Couple:

Jerry McGuire & Dorothy Boyd

Why I love it:

“You complete me.” Sigh, those are the three best words I have ever heard as a substitute to “I Love You.”   I was at my peak of being an observer of love, taking everything in like a sponge and making lists of qualities the man of my dreams would possess. It tuns out that Jerry McGuire had quite a lot of them.

Synopsis:

Jerry McGuire is a playboy sports agent with a special set of skills that are only shared with the shadiest of used car salesmen. One night, Jerry unexpectedly grows a conscience and attempts to start a very vocal revolution that would offer better care and consideration of his fellow man, but deeply hurt the pockets of his stockholders. After losing his job, fiancée and money, Jerry struggles to start his own company with the support of a lowly secretary who surprisingly decides to throw away a secure job and go all in with Jerry. Feeling responsible for this woman and her son, Jerry jumps the gun and marries Dorothy, but the two experience the rockiness that accompanies marrying a relative stranger. In the end, Jerry realizes that despite the rapid speed that temporarily derailed the relationship, Dorothy ultimately had everything he wanted in a spouse.

Couple Conclusion:

This may be the most controversial, but I think these two will make it. The fact that Jerry already had a long history with the sweet bachelor lifestyle and then passes on the opportunity to return to it free from guilt tells me the guy is ready to be a committed man. So, as long as he holds on to that charisma and leadership attitude, Dorothy will stay by his side and be the greatest cheerleader anyone can ask for. Plus, Jerry loves her son and if the end of the movie is any indication, that kid went on to be a pro-ball player under the guidance of his very proud stepfather, Jerry.

Couple:

Adam Lerner & Katherine McKay

Why I love it:

This was a movie that I waited to watch on DVD for fear of having a total meltdown in a public movie theater. We can pretend that the line between life and death is more of a theoretic thing until we are forced to walk so close to it that the comfortable distant fuzz surrounding it comes into razor sharp focus. Experiencing the tremendously difficult loss of an on-again, off-again boyfriend myself just 9 months before it’s release may be the reason this film sticks out in my mind.

Synopsis:

Adam Lerner is a 27 year old man who did everything right. He ate healthy, jogged, and worked endlessly to make his ungrateful girlfriend happy, but in the end it didn’t spare him from developing a cancerous tumor in his spine that would leave his chances at life at 50/50. Adam’s positive attitude became more difficult to obtain after he catches his girlfriend cheating on him. Reluctantly, Adam begins attending therapy sessions, lead by the inexperienced 24-year-old Katherine McKay. Adam’s apprehensions surrounding the novice therapist only begin to crack when his health begins to deteriorate and he is forced to undergo a very risky procedure. Though he has a good support system, Adam’s glimpse into the dark emptiness of death pushes him to break down in front of Katherine, the only person he feels that can help him shoulder this burden. She manages to awaken a spark of hope that he holds on to through a full recovery.

Couple Conclusion:

Though, I can’t possibly imagine ever finding a reason to say no to the adorable Joseph Gordon-Levitt, I have to believe that the high emotions of the situation were running this romantic train. The girl is starting the relationship with a huge career no-no by engaging too personally with a patient. And, yes, technically they didn’t get together until he was no longer under her care, but I think she still knew deep down planting those seeds of love early on was improper. I think this will make her struggle with the bigger picture of her ethics down the road and a small feeling of guilt will begin to grow. All I have to say is that it’s ok, Katherine. I’m pretty sure most of the things I did when I was 24 consisted of no forethought as well.

Couple:

Samantha Baker & Jake Ryan

Why I love it:

Many of my girlfriends who are 5 to 10 years older than me consider this film to be the holy grail of romantic comedies. Though, I can share in the appreciation, I was never prepared to chop off and dye my hair red, like so many of my fellow gal pals. This flick is always cute, quick watch and pretty much solidified Molly Ringwald as the 80’s queen teen. On a side note, did you know that Jake Ryan’s house and Cameron’s Dad’s place from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off happen to be less than half a mile apart? Now, that’s a neighborhood I wouldn’t have minded growing up in.

Synopsis:

Samantha Baker is having the worst week. Her family has all but forgotten of her existence in the wake of her older sister’s wedding, which falls one day after her sixteenth birthday. They very un-sweet day passes without so much as an acknowledgement from any of the extended family staying under the same roof. To top it off, her high school crush, Jake Ryan has intercepted a sex quiz that embarrassingly reveals her hidden feeling towards him. Jake comes to the realization that his current two-dimensional girlfriend could never compare to what Samantha has to offer. After breaking it off with his current fling, he runs off to give Sam the birthday celebration and attention that she always deserved.

Couple Conclusion:

Not to be a cynic here, but it’s hard to believe that there are a high percentage of people out there who can hang on to a man beginning at age 16. I think Jake, who is a senior, was meant to cross paths with Sam to help build up the confidence she will need to apply for the rest of her life. I see them enjoying a very innocent coupledom until the day Jake leaves for college. I think he will frequently look back to those days and wonder exactly why he didn’t make more of an effort to keep her in his life. But, he will realize that at some point his adoration would have become smothering to their independent growth and he will accept and endorse the choices he made. So even though they don’t technically make it, I wouldn’t rule out a post-first or second marriage reunion for this couple in their late 50’s.

Couple:

Peter Bretter & Rachel Jansen

Why I love it:

I remember hearing about this movie for the first time opening week. I was on a film set and one of my co-workers told a hilarious story about seeing the writer and star, Jason Segel at The Grove mall trying to hit on some girls by convincing them to ditch the other movie they came to see and go watch his instead. Apparently, the interaction was so embarrassingly unsuccessful the guy who shared it could barely get through a handful of words before breaking into a laughing fit. That is when I knew deep down that I must support Jason Segel and bought a ticket for the very next day.

Synopsis:

Celebrity relationships are hard to hold on too, as Peter learns when his television star girlfriend of 5 years, Sarah Marshall, dumps him for a rock star. In the wake of his devastation, Peter decides to take a beautiful island vacation, but his joy is cut short when his ex and her new boyfriend check into the same resort. The cute front desk clerk, Rachel Jansen takes pity on a very broken Peter and gives the guest special attention in an attempt to distract him. Rachel and Peter develop feelings for one another but the rocky relationship between Sarah and her new beau has her trying to rush back into Peter’s arms. Never the one to play second fiddle, Rachel dumps Peter and cuts off communication. Back in LA on the opening night of Peter’s rock opera, Rachel makes a surprise appearance and the two admit their feelings and reconcile.

Couple Conclusion:

I predict that Peter and Rachel would have a very solid relationship. You have to think that a girl as attractive as Rachel has likely had suitors throwing themselves at her everyday of her life. Given that, still she went out of her way several months after the split to track Peter down, and makes me think she’s got it deep. It’s not just that Peter is sweet and would devote himself to pleasing any woman he ended up with, but there is a total cool factor behind him simply because he is a Hollywood composer and makes really cool and unique things like a puppet opera. I can just imagine this couple trying fiercely to follow the rule of never going to bed angry, and that is a tough one to stick to.

Couple:

Edward Lewis & Vivian Ward

Why I love it:

This is another all-time favorite of mine that I have kept close to the heart since I was a young girl. That said, the 6 year old me had no clue what was actually happening through most of the film for my first decade of fandom. During the 10 years lived in Los Angeles I would often yell out “Hey Mister, what’s your dream?” Sure, it would probably make more sense to do that on Hollywood Blvd. outside the set of Vivian’s motel, but I preferred the wide stares I’d get when directing my question to the seagulls in the middle of Venice beach. I’m a rebel.

Synopsis:

Edward Lewis is an aging business owner who specializes in the hostile takeover and callous destruction of others businesses. When landing in LA on a work trip, fate has him cross paths with a charming prostitute he decides to hire for the week to pose as his girlfriend. Vivian’s improper, yet infectious spirit propels Edward into changing not only his business model, but his life as well.

Couple Conclusion:

A very key underlying and vastly overlooked message in this film is that no matter how low on the totem pole of life you are, there are still people out in this world who are willing too explore what is beyond your face value. Granted, they’re not easy to find, but they’re out there. I give this couple a big thumbs up for a future. By the end of the movie, Edward has already conquered what some men fear the most of their significant others – that they will turn out to be a whore! And I doubt Vivian would be quick to opt out of the luxurious lifestyle that she’d be provided with. Perhaps, given her former profession there would be tales of adventurous sex and possibly an open relationship, but I think that would just keep things spicy until death does them part.

Couple:

Benjamin Barry & Andie Anderson

Why I love it:

I don’t know what it is, but anytime I see this movie playing on TV, I just can’t bring myself to turn it off and it doesn’t even matter if it’s playing back to back all day long. I absolutely adore the lovelorn lunatic Andie plays when she is desperately trying to get Ben to dump her. My particular favorite is the mental person scene when Ben is hosting some of his buddies for poker game and Andie flips out over the death of their love fern.

Synopsis:

Benjamin Barry and Andie Anderson’s entire careers will depend on each other, but they just don’t know it yet. Ben, a cocky advertising executive is aggressively pursuing a new account, but his boss will only let him land it if Ben can live up to his claim that he can make any woman in the world genuinely fall in love with him. Unfortunately for Ben, Andie is his randomly chosen subject and what he won’t know is she too in the process of advancing her career by faking a relationship. Andie’s newest article assignment at Composure Magazine involves giving a man the worst ride of his life as she explores every crazy, clingy female cliché to get him to break up with her. It doesn’t take long for Ben to begin to crack under the pressure of a very unpredictable Andie, but the more time that she spends around his charm, the harder it becomes to stick to her annoying persona. Both eventually discover the others motive behind the relationship and just when it looks like the whole thing is going to implode they realize that they have legitimately fallen in love. (Insert aww’s here)

Couple Conclusion:

To survive the level of antics that Andie played on Ben and come out the other end with him electing to be in that relationship gives me hope for a strong future. Both are sexy and fun people with exciting careers that would keep them busy and give them a level of independence a lot of couples miss out on. This is the couple I would call last minute to join me for an exotic vacation to Bali or camping in the Redwoods. I just love them!

Couple:

Pat Solitano Jr. & Tiffany Maxwell

Why I love it:

I didn’t immediately fall under the same spell that the rest of the world did the first time I watched Silver Linings Playbook. However, after a few rounds I developed a deeper connection to this flick once I allowed myself to relate my comparably tame crazy to this pair’s clinical psychosis.

Synopsis:

After an 8 month court mandated stint in a mental health facility following a bi-polar induced beat down of his wife’s lover, Pat Solitano Jr. has only one thing on his mind, reconciling with his wife, Nikki. Pat works hard night and day to become the man his wife always wanted him to be. Unfortunately, her fear of his rage and a restraining order make it impossible for him to initiate any attempts to reconnect. Recently widowed and equally damaged Tiffany Maxwell uses Pat’s motivation to convince him to become her partner for her newest passion, competitive dance. Because of Pat’s active imagination, Tiffany is forced to do and say anything to take his neurotic focus off of his wife and onto the dance. After spending months together, the big night finally arrives. Much to Tiffany’s surprise, Nikki makes an appearance at the event and even softens up to her husband, making room for the possibility of reconciliation. In the end, Pat snaps back to reality and realizes that Tiffany was the one keeping him balanced in more ways than one.

Couple Conclusion:

First off, this deserves a firm “right on” for having Pat grow emotionally and make a far better choice. Taking that into consideration, it does not change the fact that Tiffany is a master manipulator who will likely continue to do slightly devious things to get what she wants. Sure, this may make them more like a typical couple than any of the others in the list, but as we know, it doesn’t work out most of the time. I feel like the constant drama Tiffany would need to feel fulfilled would lead to an eventual rage relapse in Pat. Luckily, this means they are better off apart.

Couple:

Preston Meyers & Amanda Beckett

Why I love it:

I loved this movie from the very first time I saw it. I may have just been starting my adventures in high school, but I could already relate to the angst of Denise Fleming and the passion of Preston Meyers, mostly aimed at whoever happened to be my crush of the week. The multiple story lines ended up supplying the film with a huge cast and I think just about anyone who had a speaking role went on to do great things. One of my all time favorite scenes happens when Amanda Beckett asks some stoned schoolmates what Preston looks like, and the pair hilariously cannot agree on much else besides that he’s maybe sort of tall, has brown or blonde hair and is always wearing T-Shirts. Thanks for the help, guys!

Synopsis:

High school is officially over and the biggest party of the year will bring together the entire graduating class one last time. Preston Meyers knows it’s probably his last chance to profess his love for the newly single and high school “it” girl, Amanda Beckett. Anything and everything seems to get in the way of his ability to express himself, but Amanda stumbles upon Preston’s discarded love letter and decides to track down and get to know her admirer.

Couple Conclusion:

I love this couple and I wish I could make myself think it was going to be possible for them to start a relationship after only spending 6 hours together before heading in different directions. However, I can attest that distance is too hard on a couple with an established history, let alone one that hasn’t even really begun. I imagine they spent several months glued to their phones playing make believe and building up a fantasy partner who would never be quite as good in person. I bet Amanda gradually stops picking up the phone, and after a year, officially ends things so she can “get to know herself.” And you just know she winds up married to a hedge fund manager a few years later because, well – she’s hot! But don’t worry, Preston will end up with a cute Asian girl he meets his last year of college. Despite being apart, it’s all happy endings here.

Couple:

Phil Connors & Rita Hanson

Why I love it:

There aren’t enough wonderful things to say about this brilliant piece written for the screen and directed by Harold Ramis. All the time, I find myself unconsciously quoting lines from this movie and only realizing it the next time I’m watching it. I mean, “Bing again” and “Too early for flapjacks?” have become staples of my vocabulary.

Synopsis:

A jaded weatherman reluctantly makes his way to the annual Groundhog Day Festival in the tiny town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. It doesn’t take long to figure out this same frustrating day is on a never-ending and inescapable loop. His only company through this journey is a dopey cameraman and an overly positive news producer, Rita Hanson. Unfortunately, Phil’s memories are the only ones that stick at the end of each repeating day, but gradually Phil makes the best of a bad situation and falls for Rita despite the fact she will once again loathe him in the morning.

Couple Conclusion:

This is a couple that has already stood a big test of time by the end of the film, and for that reason I think they will make it. The simple fact that the spell was broken once Phil put enough positive energy into the world gives me the sense he would be too nervous to slip back into his old routines. In my mind, Phil bought and ran that B&B and Rita took a job teaching at the local grade school. Congrats to the happy couple!

Couple:

Johnny Castle & Baby Housman

Why I love this movie:

Dirty Dancing was the first VHS I managed to wear down to the point of annihilation. Who could resist the urge to repetitively rewind that last dance sequence to the point where white streaks filled the frame of the TV screen and you couldn’t even really see the final lift? You can call this Megan’s intro to loving bad boys. Of course, as a 30 year old who now has loved and tossed out many a brute, I may be slathering some real life experience into this conclusion.

Synopsis:

The film takes place in 1963, when a young girl vacationing with her family in the Catskill Mountains over the summer falls for the resorts rough-and-tumble dance instructor. After immersing herself into the lover boy’s drama, her Father bans her from seeing him ever again and the gates for forbidden love are opened. Eventually the Father comes around after a case of mistaken identity is cleared up. And then, they dance!

Couple Conclusion:

I’ve given this great thought and the problem I see with the future of this pairing is that even though I am assuming they did get married, considering the time period and expectations that would be in place for a predominant family, I simply can’t see it lasting. I feel as though Baby would grow tired of the many things that made Johnny so appealing in the first place. She would probably have to give up her dreams of saving the world to sit around popping out babies, all while secretly borrowing money from her parents to support the lifestyle of her seasonally out of work husband. I see 10 years, three kids and one 1970’s slightly more socially acceptable divorce in her future. Sorry, Baby.