The Princess and the Frog
Disney’s classic love story prevails in this retelling of the old bedtime story. Though not a princess, Tiana is a hard-working African-American girl from 1920s New Orleans. Her dream to open her own restaurant is within her grasp when suddenly everything changes. Prince Naveen, a wealthy foreign prince, comes to the South, where he meets a voodoo witch doctor, who turns him into a frog. When Tiana kisses the frog, rather than turning the frog into a prince, Tiana herself turns into a frog. Together, these two radically different individuals must work together to find the good witch of the forest in order to change back. On their way, they make two friends, the jazzy alligator who loves to play the trumpet, and the firefly who is in love with the brightest star in the sky. This Disney film shows that love comes in many forms, and dreams are worth wishing for.

Titanic
Everyone knows the classic love story of Titanic. Though not completely historically accurate, this romantic drama brings the 1920s to life and shows the vast differences between social classes during this time. Despite the backgrounds of Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet), the two fall in love aboard the RMS Titanic. As history is written, the Titanic begins to sink. Even if most of us have seen the movie a thousand times over, this critically-acclaimed film never fails to amaze. Many of the stories of the people aboard the ship were invariably lost, but the story of Jack and Rose’s relationship shows how love is never lost.

The Fault in Our Stars
Based on the novel by John Green, this romantic comedy/drama is about two cancer survivors who meet in therapy and soon become close friends. Hazel Grace (Shailene Woodley) and Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort) comes to meet Augustus’ friend, Isaac (Nat Wolff). Isaac is a guy who is in head-over-heels in love with his girlfriend. Though Hazal Grace and Augustus are disgusted by their gooey relationship, Isaac undergoes a horrible disease and loses his eyesight, and most possibly, his girlfriend too. The two stars innately develop a crush on one another, and Hazel Grace tells Augustus about her life-long dream to meet her favorite author, who Augustus tracks down so that they can meet him. It all seems to be working out, until the cancer returns.

Crazy, Stupid, Love
This movie is great for those who love a little twist. The plot begins with a middle-aged married couple, Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Julianne Moore). Emily requests for a divorce after having an affair, and in the meantime, the two split. The man then begins to go to bars and meets a suave stud Jacob (Ryan Gosling), who teaches Cal how to pick up women. Jacob then meets the independent Hannah (Emma Stone), who refuses Jacob and is in a relationship with her grad school boyfriend. In the third plot line, Cal and Emily’s middle school son is in love with his 17-year-old babysitter Jessica (Analeigh Tipton), who claims to be in love with Cal. Altogether, the ties get twisted, but this light romantic comedy is a great choice for any type of Valentine’s Day gathering.

Fifty Shades of Grey
For those of you with a rather risqué taste in movies, “Fifty Shades of Grey” will certainly get your blood pumping. Based on the series by E.L. James, “Fifty Shades” was a hit among the fans. Businessman Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and journalist Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) form an unprecedented relationship. Filled with absolute passion and new experiences, the two become closer, despite the emotional setbacks of Grey’s past. The series continues with “Fifty Shades Darker,” which is now showing in theaters.

How to Be Single
Though newly released in 2016, “How to Be Single” was surprisingly good. The plot follows four single girls and one male bachelor and details their different travails in the dating world. Alice (Dakota Johnson) is a girl who takes a break from her long-time college boyfriend in order to find herself and make sure she’s making the right decision in dating him. Her sister Meg (Leslie Mann) is a doctor who refuses to get involved into any relationship and will neither marry nor have any children. Alice’s coworker Robin (Rebel Wilson) is a fun-time party girl who goes out most nights on the town. Robin’s favorite bartender, Tom (Anders Holm), is a bachelor by choice and refuses to settle down with any one girl. Tom meets his neighbor, Lucy (Alison Brie), when she frequents the bar for the dates she sets up from online dating sites. Though varying in lifestyles, the characters come to learn how to be single, and sometimes, how to fall in love.

Author

  • Jessica Dunker

    Jessica Dunker is a grad student at ETSU in the M.A. Teaching program. She graduated with her English B.A. with a minor in creative writing. Her passions include politics and social issues pertaining to race, class, gender, and sexuality. Her hobbies include writing fiction, short stories, and sometimes when the mood strikes, a little bit of poetry.

    View all posts