Valentine’s Day. The day in the calendar that many of us dread Streaming services will undoubtedly be shoving the cheesiest romance films down your throat. It may be my favourite genre, but even I can admit that it can be overdone, and poorly mass-produced. However, there are good ones to be found, packed full of hilarious comic moments, good timing, character development, chemistry, and yes, still a bit of cheese.

Personally, I believe the strongest part of many romcoms is the comedy aspect – if done well. When this is the case, we receive two hours of entertaining cinema that doesn’t make you shudder with second-hand embarrassment. Unfortunately, it is the part most forgotten in many films marketing themselves within the genre. When browsing the comedy genre on platforms like Netflix, all you can really find are romance films that class themselves as romantic comedies – what they really mean is that they’re not tragic, and therefore they must be funny! So, instead of watching any of those, here are five romcoms that are actually comic.

Bottoms (2023)

“I really value when people use violence for me, it’s actually one of my love languages”

Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott deliver the comic performance of a lifetime in this female-centric high school romantic comedy. Josie, played by Edebiri, and PJ, played by Sennott, are best friends and awkward misfits in a school of exaggerated caricatures. They decide to start a ‘fight club’ with their female peers after getting in trouble for ‘running over’ the star football player, Jeff (Nicholas Galitzine) who acts his socks off as the most dramatic and vapid character in the entire film.

Despite well-timed comedy and true female friendship being the main centre of this film, the romantic subplot thrives in the fantastic chemistry between Edebiri and Havana Rose Liu, who plays Isabel. We see the traditional nerd/popular girl trope, with Josie harbouring a crush on Isabel from the start of the movie. After Isabel breaks up with Jeff for cheating on her, yet again, as revealed in potentially the most famous scene in the entire movie, she explores a relationship with Josie, which is beautifully done and provides quieter, tender moments amidst the sheer chaos. One of the greatest comedies in recent years.

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

“So, David, I hear you broke up my parents’ marriage”

An ensemble cast packed with some of the brightest names in Hollywood come together in a ridiculous yet heartwarming story about love, friendship, betrayal and growing older. Cal (Steve Carell) and Jacob (Ryan Gosling) form a strange friendship after Cal’s life is upturned after his wife, Emily, (Julianne Moore) has an affair with the infamous David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon). They work together to encourage Cal to move on, and put himself out there to meet someone new. This is the simple premise, and it may seem uncomplicated at first, but it explodes into a complex mess, underpinned with irony and absurdity.

The most famous scene is the denouement – the unravelling of the intertwined relationships and the realisation that the entire ensemble are connected, in some way. Jacob shows up to a party to meet Hannah’s (his girlfriend, played by Emma Stone) parents. Who are, of course, Cal and Emily. It only goes downhill from there, as tempers explode, more and more familiar faces burst onscreen, and everything culminates in a strangely tame fight. Ryan Gosling’s baffled face really sums it up. This scene goes viral at least once a month, and for good reason. A fantastically hilarious scene in a ludicrous film.

Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001)

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces”

An ultimate British classic, starring the enigmatic Renée Zellweger who does one of the best English accents I’ve ever heard on screen. She captures an early 2000s ‘cool’, with her gritty life and clumsiness winding her up into some spectacularly bad situations. Zellweger absolutely shines, and there is something so uniquely special about her performance. She is both witty and awkward, making you want to hide your head in your hands, but you also cannot look away.

Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) and David Cleaver (Hugh Grant) are fantastic love interests, and seeing Grant sink into a role so far from his usual bumbling sweetheart is hilarious. Despite Daniel’s great character flaws, you can’t help but secretly love him. Firth, however, does play that bumbling sweetheart in Mark Darcy, who is sweet, a bit prim and proper, and a perfect counterpart to Bridget. Sweet, yet still overflowing with comedy and humour, and just such a comforting watch.

But I’m A Cheerleader (1999)

“It’s really easy to be a prude when you’re not attracted to him, isn’t it?”

A paragon of queer cinema that hits your heart on so many levels. There is the heartbreaking element of not being accepted, of being ‘othered’ in a community that you have built your life within. However, there is not sole focus on this, and it is broken up by fantastic comedy. The hilarity of famous drag queen RuPaul playing the homophobic coach Mike at the conversion camp, sporting his “Straight is Great” shirt, is just so ridiculous you cannot help but laugh. The irony and satire are very present throughout the movie, and the exaggerated stereotypes of characters such as Mike as a homophobic closeted man are still grounded in reality, which makes the mockery very effective.

The romance between Megan (Natasha Lyonne) and Graham (Clea DuVall) can only be described as beautiful. As they help each other find themselves, you can’t help but smile from ear to ear. Graham wants to help Megan accept herself for who she is, rather than what society wants her to be, and when Graham doubts her own identity, Megan swoops in and helps her find it. A must-watch, that is both incredibly funny but also so charming.

How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days (2003)

“Benny Boo Boo!”

Potentially the most well-known and beloved film on this list, and for good reason! The entire concept is such a common trope in 2000s romcoms – she wants to prove that her journalistic ability is more than what her boss is giving her; he wants to prove his charismatic ability with women. The lies grow increasingly convoluted until they all blow up in everyone’s faces, and both parties are hypocritically upset with one another.

The charisma and comic ability of Kate Hudson as Andie Anderson takes this movie and elevates it to something that doesn’t feel cookie-cutter. Her range, going from one personality to another within the blink of an eye, is jarring in the best way, and the reactions from Ben (Matthew McConaughey) are priceless. They bounce off of each other with both excellent romantic and comedic chemistry, and deliver every ridiculous line with charm and confidence.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be spent alone, with a discounted box of chocolates in your lap. Instead, spend it watching some good cinema that’ll make you laugh, rather than cry.