ONE OF my favorite film genres is the romantic comedy. Usually, it has a dumb plot, 
but you tend to overlook it because the dialogue is witty and the performances, cute. 
If there's one genre that celebrates love with all its mushiness that guys aren't too 
embarrassed to watch (because it's a comedy), it's the romantic comedy film. Here are 
twelve of my favorites:

1. Sleepless in Seattle
Someone said that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were born to make movies together. To borrow 
a term from the movie, they are M.F.E.O. (Made for Each Other). Among all onscreen 
romantic comedy pairs, Tom Hanks (as a widowed guy) and Meg Ryan (as an engaged girl) 
probably has the best chemistry. As for the movie itself, despite the corny cliches 
and most unlikely plot, Sleepless in Seattle is memorable because of its great dialogue 
and outstanding performances from all the actors. And Meg Ryan is so cute! Plus, the 
soundtrack of old-time favorites is a must-buy.  

2. It Could Happen to You
I never liked Nicholas Cage because he looks and sounds gloomy in his films. Here, as 
a good-hearted cop, he's outstanding - he has the same gloomy charm of David Schwimmer's 
character Ross in the TV series "Friends". Bridget Fonda never striked me as a romantic 
leading lady, after watching her in suspense thrillers. But here, as a down-and-out 
waitress, without trying to be cute, she comes off as endearing. A big revelation is Rosie 
Perez. With a nasal, high-pitched voice like that, she is anything but endearing (unlike
Fran Drescher of "The Nanny"). But here, as Cage's domineering and greedy wife, or 
according to her character, "a woman with a heart of gold", she steals every scene she's 
in. Despite the feel-good plot and most unlikely character of Nicholas Cage, It Could 
Happen to You can only be described, at the risk of repeating myself, as endearing.

3. Only You
Marisa Tomei, like Meg Ryan, like Sandra Bullock, is cute. She was cute in "My Cousin 
Vinny", "Untamed Heart", and "The Paper". If there was an apex for cuteness for an actress 
(for Meg Ryan, it was "I.Q."), it would be this film for Marisa Tomei, who plays a young 
woman about to be married (so what else is new?). As for Robert Downey Jr., with his 
matinee idol looks, he never lets down his charm. No doubt, they are a cute couple. And 
the setting for the movie, mostly in breathtaking, romantic Italy, is perfect. The film 
makes fun of girls' romantic fantasies, and the coincidences are all made-up so the plot 
is quite believable. In a word, Only You is fun.

4. So I Married an Axe Murderer
Forget the first fifteen minutes, which is ho-hum. The fun starts when Mike Myers (as a poet; 
he also plays his own Scottish dad) and Nancy Travis (as a pretty butcher shop owner; can you 
find Mike Myers' humor here?) starts dating. If you liked Wayne's World (there's a good chance 
you don't), this is a whole lot funnier. Mike Myer's comedy is corny-funny, and there's a thin 
line that separates the two. Personally, I think this movie is hilarious.

5. I.Q.
What could possibly go wrong? This movie has Walter Matthau (as Albert Einstein) and 
Meg Ryan (as his niece). Tim Robbins, who I never thought of as a romantic lead, fits 
well in this film. But it's Meg Ryan (my dream girlfriend) and Walter Matthau (my dream 
grampa) who carry the movie. There's a tendency to be overly cute, but I.Q. can't help 
being what it is - cute.

6. While You Were Sleeping
If there's one girl who can match Meg Ryan in the cuteness category, it's Sandra Bullock. 
With the same girl-next-door looks, I can't help but swoon everytime she breaks into a wide 
smile, and in this movie, that's all the time. Bill Pullman's quiet charm (in contrast to 
his sickly, clumsy charm in Sleepless) works in this movie. 

7. When Harry Met Sally
One of Meg Ryan's earler films, which sets her image as queen of romantic comedies, When 
Harry Met Sally is smart and cute at the same time. Paired with comedian Billy Crystal, the 
film is about friendship and love, and not letting sex get in the way. Great soundtrack from 
Harry Connick Jr.

8. Mr. Wonderful
More reality than fantasy, Mr. Wonderful is aptly titled. A divorced couple played by Matt 
Dillon and Annabella Sciorra (who looks ravishing here) discover they are still in love 
with each other. No cute antics here, but the dialogue is very witty. 

9. The American President
Call it a romantic comedy for the middle-aged. Nevertheless, it has as much charm and 
humor as any other romantic comedy. Michael Douglas seems unlikely to be in a movie like 
this, but his tough persona fits his character as President of the US of A (besides, he 
did well in adventure comedies like "Romancing the Stone"). Annette Benning is extremely 
lovable as a smart but girlish lobbyist. A lot of people I know didn't like it. But I 
think it's charming.

10. Four Weddings and a Funeral
Nobody ever said they hated Four Weddings and a Funeral. If anything else, it has made 
Hugh Grant a star. With unkept hair, clumsy gestures, and a British accent (which contrasts 
with Andie McDowell's other-wordly beauty), everyone agrees he's charming. But it's the script 
that provides the humor - wry, British humor. Which is why Hugh Grant looks so lost in the 
American production "Nine Months". An added attraction, Mr. Bean's Rowan Atkinson as the 
fumbling priest.

11. Sabrina
I like the original version starring Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart better, but the 
new version is not bad at all, no thanks to Harrison Ford, who takes the stiff Linus bit 
a bit too far. But Julia Ormond as Sabrina, who is beauty personified, manages to capture 
Audrey Hepburn's childlike, innocent, mysterious charm. Talk-show host and first-time actor 
Greg Kinnear is perfect as David.

12. Pretty Woman
Julia Roberts knows how to be pretty and cute at the same time. Here, she plays a prostitute 
with a heart of gold, well actually, prostitute with an innocence of a child. And Richard Gere 
plays a dashing millionaire who pays her to be his companion and later falls in love with her. 
This is outright fantasy and to be blunt, pretty dumb if not for the cute scenes and the cute 
soundtrack.