex, the hard-driving, high-achieving Kate. Of course, because of their different backgrounds, there are some cultural differences to overcome. Sure, the plot isn’t the most logical, but we can suspend our disbelief when it comes to enjoying this time-hopping romance.

There are some worlds that we all want to see inside of, and “Chasing Liberty” capitalized on that concept. Mandy Moore plays Anna Foster, the teenage daughter of the President of the United States. She’s stifled by all of the restrictions put on her, and the security team constantly trailing her, so she runs off with a stranger who she just meets. It turns out however, that Ben is actually part of her father’s security team, but leads her to believe he’s just a regular guy. Conflict inevitably ensues, but this romp around Europe is tons of fun.

A film revolving around a young man who develops a relationship with a sex doll sounds like your typical teenage sex comedy. Except this film doesn’t go that route. Instead, what could have been a one-joke movie is actually a sincere look at the struggles of a character dealing with social anxiety. Ryan Gosling is superb as the titular Lars, cementing his place as one of the best young actors in Hollywood. Although the film actually lost money, it was a critical success and was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Movies with a large cast and multiple, interweaving storylines tend to be pretty by the numbers in regards to the romantic comedy genre. And it’s true, “Think Like a Man” doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Based on a book by Steve Harvey, the film revolves around four different women and their relationships. What makes this film stand out, however, is its terrific cast and the performances they give. Critics particularly praised the performances of Meagan Good and Kevin Hart, and the acting alone makes this film worth the watch.

This, well, holiday movie has indeed become a modern classic to some, though it still seems to fly under the radar. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet play two women who are each at a crossroads in their lives and decide to switch houses for the holiday season, with one going to sunny Los Angeles and the other heading to the picturesque English countryside. They both manage to find new love along the way and shed some of the things that had been holding them back in their previous lives. Definitely put this one on your “to watch” list this Christmas!

The concept that men have to be the ones to propose to women is clearly now old-fashioned. In “Leap Year”, Amy Adams’ character decides to take the opportunity to propose to her boyfriend on leap day, which is supposedly the day on which women can propose to men without them refusing. She gets waylaid on the way to meet him in Ireland however, and ends up realizing that what she thought she wanted wasn’t quite right. She kicks off a whole new romance with an Irish innkeeper, and then has to decide between the two men in her life.

Based on Cecelia Ahern’s book “Where Rainbows End”, the movie “Love, Rosie” gives us a charming love story between two childhood friends. Alex and Rosie have known each other for ages, but on Rosie’s 18th birthday they kiss, which inevitably changes their dynamic for good. Because of a lack of communication, they end up drifting apart, with each of them facing other relationships and challenges in their lives. This is a love story that focuses on what happens when you fall for your best friend, and has to be ultimately one of the most romantic picks on our list.

Similar to our last entry, on-screen chemistry is what makes this film better than your standard rom-com. Director Jennifer Westfeldt stars as the female lead alongside Adam Scott, both of whom are terrific. Add in the sex-obsessed Jon Hamm and Kristen Wiig and the placid Maya Rudolph and Chris O’Dowd, and you get three clever, unique relationships all on-screen at the same time. Plus, while our two main characters try to figure out their feelings for each other, we also get to watch their adorable child grow up.

Okay, granted, a girl in a coma storyline sounds like the plot of a bad daytime soap, but this film moves past the cliché and does a great job looking at two characters that are desperately seeking a connection. Mark Ruffalo stars as David Abbott, a grieving widower who has recently moved into a new apartment. The apartment is also inhabited by the spirit of its former owner, Reese Witherspoon’s Elizabeth, who is currently in the hospital in a coma. Together, they work to overcome the difficulties they have both faced in their lives. Critics praised the strong character development and clever dialogue, making for a heavenly combination.

Before he was the foul-mouthed Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds appeared in many romantic comedies, some better than others. One of his best is this film, which revolves around Reynolds telling the history of his dating life to his young daughter as both she and the audience attempt to guess the true identity of her mother. The film didn’t quite draw the crowds, however, ranking just fifth at the box office on its opening weekend, but was a critical success, with reviewers complimenting the original plotline and charismatic lead characters.

While we almost went with the 2012 time travelling hit “Safety Not Guaranteed,” it’s “About Time” that earns the spot on our list. This film follows the charming Domhnall Gleeson as Tim, who learns that he has the ability to travel through time. Initially things go well, as he is able to go back in time and get the girl of his dreams, played by the stunning Rachel McAdams. But he quickly learns that this gift may be more of a curse as he grows older. Although there are some plot inconsistencies regarding the rules of time travelling, the film’s sincere and sentimental storyline is sure to hit home with any viewer.

We go back once again to Ryan Reynolds and get to see him like never before – in a fat suit. Typically it’s the geeky girl who transforms into the beautiful swan, but this time it’s Reynolds, who returns to his hometown after spending a decade away. He decides to get revenge on those who treated him poorly in high school, but he rediscovers his feelings for his former high school crush. Reynolds’ character learns some valuable lessons in his pursuit, including what true beauty really is.

The term, “serendipity,” is when events happen by chance in an advantageous way. And that’s what this film is about - chance. Our two lovers meet each other at the film’s beginning, but decide to leave the future of their relationship up to fate. Jonathan, played by John Cusack, writes his name and phone number on a $5 bill while Sara, played Kate Beckinsale, does the same inside the cover of a book, believing that if their relationship is meant to be, they will find these items one day. This film is perfect for those who believe in true love and the idea that everything will work out the way it is meant to.

Any film that stars Meryl Streep is worth a watch for her alone. Add in Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, and you get a terrific cast that raises this film above others of the genre. Streep plays a single mother of three who begins a relationship with her former husband while also coming to terms with her feelings for her architect. While this film doesn’t necessarily do anything new in regards to its plot or storyline, the acting is superb and the film earned several Golden Globe nominations.

If you could write yourself the perfect partner, what would they be like? That’s exactly what happens to Calvin in this quirky and original film. A struggling author, Calvin begins writing about a girl named Ruby Sparks, only to discover that his creation has come to life. While the film could have been an over-the-top lovefest, we get to see the darker side of a relationship in which one person has all the control, in this case quite literally. The fact that the film looks at how easy it is to become insecure and controlling in a relationship, and does so while still remaining funny and heartwarming, is truly impressive.