This week in Thursday Movie Picks – run by Wandering through the Shelves – we’ve been asked to list three to five films that feature friends falling in love. After giving it some thought I’ve gone for a feel-good selection of enjoyable films. Suffice to say, if you haven’t seen these films, expect spoilers!
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks take the lead in this comedy from director and writer Kevin Smith. After deciding to make an adult film to solve their respective money issues, Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks) begin to realise that their feelings for each other are stronger than just friendship. It’s a fun film with an eclectic mix of humorous characters.
Just Go with It (2011)
Just Go with It, starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, was a box office hit taking in over $200 million. I’m on the fence when it comes to Sandler but in this film — where Aniston, his assistant, pretends to be his soon to be ex-wife to keep up a lie he told his girlfriend — he is quite entertaining. Brooklyn Decker stars as his girlfriend and Nicole Kidman also makes an appearance.
Love, Rosie (2014)
I have a soft spot for this film, having watch it three times since its release. It follows Rosie (Lily Collins) and what happens after her best friend since childhood, Alex (Sam Claflin), tells her that he loves her on the night of her 18th birthday. While it is predictable in parts Collins and Claflin make a lovely pairing and it’s a fun film that feels very British with Christian Cooke, Tamsin Egerton, Suki Waterhouse and Jaime Winstone also in the cast.
Cinematic Delights 
I forgot all about Love, Rosie. Sam Claflin is such a versatile actor but makes a great romantic lead.
I can’t put my finger on it exactly but I think it’s such a charming film 😀
Love, Rosie was a really pleasant surprise for me. I just adore Sam Claflin.
Yes, it’s a sweet film. I wasn’t sure of Claflin at first from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, but he’s really grown on me now. He’s had a strong career so far.
A very underrated actor!
Hi Claire! It’s so interesting to see what people pick in this subgenre. I haven’t seen any of these actually but now I really want to see Love, Rosie. Sam Claflin is actually a more versatile actor than meets the eye.
Yes, always interesting, isn’t it!
I think you’d enjoy Love, Rosie, particularly because it feels very British in humour and style.
Of these three I liked Just Go with It the best but even with that one I vastly prefer the original version “Cactus Flower”. Adam Sandler was an acceptable substitute for Walter Matthau but Brooklyn Decker is no Goldie Hawn and Jennifer Aniston though I like her sure isn’t Ingrid Bergman!
Zack and Miri had it’s moments, mostly thanks to Elizabeth Banks but it was crass in almost equal measure to any charm it had.
Love, Rosie didn’t do much for me but than Lily Collins’ appeal has always escaped me.
One of my choices also stars Adam Sandler, it’s my favorite of his films by a large margin. My last likewise is my favorite Carole Lombard film though in her case she had far more films I like than Sandler’s.
The Wedding Singer (1998)-Nice guy Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler) is a wedding singer at a small hall in 80’s New Jersey who is about to marry Linda (Angela Featherstone) when he meets server Julia (Drew Barrymore) who has just started at the venue. Julia is engaged to Glenn (Matthew Glave) and they strike up a friendship over that mutual fact. But when Linda dumps Robbie on the eve of their wedding he falls apart and Julia trying to help him get back on his feet asks Robbie to help plan her upcoming nuptials. As they work on the plans Robbie realizes that not only is Glenn an enormous tool but that he’s falling for Julia who subconsciously is doing the same. Will they realize their true feelings in time? Probably Sandler’s sweetest, least abrasive film packed wall to wall with fun 80’s music and fashions.
The Full Monty (1997)-When hard times fall on an English town a group of men on the dole including Gaz (Robert Carlyle), Dave (Mark Addy), Lomper (Steve Huison) and Guy (Hugo Speer) form a male strip revue. Out of desperation to pull in crowds they promise to go “the full Monty”. Though they run into many hurdles, some comic and others serious, eventually they prevail, along the way buddies Lomper & Guy realize they’ve fallen for each other and end up a couple.
Hands Across the Table (1935)-Manicurist Regi Allen (Carole Lombard) works at a swanky hotel hunting for a rich husband. She thinks she’s found a plum pigeon in Theodore Drew III (Fred MacMurray), since he comes from a prominent family but finds out he’s as broke as she is since the stock market crash. They become friends though and decide to help each other in their gold digging. Regi meets wealthy hotel guest Allen Macklyn (Ralph Bellamy), who falls for her while Ted is waiting for Vivian Snowden (Astrid Allwyn) the heiress he has on the hook to return from Bermuda so he can hop back on the gravy train. All seems smooth sailing but as feelings between Regi and Theodore develop, their careful plans start to change.
Hi Joel, great selection you’ve chosen. I’m sure I’ve seen The Wedding Singer but it would have been a long time ago. Time for a rewatch!
The Full Monty is a brilliant choice – what a film!
Hands Across the Table is new to me so thank you for bringing it to my attention.
I’ve never heard of Love Rosie, I’ll have to look into that. i’ve only seen Zack and Miri from your picks.
It seems like Love, Rosie is new to a lot of people!
I haven’t the first two but Zack and Miri Make a Porno are on my to-watch list. Love Rosie is a sweet film. Lily and Sam had good chemistry. Sam is such a versatile actor in particular. I could watch him in anything.
I agree – I think Claflin has really shown his versatility now.
Seen all but Love, Rosie. Not heard of it but just looked it up & it has a good IMDb rating. Will be on the lookout for it. 🙂
I hope you find it! 😀
Zack and Miri Make a Porno is the only I’ve seen and I’m glad to see I wasn’t the only one who picked it because it was such a funny and charming film.
Yes, I thought it was a fun film. Interesting and enjoyable characters and just the right level of vulgarity for me.
I haven’t seen any of these films nor, as Joel points out, the original versions which I would like to see both versions. I am one who doesn’t mind Adam Sandler. I don’t know about the porno movie..um…that didn’t come out right..er….that was wrong too. I will stop writing now.
Hehehe, oh Birgit 🙂
Saw Just Go With It recently. Thought it was just ok. It was weird to see Nicole Kidman in a comedy, she’s more suited for dramas.
Saw Love Rosie several years ago. There was another movie around the same time, One Day, that had a sort of similar premise of friends who are like in love with each other for a looong time before anything happens. I’m not really a fan of these sort of premise unless there’s more humour like a rom com.
Yes, seeing Kidman pop up was quite a surprise!
I liked One Day but the best thing for me about it was the score. It is beautiful and I listen to it quite often while working.