Get out the cookie dough - it's rom-com time!

Someone (who shall remain nameless) asked me today what my favorite "chick flick" was. Exsqueeze me? Baking powder? How could I possibly choose? My extensive DVD collection is riddled with said chick flicks. I love them all! I quickly narrowed the question to favorite romantic comedies, because let's be honest, "chick flick" is so vague. Anything can be a chick flick. Narrowing my choices to strictly rom-coms threw out most musicals, most Disney and other supposedly age-inappropriate works, all sad, sappy films and all period pieces, among other genres.

Granted, it was still beyond my capabilities to choose a favorite. However, I was able to recommend a Top 5 (or so). Here were my recommendations, in no particular order:

1. Serendipity: Even though it came out in 2001, I still group it in the 90s rom-com glory days. It's one of the few that came out in the 21st century that can be considered a classic. And it has John Cusak. Hello.



2. You've Got Mail: My favorite holiday movie that's not really a holiday movie. Just soooo good. (The embedding feature was disabled on the trailer video I found, so I used this clip instead. SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't seen this movie and want to, first of all, who are you? and second of all, don't watch this clip because it is the amazing ending.)



3. Just Like Heaven: Another one of those 21st century classics. Mark Ruffalo is a genius. Everyone knew I liked this movie so much, that I ended up getting three copies of it for my birthday that year.



4. My Best Friend's Wedding: Makes me cry (sob uncontrollably) every time, but I still love it. There are so many classic moments and the cast is perfection.



5. Notting Hill: How can you go wrong with Julia and Hugh? I'll tell you: you can't.




6. 13 Going on 30: I don't even know how many times Shannon and I have watched this movie. Another Mark Ruffalo masterpiece (and Jennifer Garner is good too, I guess).



Can these excellent choices be refuted? I know there are a lot of rom-coms out there to choose from. A lot of good ones, a lot of bad ones. But I think the mark of great romantic comedy is that you can watch it over and over again. It's the one they play on Saturday afternoons (or Friday nights) and you can drop everything and hunker down on the couch. Watching these trailers has made my day, and I now want to have a movie marathon. And I just might!

You tell me: did I miss anything? (Ash, I know you are going to say The Holiday. And I agree, it's a good one, but it didn't make my top 6.) What are your favorites? Is there anything better than a rom-com on a rainy afternoon? I submit that there is not.