Movies To or Not To Watch Post Valentine’s Day

By Peter Zemeske

Ah, Valentine’s Day. A day that originated with the murder of two men in 3rd century A.D., then converted to a Hallmark holiday to make retailers billions of dollars which come from the wallets of suckers like you and me. No matter what your opinion of Valentine’s Day is, it’s going to happen year after year. If you’re one to take part in the lovey-dovey festivities, a movie with your loved one is a safe bet. If you’re single, watch a romance flick or two to get some tips. If you’re struggling to figure out what to Netflix and chill with, here’s a guide to six of the best and worst movies to watch post-Valentine’s Day.

The Best

“The Notebook”

“The Notebook” is a solid option to keep in your arsenal of movies to watch with your boo. The plot revolves around Allie Hamilton, played by Rachel McAdams, who falls in love with a poor boy, Noah Calhoun, played by Ryan Gosling, despite her parents’ disapproval. After summer, Allie goes away to school as Noah enlists in the army, and their love is seemingly gone. Seven years later, they re-connect and Allie must choose between her summer love and her fiancé. The story is a little cliché and predictable, but it’s a timeless classic. Fellas, when your date starts crying, that’s your opportunity to swoop in with the tissues and a shoulder to lean on. You’re welcome.

“The Room”

For couples that are more comfortable with one another, “The Room” is a hilarious train wreck you won’t be able to peel your eyes from. Johnny, played by Tommy Wiseau, a banker who lives with his fiancé, Lisa, played by Juliette Danielle, go through a whirlwind of emotional distress. Johnny catches Lisa having an affair with his best friend Mark, played by Greg Sestero. The movie immediately rose to cult status after audiences witnessed director Tommy Wiseau’s beautifully mangled mess of a “drama.” The movie was so popular in fact, fans made a campaign to bring the movie back to theaters after its first showing. Recently, the film has seen a wave of popularity after the James Franco-directed biopic, “The Disaster Artist” hit theaters in December of last year. As Tommy Wiseau once put it, “you can laugh, you can cry, you can express yourself, but please don’t hurt each other. Okay? Enjoy “The Room.”

“Grease”

Like a fine wine, “Grease” is a movie that ages with grace. High school greaser, Danny Zuko, played by John Travolta, and his summer fling, Sandy Olsson, played by Olivia Newton-John, find out they go to the same school after their love affair over summer vacation. Danny is torn between keeping up his “tough guy” persona and being with the girl he loves. I’m not typically a fan of musicals, but “Grease” has infectious tunes begging me to tap my toes along with the beat. No matter what mood you’re in, I guarantee you’ll leave with a smile on your face and showtunes in your head.

The Worst

“Dear John”

If you’re a fan of the Nicholas Sparks’ brand of romance, you may not agree with me when I say “Dear John” is not good. Regardless, I stand by my opinion of this being the worst romance film known to man. While US soldier, John Tyree, played by Channing Tatum, is on leave in South Carolina, he meets a college student, Savannah Lynn Curtis, played by Amanda Seyfried. After falling in love, a wrench is thrown in their relationship when John is called to service. The two send each other letters to keep their romance alight while they are apart. The ending is so bland and unsatisfying you’ll wish you avoided this like the plague. The film is 107 minutes of wasted time.

“Remember Me”

I don’t think I can convey why this movie is so terrible without spoiling it, so proceed with this spoiler alert. One night while on the town, Tyler, played by Robert Pattinson, saw a mugging and tries to intervene. A cop, played by Chris Cooper, sees Tyler in the mix and wrongfully arrests him. In order to get back at the cop, Tyler dates his daughter, Ally, played by Emilie de Ravin. Tyler tries to hurt her and, in turn, hurt her father; however, he ends up falling in love with Ally and is stuck in his poorly thought out revenge. This sounds like a pretty interesting premise of a plot, right? Wrong. Five minutes before closing credits, we see a shot of a teacher writing the date on the board: September 11, 2001. The next shot is Tyler in his father’s office, located in the World Trade Center. It’s an incredibly lazy attempt to evoke emotion out of viewers, when it actually ends up leaving a bitter taste after what was a decent film. But I’ll pass.

“Me Before You”

Last on my list of flicks you shouldn’t snuggle up to is “Me Before You.” Not even the queen of dragons could save this one. Louisa Clark, played by Emilia Clarke, is hired to be the caregiver of paralyzed Will Traynor, played by Sam Claflin. Because of his disability, Will is depressed, unmotivated and unable to be lifted out of his slump. After some time, he warms up to her cheerful demeanor, and the two eventually fall head over heels for each other. Since this is a newer release, I won’t spoil why the ending makes this a flop. Either way, there are better options to get you and your date in the spirit of Valentine’s Day.