1. “27 Dresses” (for those who have a Pinterest board for their future wedding)
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For those of you who only know James Marsden from “Jury Duty” or as “the other guy” from “The Notebook,” he takes the spotlight in this film as Kevin Doyle, an unabashedly-flirty, forever-persistent and oh-so-charming reporter. The film follows perpetual bridesmaid Jane Nichols (Katherine Heigl) who is the go-to gal whenever someone needs help with their wedding plans. So when Jane’s younger sister is getting hitched to the man Jane is secretly in love with, Jane finds herself questioning her role as the wedding junkie for the first time in her life. Meanwhile, Kevin sees Jane’s story as his ticket out of the bridal section of the newspaper. This is one of the first rom-coms I’ve ever watched, and it is truly classic (especially that rendition of “Bennie and the Jets”).

2. “Leap Year” (because this February has an extra day)
   Leap Year Like Hell GIFfrom Leap Year GIFs

A leap year doesn’t come often. When yet another anniversary passes by without a proposal from her boyfriend, Anna Brady (Amy Adams) decides to take matters into her own hands. Following an old Celtic tradition that allows women to pop the question on Feb. 29, she plans to follow her boyfriend to Dublin and ask him to marry her. But as always, things rarely go to plan. Anna winds up on the other side of Ireland with handsome but surly Declan O’Callaghan (Matthew Goode), who just may be the one to lead Anna to true love. This February is the perfect excuse to rewatch this classic — if you don’t, you’ll have to wait another four years 😉

3. “Crazy, Stupid, Love” (for those who want a happy ending to “La La Land”)
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For those who love movies with big ensemble casts, look no further. The story follows a series of interlinked romances spurred on by the divorce of Cal (Steve Carrell) and Emily Weaver (Julianne Moore). Cal lives the American dream, has a good job, a nice house, great children and a beautiful wife — until he learns that Emily has been unfaithful. Heartbroken and suddenly single, Cal is lost in the complex world of dating when player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) takes Cal under his wing and teaches him how to be a hit with the ladies. I like to pretend this is the alternate universe to “La La Land” in which everyone gets their happy endings. Just go along with me on this one.

4. “The Proposal” (for those who are as obsessed with Sandra and Ryan as I am)
   The Proposal GIFfrom The GIFs

You’ve never truly lived if you’ve never seen Ryan Reynolds in a rom-com. “The Proposal” follows Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock), a high-powered editor facing deportation to her home country, Canada. Determined to keep her position as a publishing house’s editor-in-chief, Margaret says she’s engaged to marry Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), her hapless assistant. Andrew agrees to the charade but on a few conditions, including flying to Alaska to meet his eccentric family. With a suspicious immigration officer on their tail, Margaret and Andrew must find a way to stick to their wedding plan. This is my ALL-TIME favorite rom-com, and you just have to watch to find out why (it definitely has something to do with Betty White and “Get Low” by Lil Jon). 

5. “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (for those who say they don’t believe in love)
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As the movie title suggests, advice columnist Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) tries pushing the boundaries of what she can write about in her new piece about how to get a man to leave you in ten days. To complete her experiment, Andie goes off to find a guy. Enter executive Ben Berry (Matthew McConaughey), who is so confident in his romantic prowess that he believes he can make any woman fall in love with him in ten days. When Andie and Ben meet, neither of them knows what to expect. (And come on, who can resist that scene with Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain?”) 

6. “500 Days of Summer” (for those who don’t believe in love)
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Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), greeting card writer and hopeless romantic, is caught completely off guard when the girl he believes to be his soulmate, Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel), suddenly dumps him. He reflects on their 500 days together to figure out where things went wrong and how he can win her back. This movie differs from the rest of the list because it’s not a traditional rom-com with a happy ending. It’s not a love story. It’s a story about love. But it’s fitting for Valentine’s Day, nonetheless, especially for people who are happy being single.

7. “Music and Lyrics” (for those who want to see Hugh Grant as anything other than an Oompa Loompa)
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Former music superstar Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) used to be the hottest thing on the concert scene back in the ’80s, but now he’s washed up and playing nostalgia tours and county fairs. He scores a chance at a major comeback when pop diva Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) asks him to write a song for her — but he hasn’t written anything in years. When he notices his plant lady, Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), has a way with words, Alex proposes that he and Sophie write a song together. This movie is such a hidden gem and one of my favorite rom-coms ever. It’s so underrated and will make you cackle (like really). 

I hope your Valentine’s Day is a bit sweeter with these rom-com recommendations, whether you’re in the mood for love or just need more reasons to believe love will never be like the movies. And remember, you can watch these with or without a pookie bear next to you, and you will have just as much fun!