Happy April Fools Day! We're all fools for love, and for these movies. In the spirit of the holiday, we have prepared a list of some of our favourite so-bad-they're-good rom-coms. This long weekend, take some time to call a friend on Zoom and experience one of these hilarious, infuriating, and cringe-worthy watches. (We guarantee that three quarters of these movies have less than 50% on Rotten Tomatoes.) Good luck with exams everyone - the semester is almost done!
The Choice
Netflix
This movie has plenty to be annoyed about, including cheating, love at first sight, and wild plot twists. If you’ve seen enough Nicholas Sparks novels-turned-movies, you’ll notice the tell-tale signs: southern accents, small towns near bodies of water, carnivals, pickup trucks, and rainstorms. This movie has it all, including not just a love triangle, but a love square… When medical student Gabby meets her neighbour Travis in the first ten minutes of the movie, she immediately butts heads with him, even going so far as to accuse his dog of getting her dog pregnant. Thankfully, in addition to living next door, he’s also a veterinarian, which gives plenty of opportunities for them to go from enemies to lovers - despite his truly awful hair. Honestly, the only redeeming qualities in this movie are the cute pets (especially the puppies!) that Travis sees at his job… and Teresa Palmer as Gabby.
- Kate
No Strings Attached
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Criterion on Demand
If you’re looking for a frustrating “why can’t she get her life together?” movie, look no further. Not going to lie though, don’t we all want someone as unconditionally whipped as Ashton Kutcher in this movie? Unfortunately, I think we’ve all been Ashton Kutcher at one point or another, vs. being the glamorous and hustling Natalie Portman. This movie also decided to mix in a bunch of other rom-com cliches (why did they have to know each other at a camp? Of course, she advocates for him with his family around). I appreciate the symbolism of breakfast though - definitely the most important meal of the day.
- Alexa
Falling Inn Love
Netflix
This movie had a strange start and inconsistent acting (her crying was just bad), but an even worse script. The most impractical part is her reading emails that have to do with sweepstakes. They did a great job of making the token ex-boyfriend annoying (let her eat what she wants, Dean!) but I was disappointed with her toxic friend (imagine if people communicated instead of using ultimatums). My brain really just wanted the lead to grow as a person within ten minutes, and I spent most of the movie kind of rooting for the character who is basically intended to be the villain. The main male lead seems to do every job, like everyone else in the town (yet is unprepared for firefighting), but cannot imagine her being unwilling to uproot her entire life for a guy she kissed once. I was so uninvested in their relationship, I stopped the movie right before they kissed to fact-check something. I think the best arc was the movie’s oddly romantic hate of real estate and remodels - “once you start home renovations, love just goes poof!” - which eventually progressed such that the movie became like an HGTV show with weird sexual tension. The movie was oddly charming with cute New Zealand touches and my soul loved the bits about environmentalism, but that could not overshadow all the strange things about this movie. All that said, I kind of recommend it? It’s 100% an . . . experience.
- Alexa
The Kissing Booth
Netflix
In spring 2021, we’re bringing back Netflix’s hit 2018 summer movie - The Kissing Booth. Elle and Lee are high school students who have been best friends since they were born, and one of the rules that keeps their longtime friendship strong is not dating each others’ relatives. This rule pretty much only exists as a result of Lee’s older brother Noah, a super popular and attractive football player, who Elle has had a secret crush on for years. *I think you might be able to see where this is going.* Even though this movie is kind of cringe-worthy, especially with all of the contrived teen-speak, I think the cringe is part of what’s so fun about it. Less fun is Noah’s intense anger issues, which go woefully unaddressed, and are mostly seen as being him being “protective.” Also unaddressed is how Noah gets into Harvard. Yes, HARVARD. I’m not sure if it’s a widely known fact, but The Kissing Booth was originally published on Wattpad by a 15-year-old girl from Wales who was tired of teen stories about vampires and werewolves. Honestly, it kind of makes me appreciate the movie a bit more. Do you think this is a step up from those genres? You’ll have to watch to find out.
- Kate
The Last Summer
Netflix
I went in thinking this movie would be okay, but it sadly falls below an even lower expectation. The concept is as dated as 1980’s haircuts and tries to pay homage to “coming of age teen” films of the past based on the way it was filmed. Unfortunately, it falls apart pretty quickly with unconvincing acting and bad storytelling. The acting at times is trying and gives me secondhand embarrassment. The only redeeming thing they had was Maia Mitchell’s acting, but the rest of the cast was terrible. The writers don't know teenagers at all. Being a 21-year-old myself, I kept rolling my eyes back at every stereotypical line they said in the movie. It was like how a nerdy 35-year-old man would write a movie about what he thinks the cool kids were like in high school.
- Ruiying
Love Wedding Repeat
Netflix
It’s an okay movie if you’re looking for no overarching discernible plot by nature of this creative endeavour. Is it successful at what it wants to do - exploring how life could branch out in different ways depending on what you do? Sure. Is it a movie that could have delivered that fairly obvious lesson more effectively, while also making you actually believe there’s chemistry between the characters? Definitely. Does it feel way too long sometimes? Unfortunately, yes, and the payoff is not really worth it. The movie’s occasionally funny - when it can keep your attention (I had to stop and start a few times, honestly) and it’s fun to play mindlessly in the background while cleaning!
- Alexa
Little Italy
Hoopla (via the Public Library)
I think this is a real movie. I’m 99% sure I didn’t just will it into being. 95% sure. I remember Emma Roberts was suddenly very Italian. And Hayden Christensen was suddenly very Italian. And there were a lot, a lot of terrible fake accents. And it’s a kind of a star-crossed lovers' tale but the feud at the centre of it all is over pizza recipes. And Danny Aiello was there. So I’m 90% sure it was a real movie.
- Macy
After
Amazon Prime
After is a new entry into the fanfiction-turned-blockbuster genre, but instead of being based on one of the most divisive vampire book series of the mid-aughts, this movie is adapted from a One Direction fanfiction. However, it might be more accurate to call it a Harry Styles fanfiction, because the characters created for the other band members are a little bit thin, and mostly based on the first letters of their names. Here’s a legend, if you’re curious:
Zed = Zayn Malik
Landon = Liam Payne
Nate = Niall Horan
Logan = Louis Tomlinson
With that said, Hardin Scott (... I know) isn’t a great representation of Harry Styles either, at least I hope not, because he’s a pretty awful boyfriend, and almost entirely void of emotion in this movie. Hardin is the stereotypical “bad boy,” complete with tattoos, a British accent, and an aversion to dating that can only be overcome by our protagonist, Tessa Young. If you’re a fan of crazy drama and on-again-off-again relationships, you’ll have to not only watch After but also the THREE sequels that are still being produced. I know I’ll be right there with you.
- Kate
The Best of Me
Netflix
Another Nicholas Sparks joint, The Best of Me is playing the hits with the deep south, bodies of water, cheating, disapproving dads, and several near-death experiences. As a challenge for the viewer: which other Nicholas Sparks film does our male lead Dawson practically name drop an hour and a half into the movie? Hint: it’s got Zac Efron. In this movie, however, we hop back and forth between 1992 when Dawson and Amanda were high school sweethearts from two different worlds, and the present-day when the two reunite after the death of Dawson’s surrogate father, Tuck. Just like when they were teenagers, Dawson and Amanda are kept apart by their respective families and brought together by good old Tuck. All in all, The Best of Me is a cheesy and cliched flick about fate, second chances, and making out in lakes.
- Kate
Sierra Burgess is a Loser
Netflix
This movie was unendingly frustrating. A romanticized version of catfishing, it just left me annoyed and kind of embarrassed for every character. Why did they think this was okay? I think at one point or another, we can all understand why Sierra did what she did, but it is so weird to sit through a full movie where the ending kind of works out, as if that isn’t a weird foundation for a relationship and as if the viewer didn’t want to throw popcorn at her at least twice. Also, it is absolutely ridiculous that they didn’t get caught earlier; I get that Sierra’s personality is driven by being smart or whatever, but this makes absolutely no sense. I think there are a plethora of avenues I could discuss as to why this movie is problematic, but perhaps witnessing this monstrosity is the best way to explore that for yourself.
- Alexa
The Wrong Missy
Netflix
Just another terrible Netflix original for you <3. Tim, a boring banker, meets his dream girl at an airport - he texts her and invites her to his tropical corporate retreat… but *plot twist* he invited the wrong Missy! The Missy that shows up is the girl from his nightmare date. In the end (you probably guessed it at this point), she ends up being the right Missy for him. My biggest issue with this movie is that sometimes Missy takes things too far. Forcing Tim to take a horse tranquillizer? Unwanted advances? Throwing chum in the water when Tim is in a shark cage? When the jokes come at the cost of consent and border on harassment (repeatedly), it just isn’t that funny. That being said, it is a goofy film and the idea that your dream girl isn’t always who you think she is can be cute. Also, Vanilla Ice shows up? Weird.
- Emma
Tall Girl
Netflix
Honestly, I love this movie 60% of the time. If you enjoy high school movies about a girl who is insecure about the way she looks and doesn’t realize what she’s already got, this one has all those things… not that they do it well. *SPOILER ALERT* The most frustrating part is when they dress her in a 60s flight attendant outfit as a make-over reveal????? Huhh??? Came outta nowhere, but it made an impression…So it did what it was supposed to do… I guess..? Also, the “nice guy turns into a jerk” plotline was poorly executed because I was still rooting for him in the end, and he didn’t deserve to get punched. They were trying really hard to make complex characters and showcase different kinds of relationships… and they were soooo close. But not quite. The milk crate is cute tho. If you like movies that you’ll like more than half of the time, “Tall Girl” is for you 😘
- Janelle
Honourable Mentions
(We just can't get enough.)
Something Borrowed
Criterion on Demand
This movie will leave you frustrated and ask yourself “did I really just waste 90 minutes of my life?” You’ve been warned. But if I close my eyes and pretend the last 3 minutes don't exist, it’s a relatable story of “what if I confessed to that guy/girl I liked in first year”. Also, John Krasinski is a hard carry in this movie. I rewatch this only for him.
- Janelle
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