Seven Movies To Watch This Valentine

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time of year to celebrate love, give your partner some extra attention, eat a bunch of heart-shaped chocolates, and send a Tinder match a movie recommendation if you’re single.

For everyone (whether single or hitched), movies are all we have this holiday. And let's be honest, nothing says “be mine this holiday” like clever innuendos and cheesy movie titles.

So for your pleasure, below are Valentine’s Day–themed films that may just help you land a beautiful romance of your own.

1. The Half Of It

In the simple town of Squahamish, Chinese-American teen Ellie (Leah Lewis) feels like an outsider. Living alone with her dad, who can’t speak much English, and spending her school time either avoiding bullies or writing their essays for them, she’s grown accustomed to fading into the background. When gawky jock Paul (Daniel Diemer) asks for an unusual favour, her lonely life takes a surprising turn.

The thing is, he’s in love with Aster (Alexxis Lemire) and wants to use Ellie’s writing abilities to impress her with a love letter. But as Ellie invests more time into helping Paul get the girl, she realises that she might want the girl instead.

2. Always Be My Maybe

Let's be honest, the Keanu Reeves cameo itself makes Always Be My Maybe worth it.

When you have the Matrix star stealing scenes and Randall Park rapping about punching him, with Ali Wong being as infectiously charming as usual, why would you be doing anything else besides watching this film on Valentine's Day?

The answer is simply this; you wouldn't.

3. The Perfect Date

What high school student hasn't tried to impress the most popular girl in school by creating an app where girls can hire him as a chaperone for any sort of social situation?

This Netflix rom-com is no To All The Boys, but The Perfect Date is a perfectly acceptable way to cap off your Noah Centineo movie marathon.

4. If Beale Street Could Talk

Based on the novel by James Baldwin, If Beale Street Could Talk is an incredibly moving love story from the talented director Barry Jenkins.

Nominated for three Oscars (with Regina King taking home the award for Best Supporting Actress), the film tells the story of a couple, Tish and Ronny, whose plans for the future get derailed when Ronny is accused and convicted of a crime he didn't commit.

So get ready to get teary-eyed at the end of the movie.

5. Namaste Wahala

Namaste Wahala is a rare Indo-Nigerian production, about an Indian guy, Raj, falling for a Nigerian girl, Didi, in Lagos.

It’s a novel concept given how few interracial love stories of its kind exist. There is, however, a deeper connection. Both India and Nigeria have strong national cinemas, and the film is best viewed as a union of two industries, and not the cultural landmark it claims to be.

6. The Royal Hibiscus Hotel

The Royal Hibiscus Hotel is predictable, silly at times, but entertaining. It is a romantic comedy, not a great dramatic work although it contains a few dramatic scenes.

I point the above out because some of the reviews suggest the viewer/reviewer did not comprehend that fact. Some of the comedic moments actually caused me to laugh out loud. And although I knew what the outcome of this film would be, it was still touching.

7. Kassanova

Kasanova is an easily likable romantic comedy. The chemistry between Ireti Doyle (Ms. Jessica) and Wale Ojo (Femi) is fun and engaging. How they transitioned from being arch enemies to becoming lovers shows the versatility of love.

Sometimes, you just can’t control what happens. You open your eyes and boom, you’ve been together for years. 

Reconciliation is something we need to get used to. People in their imperfect nature will offend you and you will offend them. It's what you do after the offence is committed that matters. This is why this film is apt for the Valentine season.